A lot on line for 49ers, Seahawks
The return of Beast Mode. A division title on the line. Possible homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Those are the intriguing story lines of the juiciest matchup of the NFL’s final week of the regular season as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks square off in a Sunday night showdown that will have a postseason feel.
The 49ers (12-3) travel to Seattle to take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks (11-4), with the winner capturing the NFC West. San Francisco would clinch home-field advantage throughout by winning, while Seattle could host until the Super Bowl with a victory and losses by both Green Bay and New Orleans.
“We know this is going to be a hostile environment, ‘Sunday Night Football,’ so, can’t wait for it,” 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said.
The loser of this matchup would enter the playoffs with an NFC wild-card berth.
“It’s a very special week for us,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “It’s the last week of the season, playing for everything, for a division and all that. We’re very fortunate to be in that situation. It is what we aim for. It’s always what we look toward and we always wonder if the chance to do something like this is going to happen at home or on the road.
“We’re thrilled we’ll be here.”
CenturyLink Field will have a familiar face coming back “home” in running back Marshawn Lynch, who resigned with Seattle on Monday after injuries to Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny left a void in the Seahawks’ backfield.
“It’s a great feeling to be back,” Lynch said in a 15-second news conference with reporters.
Never one to be chatty off the field, Lynch made his marks — literally — with his tough, physical “Beast Mode“style of running.
The 33-year-old Lynch hasn’t played since midway through last season with Oakland, but is expected to play for Seattle on Sunday in the team’s biggest game of the season.
“Only one person can pull this off and that’s No. 24,” linebacker K.J. Wright said of Lynch, who played for the Seahawks from 2010-15. “Back in the building, it feels good. When I heard the news I was like, ‘Perfect.’ He’s just the ultimate teammate, cool dude, just ballin’. I’m glad to have him back.”
ELSEWHERE
Jaguars: Jacksonville owner Shad Khan will meet with his football staff, including coach Doug Marrone, next week before making any potential changes.
Khan’s spokesman, Jim
Woodcock, made the announcement Saturday in response to an ESPN reporter’s tweet, citing unnamed sources, that said Marrone “has been informed that he will be dismissed following Sunday’s game” against Indianapolis.
“Reports that Doug Marrone will be dismissed after Sunday’s game are 100 percent incorrect,” Woodcock said. “Owner Shad Khan will meet with his football staff, which includes coaching and personnel, midweek next week.”
The Jaguars (5-10) are 22-28 in three seasons under Marrone and have dropped 20 of their last 27 games. Khan fired top executive Tom Coughlin last week, seemingly placing the blame on the onetime coach who seemed to struggle making the transition from the sideline to the front office. Coughlin’s overbearing ways had become a burden on players and coaches.
Chargers: The playoff hopes for Los Angeles were dashed weeks ago. Austin Ekeler still has plenty to play in the finale Sunday at Kansas City.
Ekeler needs 50 yards to become at least the fourth running back since the NFL-AFL merger to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He leads the league in receiving yards and touchdowns (eight) by a running back and is second in receptions (83).
Hall of Famer Marshall
Faulk was the last to do it with 1,048 yards in 1999 when the St. Louis Rams won their only Super Bowl title. The others are former Charger Lionel “Little Train” James (1,027) and San Francisco’s Roger Craig (1,016). James and Craig both hit the mark in 1985.
Ekeler was signed by Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He was mostly on special teams as a rookie but began to have more of a role in the offense last season as a more dynamic change-of-pace option to Melvin Gordon.