Seahawks (11-4) at 49ers (6-9)
Sunday, 4:25 ET, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: Seahawks by 41⁄
2
Seahawks’ keys to victory: Seattle’s offense cannot keep the 49ers in the game by reverting to a run-heavy scheme that eschews the connection between QB Russell Wilson and WRs DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. While San Francisco’s defense has been playing well, the pass rush isn’t good enough to affect Wilson consistently. On defense, the Seahawks can take advantage of a porous offensive line. DE Carlos Dunlap could have a big day off the edge, and mixing in blitzes from LB Bobby Wagner and SS Jamal Adams will be enough to confuse 49ers QB C.J. Beathard in just his second start since 2018.
49ers’ keys to victory: San Francisco’s Week 16 victory over the Cardinals followed a familiar winning recipe: Run the ball behind a career day from RB Jeff Wilson Jr., lean on TE George Kittle in the passing game and get an interception-free day from Beathard. The quarterback did fumble once, but if he’s converting third downs and not giving the ball away this week, it gives the 49ers’ run game enough traction to get rolling the way it did against Arizona.
Matchup to watch: Seahawks WR DK Metcalf vs. 49ers CB Jason Verrett. Last week, Verrett held Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins to 48 yards on eight catches. The winner of this matchup will determine whether the 49ers can keep up with the Seahawks offense.
Who wins? The Seahawks are are gearing up for a playoff run, while the 49ers are eyeing the finish line. Seahawks 30, 49ers 13