NFL: 49ers vs. Seahawks Preview

Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman: They are coming for you Seahawks!

I am not sure that I hate a team more than I hate the Seattle Seahawks. They are loud, they are arrogant, they talk shit, they are dirty, but above all they are very good.

This year they have been the best team in the NFL and it all starts with their defense. PED and suspensions aside they have the best passing defense in the NFL holding teams to under 200 yards passing a game. In today’s NFL that is unheard of. They do it with some of the best defensive backs and pass rushers in the NFL.

Richard Sherman has been the best cover corner this season and Earl Thomas III may be the best safety in the NFL. Thomas is like a Troy Polamalu-Ed Reed hybrid. He fills running lanes like a maniac and destroys running backs at the line, while also being an excellent zone cover safety.

The defense is also loaded with pass rushers as newcomers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett have been excellent all season. With all that being said I think the 49ers are going to win on Sunday for a few reasons.

1. The 49ers are at home

I understand that the 49ers don’t have the same home field advantage that the Seahawks do, but not playing in Seattle makes a bigger difference than the fact that they are playing in Candlestick. The 49ers offense is one that is constantly audibiling on the field based on the look the defense is giving.

In Seattle, Colin Kaepernick struggled to change plays and complete audibles without a delay of game because the Seattle fan base is so loud. He will not have that issue in Cadlestick. This should allow for the offense to be much more effective compared to the last time they played the Seahawks.

2. Michael Crabtree is back

Don’t overreact to this statement because Crabtree still is not 100%, but his presence on the field will help to open up Boldin. With Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond III out with suspensions the Seahawks have to turn to fourth string corner Byron Maxwell. I like 80% of Michael Crabtree or 100% of Anquan Boldin matched-up on Maxwell.

Either way the 49ers will have a mismatch, something they did not have in the passing game during their first matchup. (Side note- Michael Crabtree already has the 49ers longest play by a wide receiver all season after one game. As his health progresses so will this Niner offense.)

3. Expect a big game from this linebacking core

Ahmad Brooks has been playing the best football of his career this season all while Aldon Smith was participating in some extra curricular activities. Now that Aldon is back expect the two of them to wreak havoc on the tackles of the Seahawks and Russell Wilson.

These two pass rushers are big, agile and should be able to contain Wilson and prevent big plays. The two of them paired with “The Double Mint Twins” (affectionately coined by Colin Kaepernick) should be a force come Sunday.

Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman have been two of the best 3 inside linebackers all season. With the return of Aldon Smith paired with Ahamd Brooks high level of play this group is playing their best football of the season

This is going to be a battle on Sunday between two very similar teams. The Seahawks have just been a better version of The San Francisco 49ers all season. If the Niners want to make a legitimate Super Bowl run they need to prove that they can beat the Seahawks. As long as the 49ers take an early lead they should be in good shape and will be able to control the game.

They have returned to their original offensive philosophy to pound the ball on the ground and make teams pay with play action. All in all I think we see a 24-14 win for the 49ers. I think this team comes out angry after the big loss early in the season.

Jim Harbaugh has shown that he has Pete Carroll’s number regardless of the team’s talent. The last thing I expect is to see this 49er team come out flat. Let’s go 49ers!!