The 2-4 Seattle Seahawks travel to California to face their NFC west rival San Francisco 49ers for a juicy Thursday Night Football matchup.
If the Seahawks were performing like they have in years past, most would predict an easy win for Russell Wilson and Co., who have beaten the 49ers in five of their last seven contests. However, Thursday’s game against a 2-4 49ers team could go either way, due to how poorly the Seahawks as a unit have been playing so far in 2015.
Here is a point/counterpoint argument for the upcoming Thursday night NFC West rivalry game, with Rachel Wold and Jesse Reed. For the record, Rachel has the Seahawks winning 24-21, while Jesse sees the 49ers taking the game at home by a score of 20-13.
Point: Rachel says “Russell Wilson won’t face much pressure.”
Wilson has endured a league-high 30 sacks so far this season, so it is imperative for Seattle’s offensive line to step up. Fortunately, San Francisco’s defense has registered the third-fewest sacks (nine) in the league, so he could catch a break for once and take advantage. He is averaging a stout 8.0 yards per passing attempt and the 49ers are allowing opposing quarterbacks an average of 8.3 yards per try. There is success to be had there if Wilson doesn’t end up on the ground.
Counterpoint: Jesse says “The 49ers are a different team at home.”
San Francisco’s sack totals don’t inspire confidence, but the defense has been much more adept at rushing the passer at home, with eight sacks and 13 quarterback hits in three games. Last weekend’s victory over Baltimore was the exception, as the 49ers didn’t get to Joe Flacco once and only hit him but a single time. However, given Seattle’s horrid offensive line, I’d expect 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini to fire off a volley of early blitzes. Wilson will face plenty of pressure.
Point: Jesse says “Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom’ ain’t what it used to be.”
Once dominant, the “Legion of Boom” hasn’t looked anything like the secondary that carried the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be much cohesion at all with this group right now. The lack of communication that allowed Cam Newton to find tight end Greg Olsen wide open in the end zone for the game-winning score last Sunday could lead to some busted coverage and huge plays for the 49ers.
Counterpoint: Rachel says “‘Legion of Boom’ will tee off on the 49ers’ simplified and predictable offense.”
The key for Seattle’s success is the play of safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. They must not allow a repeat performance of last game’s costly coverage errors. No doubt they’ll study up on those mistakes and fix them. Kaepernick has thrown just two touchdown passes in the last five games with eight interceptions given away. Furthermore, these guys should have far better success in defending a banged-up Vernon Davis, who hasn’t scored a touchdown since September of 2014. Oh, and Seattle’s defense will read Kap like a book, thanks to the simplified offense being implemented for his sake.
Point: Rachel says “Jimmy Graham will eat the 49ers’ secondary alive.”
Wilson and Graham haven’t been on the same page for long stretches of time this year, but the duo should find success with their passing game on Thursday night. The 49ers passing defense ranks dead-last in the NFL which is like a gift upon arrival. The Seahawks have been struggling with three-and-outs, and the team isn’t scoring enough touchdowns, settling for field goals. This changes when Wilson opens up the offense and takes advantage of the 49ers’ terrible pass defense. He’ll send some long downfield passes to his 6-foot-7 tight end, who possesses more talent than any tight end the 49ers have had to defend this season.
Counterpoint: Jesse says “Tight ends haven’t fared well against the 49ers.”
Despite San Francisco’s poor showings against the pass, tight ends haven’t been a big factor in how teams have been able to gouge the team’s spotty secondary. On average, opposing tight ends are catching just five passes for 42 yards and .5 touchdowns per game. Now, obviously the level of competition to this point hasn’t been on the Jimmy Graham-level, but then again, neither has Jimmy Graham.
Point: Jesse says “49ers offense is getting into a groove.”
After a three-week span of utter failure on the offensive side of the ball, Kaepernick and the 49ers started to wake up in a big way on the road against the New York Giants in Week 5. The dual-threat quarterback has turned things around, and subsequently, so has the rest of the offense. San Francisco has scored 52 points the past two games. Watch out for Torrey Smith, who has two catches of 75 yards or longer — both career highs, and both of which resulted in touchdowns for the 49ers.
Counterpoint: Rachel says “49ers offense is just getting lucky.”
The 49ers finally posted their second win against the very beatable Baltimore Ravens and nearly pulled off a win against the New York Giants in Week 5. However, their new-found success comes against two teams that have allowed the 26th and 28th most total yards, respectively. Seattle’s defense is allowing 73 less total yards per game than Baltimore.
Point: Rachel says “The Seahawks own Kaepernick”
Kap went a dreadful 0-3 against the Seahawks in each of his games in the 2014 calendar year. And it all started with that devastating game-ending interception that Sherman tipped off the hands of former 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree in the divisional playoff game. Then Seahawks literally feasted on San Francisco’s home turf last Thanksgiving and won again at home the following month.
On the 49ers logo tho @SNFonNBC?? #fanning 🔥🔥Smh "@BR_NFL: Russell Wilson & Richard Sherman eating some turkey! pic.twitter.com/KNBZq6c2PQ"
— Holly Robinson Peete 💃🏾♍️ (@hollyrpeete) November 28, 2014
Kaepernick went scoreless in both games. There’s little doubt he will go into choke mode when his rivals come to town.
Counterpoint: Jesse says “Kap is finally getting out of his own head.”
Ask any of his teammates, and they’ll tell you, Kaepernick just needs to get out there and PLAY the game, rather than thinking about all the stuff he’s tried to incorporate this past winter and beyond. Kap knows it, too.
“To me, I have to go back out and play football,” Kaepernick said after Week 5’s loss to the Giants (h/t Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area). “It’s a game, at the end of the day. It’s not life or death. I go out and play. I play to win and do everything I can to help this team win.”
Yes, he needs to continue getting better at the technical aspect of playing the quarterback position. But at some point every player just needs to get back to playing. That seems to be what’s happened the past couple of weekends with Kap piling up 635 total yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions
Conclusion
We both agree this game will be tightly contested. Both teams have some significant weaknesses for the other to exploit, and it’s likely going to boil down to which quarterback can keep from turning the ball over. These two NFC West rivals have a habit of treating fans to hard-nosed football and a close score at the end.
The one thing that could make a big difference is the short week. Most Thursday night affairs are ugly slug-fests, and this one has that same feeling about it.