Seattle trip a quiet journey
With no fans in attendance, Seahawks’ famous ‘12s’ won’t be a factor today
Seattle’s CenturyLink Field is the NFC West’s ultimate battleground.
Playoff fates are often determined there amid Richter-scale vibrations from the Seahawks fans’ “12th Man” screams.
The 49ers secured a No. 1 playoff seed there in last December’s regular-season finale, utilizing a goal-line tackle to stun and silence Seattle’s crowd.
Today, the 49ers return, but the fans will not. That guarantees a visit unlike any other since the stadium opened in 2002, when the Seahawks were
merged within the 49ers’ division.
Seattle (5-1) is in first place. The defending NFC champion 49ers (4-3) are in last, but they’re coming on strong with a two-game win streak.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said it’s “way too early” to look at playoff posturing.
“That’s stuff that I leave for my wife and for friends and for people to do,” Shanahan said. “There’s so many things that change. I’ll start to watch it the last few weeks.”
The next five weeks won’t be easy street for these NFC West rivals:
For the 49ers: at Seattle (5-1), vs. Green Bay (5-1), at New Orleans (4-2), bye, at Los Angeles Rams (5-2).
For the Seahawks: vs. 49ers (4-3), at Bills (5-2), at Rams (5-2), vs. Cardinals (52), at Eagles (2-4-1)
“It’s not just smooth sailing, like it was last year, win after win,” said Garoppolo, who led the 49ers to an 8-0 start last year. “We’ve had the ups and downs, and that’s made us battle-tested, just as a team.”
Here are five ways the underdog 49ers can win back-to-back in Seattle for the first time ever as division rivals:
1. LIMIT WILSON’S DAMAGE >>
Robert Saleh, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, was an entry-level Seahawks assistant in 2012 when Russell Wilson debuted in rookie minicamp.
“I swear to you, the first time he threw the football … everyone was looking at the quarterback,” Saleh recalled. “At that point, I said, ‘Man, this guy is going to be pretty damn good.’”
Saleh now trumpets Wilson as a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback, skipping right over this early season chatter about Wilson finally meriting the first NFL MVP votes of his career.
Wilson has 22 touchdown passes against six interceptions, including three interceptions in Sunday night’s overtime loss at Arizona. He is 12-4 against the 49ers, and he threw for five touchdowns in those four losses combined.
The Seahawks can’t envision him having a second straight “off” game. The 49ers must try to make that happen, however, and perhaps they do it with timely blitzes by Fred Warner or their slot cornerbacks.
Arik Armstead (2 1/2 sacks in eight games vs. Wilson) needs to supercharge the defensive front’s efforts. While D.J. Jones and Javon Kinlaw should fare well inside, former Seahawk Dion Jordan, 2020 gem Kerry Hyder Jr. and newcomer Jordan Willis must contain the edge.
2. PLASTER RECEIVERS >>
The term “plaster” is part of 49ers defense’s lexicon any time they face Wilson, whose magical escapes from pressure force defensive backs to shadow receivers typically longer than possible.
But the Seahawks’ potent tandem of Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf is proving tough covers no matter the circumstance. Look for the 49ers to deploy five and six defensive backs to clog the passing windows.
Cornerback Jason Verrett was at TCU when he last battled the “shifty” Lockett (Kansas State), and they spoke highly of each other, having both gone to their first and only Pro Bowls in 2015. Both are having banner seasons, and Lockett is coming off a 200-yard game.
Lockett appreciates Verrett’s comeback from multiple leg injuries in recent years. “It shows his resilience,” Lockett said. “I definitely know he’s a great player and I’m looking forward to going against him again. I’m definitely happy for him.”
Looming as a secondyear, athletic freak is Metcalf, who gained special acclaim last game for chasing down the Cardinals’ Budda Baker to prevent a picksix. The 49ers expect Metcalf (6-foot-4, 229 pounds) to use his physicality and size more than his speed.
“Myself and (fellow cornerback Emmanuel) Moseley, the advantage we have is our foot quickness,” said Verrett, who is 5-foot-9. “Being able to get closer to the hip — reading hips and hands when dealing with (taller) receivers — that’s the best way to position yourself.”
3. FILLING SAMUEL’S VOID >> Deebo Samuel proved the 49ers’ offensive catalyst these past two wins, mostly by taking short passes behind the line of scrimmage and bullying his way down field. A hamstring injury late against New England will keep him out of this game. Who can fill his void?
“It’s a challenge but we’ve been down a lot of guys all year, and we always have someone step up,” tight end George Kittle said. “I know we don’t have another Deebo on the roster but I’m fully confident in our coaches to account and give other guys opportunities.
“It might not be Trent Taylor on a jet sweep but it’ll be Trent Taylor getting the ball in space, or anyone, really.”
Taylor had just three snaps last game, but he will become the No. 3 receiver behind Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne this game. Aiyuk keeps ascending as a rookie. Bourne, a Northwest native, expects more action and planned on studying extra hard so he can “play fast.”
Kittle remains the offense’s top asset, and he caught all seven of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown in last December’s 26-21 win at Seattle. 4. MORE RUSHING SURPRISES >> Jeff Wilson Jr. was a surprise starter last game, and an even bigger surprise came via his three rushing touchdowns. But a high-ankle sprain followed and he’s shelved for a few weeks.
The 49ers’ rushing attack still offers an element of surprise this game. Tevin Coleman might come off a five-game hiatus for a sprained knee, and if he dresses, look for him to see a solid workload.
Or the 49ers could fully commit to rookie JaMycal Hasty and unleash him after back-to-back breakout games. Shanahan recently revealed that Hasty stuck with the 49ers when other teams’ tried poaching him off their practice squad earlier this season.
“When you have a certain skill set and you fit, we can sell to a person how we think they might be better for us than other teams,” Shanahan said, “and they really listen and they’re trying to make the right decision, not just off of the check that week.”
If not Hasty or Coleman, Jerick McKinnon certainly is rested for an increased role. Whoever gets the rock, the linemen and the 49ers’ overall blocking is performing at a seasonbest level.
5. SOUND OF SILENCE >> Seattle’s outdoor amphitheater might be the NFL’s best venue in terms of gameday vibe – when fans are at full throat. None are allowed so far this season.
“It’s good for the Niners and the guys coming in here, that they don’t have that factor, because it’s a remarkable factor we’ve played to,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “It’s much different.”
League-wide, the pandemic has hindered homefield advantages. Carroll termed it a “marginal difference” between playing at home or away. The stats agree. Entering Week 8, home teams are 53-51-1 for a .510 winning percentage that is the worst mark since 1972 (.508).
“I’ll miss the atmosphere up there. It’s one of the cooler places to play with the fans and everything,” Jimmy Garoppolo said. “With the cadence and procedure, it’ll make it easier for us, and I’m looking forward to that.
Added Kittle: “It’s definitely weird but the fact we’re going to hear every cadence, not to go in silent count, it’s going to be refreshing. I look forward to it because it gives the offense an advantage.”