For 12s that live in the Pacific Northwest, one will know that the Seattle Seahawks often play in the drizzle. Sometimes the rain pours down, but more often, a heavy mist falls. The team can get used to it, and that helps when Seattle travels to play another team with their own weather issues.
That was the situation against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 when the weather was cold and rainy in Charlotte. Quarterback Sam Darnold was far from perfect, but the team's ground game was efficient and, at times, explosive. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak might have learned a lot from the game.
And what he learned, he can seemingly apply immediately. When the Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, a game that will determine the top seed in the NFC and the division crown for the NFC West, the conditions in Santa Clara are going to be far from ideal.
The rain might fall in Week 18 when the Seattle Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers
According to the Weather Channel, it will be slightly breezy with sustained winds around 10 mph, but beginning a bit after kickoff, the rain could begin. At 6 pm PT, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain, and that chance increases to nearly 50 percent by the second half.
According to NFL Weather, the rain will "definitely" fall during the game. At least the temperatures won't be too bad, hovering in the mid-50s.
The weather conditions should create a situation for the Seattle Seahawks offense that mirrors what happened in Week 17. In other words, Kubiak should call as many run plays as pass plays, limiting the chances for quarterback Sam Darnold to turn the ball over on a wet field, while Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker keep grinding out yards.
Against the Panthers, Charbonnet ran 18 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He had two runs of at least 25 yards. Walker ran the ball 15 times for 51 yards. The pair of running backs had six more rushing attempts than Darnold had passes thrown.
That should continue in Week 18 against a 49ers defense that hasn't played brilliantly and has struggled against the run quite a bit in recent weeks (except Week 16 when San Francisco could play closer to the line against Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts). In Week 17's victory against Chicago, Bears running backs didn't run a lot but managed 92 yards on 17 carries.
The biggest challenge could be the Seattle Seahawks' elite defense trying to slow a San Francisco 49ers offense operating at an amazing level. Maybe the rain will help Seattle get a couple of game-changing interceptions off quarterback Brock Purdy.
Update: The rain mostly held off at Levi's Stadium, but the wind was stronger than expected.