San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
NINERS LOOKING FOR REPEAT
A second straight victory in Seattle would change complexion of NFC West
While running out to the best start in franchise history and becoming the last unbeaten team in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks knew the reality of where they stood wouldn’t come until they started division play.
It took one week for that reality to slap Seattle with a reminder how tough it will be to navigate the NFC West. And a second dose will arrive today when San Francisco visits Seattle.
“That last game helped us out a lot with just being able to get a perspective back right,” Seattle wide receiver Tyler Lockett said.
Seattle took its first loss of the season last week in a 37-34 overtime setback to Arizona. The Seahawks had multiple opportunities in regulation and overtime to get out of the desert with a victory, but instead lost for the first time with Russell Wilson at quarterback and holding a lead of four or more points at halftime.
The Seahawks have thrived in those late-game situations, especially this year, whether it was the goal-line defensive stand to beat New England or the last-second touchdown to beat Minnesota. But the loss to Arizona was a reminder how thin is the margin Seattle with which is playing.
When Wilson isn’t perfect and a defense is underperforming, the Seahawks seem vulnerable despite their record.
“You know there’s going to be highs, there’s going to be lows throughout the season. But I always expect way more highs than lows,” Wilson said.
San Francisco can reinsert itself into the division race if it can win for a second straight year in Seattle. A season ago, the 49ers made a goal-line stop on the final play to escape with a 26-21 win in Week 17 and the division title.
The 49ers can condense the division race even more if they win in Seattle for a second straight year. Doing so would mean overcoming a continuing run of significant injuries. San Francisco will be without wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. against the Seahawks after each was injured in last week’s 33-6 rout of New England.
Despite the injuries, the 49ers know they’re in a much better place than a few weeks ago when they were coming off consecutive losses.
“I feel like all that noise outside the building is irrelevant in our building, especially to our group,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said. “We know exactly what we’re capable of and we’re just going to continue to work every single day, every single week to get better. We’re not worried about that outside noise at all.”
The Niners have put together stellar defensive performances in back-to-back weeks against the Rams and New England, allowing only 22 points and intercepting five passes in the two games. Doing that this week will be much harder against Wilson. Seattle leads the league with 33.8 points per game, including an Nfl-best 22 TD passes from Wilson.
“They’re one of the best offenses in the league,” Warner said. “You got Russ, who’s obviously had an MVP season thus far. We’ve obviously got to try and eliminate the explosive plays because that’s what their bread and butter has been so far. It’s going to be difficult.”