(Photo: Action Network)
NFC Game Of The Week
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks (13-3):
Do you remember in a previous post on this site, whether it was this season or years ago, I mentioned that some teams quietly go about their business and are fine with that as long as the production is coming and they’re winning? That perfectly describes this team right now. In their last 11 games, they’ve won ten and are in the midst of a six-game winning streak. On my recent appearance on The Prime, I mentioned that the Coach of the Year list is an ongoing cycle that changes week to week. But one thing I will say is that Mike McDaniel needs to be in the running without question. He has injected newfound confidence and life into a franchise that had struggled to regain relevance after its mid-2010s success. Around this time of year, we usually have a clear consensus on who the best team in the league is and who will win which award as we approach the end of the regular season. I can honestly say it’s wide open, and who would’ve thought the Seattle Seahawks would be the top seed in the NFC as we approach Week 18? Signing Sam Darnold has proven to be a smart move. The only thing I want him to improve on is limiting interceptions and taking better care of the football. But who would have imagined he’d be the starting quarterback on a team having one of its best seasons in years? Remember, he put together the best season of his career last year with the Minnesota Vikings. This is a physical football team, and no matter where they are come playoff time, they can give many teams problems in January because physicality travels. This Saturday night, they’ll head to Levi’s Stadium for a huge divisional showdown—hopefully not for the final time this season.
49ers (12-4):
That Sunday night game against the Bears was electric—one of the best I’ve seen all season. As the game started, I tweeted a key for the 49ers: Brock Purdy must play clean football and avoid turnovers against a defense that thrives on takeaways. Guess what happens on the very first play? He throws an interception returned for a pick-six. After that, the team turned the page and went back to a balanced attack. Going into this game, I wondered what Purdy would do for an encore after his performance against the Indianapolis Colts the previous week. I even said the next day on the radio that it was the best I’d seen him look since becoming a starting NFL quarterback. On Sunday night against the Bears, he threw five more touchdown passes in a shootout victory. Another key takeaway with the 49ers is Christian McCaffrey. You can see the difference he makes when he’s on the field and healthy. Even when key players were out due to injuries, their offense stepped up tremendously. George Kittle was out on Sunday night, and Jake Tonges stepped in and filled the void admirably. Now, why might this team struggle in the playoffs? Solely because of their defense. It’s strange to say, because the 49ers usually have one of the league’s best defensive units, but they’re not healthy. They can’t consistently rush the passer except when blitzing additional men. Despite that, they’re in a prime position to win the division and will have the chance to do so on Saturday night.
Seahawks X-Factor: Julian Love
During the Legion of Boom days, Seattle had a true enforcer in Kam Chancellor. Julian Love has become that guy for the current Seahawks defense, and I’ll be watching him closely on Saturday night. Coach Mike McDaniel previously worked with a great Notre Dame secondary, including Kyle Hamilton, and now has another talented safety in Julian. He’s a “read and react” safety who lets plays develop before making his move. The 49ers thrive on misdirection and motion, and Julian can play deep, drop into the box, and cover tight ends. He’s also one of the most reliable open-field tacklers, which is crucial against teams that gain yards after the catch.
49ers X-Factor: Deommodore Lenoir
As a cornerback, you always want to shadow the opposition’s top receiving option. On Saturday night, Lenoir will likely shadow Jaxon Smith‑Njigba throughout the game. Seattle’s offense starts and ends with JSN. If Lenoir can jam him at the line, force him to work to get open, and stay disciplined in coverage, it could fluster Darnold and take away his first read. Lenoir is an opportunistic cornerback who can create takeaways or tip passes, giving the 49ers a short field and momentum. He can make or break any key conversion, whether in the red zone or on third down.
Final Thoughts:
These two teams opened the season against each other, and the 49ers won a close game for their first victory. Now, weeks later, the NFC West division title and the No. 1 seed are on the line. If the 49ers win, they could play the entire NFC playoffs at home, which would be ideal since the Super Bowl this season is at Levi’s Stadium. The last time the Seahawks entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed was in 2014–15, when they made it to the Super Bowl. Sam Darnold had a quiet moment last year under pressure, but this year, with a full year of experience, he’s likely better prepared. Brock Purdy has been on fire in his last two games but will face a stingy Seattle defense. Sam must avoid turnovers, and the 49ers will try to capitalize on short fields, mixing run and pass to control tempo while feeding Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III to keep San Francisco’s defense honest. For the 49ers, the keys are limiting JSN, continuing to utilize McCaffrey as a runner and receiver, and protecting the football against Seattle’s opportunistic defense.
