Three bold predictions for Seahawks' Week 11 game against the 49ers

There’s an acclaimed quote from novelist/screenwriter William Goldman (you may know him from The Princess Bride) about the movie business. “Nobody knows anything.” Goldman was addressing the fact that though every studio exec has theories, data, and gut instincts, none of them guarantees success. There is no formula. There is no template. There is no magic incantation.

We’re about to see if this quote applies to Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald. We’re about to see if they actually know anything.

Over the bye week, Schneider has been tinkering with the roster, and Macdonald has been taking a second and third look at everything the Seahawks have done in the first half of the 2024 season. This is Schneider’s first season making decisions without Pete Carroll by his side and this is Macdonald’s first season as the head coach of anything. And both are teetering.

Three bold predictions for the Seattle Seahawks versus the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11

This Sunday’s game against San Francisco is not necessarily a must-win. Should they lose, Seattle would still be just two games out of first place with two games against the division-leading Cardinals still to play. But it is absolutely essential that the Hawks play a much better brand of football than they have shown for more than a month.

The task at hand is enormous. Counting the playoffs, the 49ers have taken six straight from the Seahawks. Guess how many of those games were decided by seven points or less. Can you say, “None of ‘em?” San Fran has Christian McCaffrey back. He didn’t look especially good in his first game, but as the season goes on and he shakes off the rust, he will add the same dynamic spark to the 49ers offense that he has always done. Mike Macdonald’s men have had a hard enough time stopping average running teams. San Fran, with McCaffrey, is far from average.

But there’s a lot more at stake than the future of the Hawks’ season on Sunday. You see, I’m beginning to wonder if William Goldman’s proclamation applies to me as well. Do I really know nothing? I thought I had a line on this team early on. Through the first month of the season, I felt pretty confident knowing what would happen. When you write “bold predictions” you know you are likely to miss on a lot of what you say. But even when the specifics weren’t coming through, I thought I had a pretty good read on the game scripts.

It all began to unravel in the Giants’ game, Week 5. Since then, and with the exception of the Falcons’ game, Seattle has not played like a quality football team. I could go all negative if it weren’t for that game against Atlanta. The Falcons are a solid mid-level team. Macdonald took his team on the road and dominated (even though they still struggled to stop the run). Was it an aberration, or can Seattle regain the level of skill and execution they revealed against Atlanta?

For better or worse, I’m going all in on the Hawks this week. I’m going to stay positive, at least for one more week. I’ve seen young coaches hit a reset button coming out of their bye and get their team back on the right track. I will stay glass-half-full and predict that Mike Macdonald will do that this Sunday. If he doesn’t, there’s a lot more season left to trash him and his team.

With that out of the way, here are three bold predictions for this week’s game against the 49ers.

Leonard Williams makes it onto Swagu’s BMB

The 49ers have a very good offensive line. Guards Dominick Puni and Aaron Banks have performed well. But center Jake Brendel has been beaten by quality interior linemen this season, and I expect the Big Cat to go off. He will line up over center. He will stunt into the center’s gaps. He will beat guard-center double teams. I’m calling for two sacks and two additional tackles for loss.

But more importantly, he is going to make at least one play that will land him on Marcus Spears’ Big Man Ballin’ list next week. It may be blowing up Brock Purdy on a zone read. It might even be the Cat’s second-ever career interception. This is the time for the Hawks’ best players to step up. Leonard Williams is the best defense lineman they have. He needs to have a huge game.

Running backs catch 12 passes

I originally had this threshold at ten receptions. Then I looked back at the first game these teams played and realized that Kenneth Walker had eight catches by himself. Ten didn’t seem bold enough. So I upped it. No matter. I still think Walker and Zach Charbonnet will be used heavily in the passing game.

Here’s why: Ryan Grubb will try to run the ball. He will not be able to. He will try a couple of deep shots. Nick Bosa, Maliek Collins, and Kevin Givens will shut that down rather quickly. He will look to Jaxon Smith Njigba on shorter routes, which will work to a degree, but the 49ers’ will be prepared for that. They will also be prepared to defend the tight ends. San Fran is among the best in the league at limiting opposing tight ends. That leaves the running backs.

We will see a steady diet of swing passes, as well as an occasional shovel pass or bubble screen to a back. These plays will not always work. Some of them will get stuffed. But the Seahawks can’t give up on it. It is the only practical way they have to slow San Fran’s pass rush and draw the linebackers and safeties forward.

Seattle will make a big play on special teams

Seattle’s special teams have not been special this year, but I am seeing an uptick this week. Jay Harbaugh will have used the bye to clean up run-of-the-mill issues and to design a few tricks that could swing a close game. I don’t know what it will be – a kick return, a kick block, a successful fake – but something big will happen.

Laviska Shenault took a kickoff to the house in the first San Fran game, and overall, the 49ers coverage units have not been particularly good. Mitch Wishnowsky had a punt blocked a couple of weeks ago. There has just been something a little bit off with San Fran’s kicking units this year. I don’t know why, but I see the largely forgotten Dee Williams making a big play this week.

Hopefully, it will not be a fumble. Because I’m donning teal-tinted glasses this week. Yes, I know the Hawks don’t actually wear teal, but “teal-tinted” is a lot more positive-sounding than “action-green-colored.” And this week, I’m all about staying positive.

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