One of the NFL’s greatest rivalries is headed for a round three. The San Francisco 49ers are traveling to take on the number one seed in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks. These two teams split the season series at one game apiece. With two divisional opponents meeting for a third time in a season, anything can happen. Can Brock Purdy and the 9ers get back to the NFC Championship game, or can Sam Darnold vanquish the ghosts of last season and get Seattle to the Conference Championship? Let’s dive into it!
NFL’s Ironman: San Francisco 49ers’ Keys To Victory
I have been astonished by the job Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy, and the 49ers have performed over the course of the season. Despite losing their two best defensive players, they are in a great position to make their 3rd NFC Championship game since Purdy’s been a starter. I believe this game starts with him and his performance today. We saw in their last outing that Seattle’s defense held them to three points. If Purdy can play clean, I think the 49ers have a great chance to pull off the upset of the season.
When you lose a player like Nick Bosa to a season-ending injury, it’s going to be hard to replicate his production on the field. They were dead last in the NFL in terms of sacks (20). We know that Darnold is capable when he has a clean pocket. Robert Saleh and their defense can get to Sam early; they might force him to see ghosts again.
Lastly, can the 49ers’ playmakers generate anything after the catch? Seattle’s defense might be the fastest team in terms of see ball, get ball. In their Week 17 game, they only allowed 50 YAC yards. Demarcus Robinson and Christian McCaffery need to generate those tough extra yards. In games like this, it might take an unknown NFL player who finally gets his opportunity to make some people miss and take it to the house.
NFL’s Most Complete Team?: Seattle Seahawks’ Keys To Win
When it comes to complete packages, look no further than the Seattle Seahawks. They were one of the shocks of the NFL, finishing with a 14-3 record. They beat the brakes off almost everyone they faced. Their first key to victory lies with Sam Darnold. He hasn’t performed well under pressure throughout his career. Just look at his time with the Vikings. If he goes out there and struggles against a bad 49ers secondary, that’ll be the story Sunday morning. Seattle was a great team, but didn’t have the guy at QB.
Is this defense the Legion of Boom 2.0? In stretches this season, it looked like this was the second coming of that legendary 2014-2016 defense. Head Coach Mike McDonald has had them playing at an elite level these past two seasons. Devon Witherspoon is slowly entering the conversation as a top-five cornerback in the NFL, and the sky’s the limit for him. Other than that, they don’t have many household names, but if they advance, their defense will be in every household.
Who Wins?
I have the Seattle Seahawks winning this game, but it’s close. At some point, the injuries of the 49ers have to catch up with them, right? Losing George Kittle to a torn Achilles was the epitome of their season. Another superstar goes down, but the team still finds a way, not in this game. After a physical road game against the Eagles, they fly across the country to face arguably the most physical team in the NFL. Seattle wins it in a nail-biter 24-20.
Final Thoughts
We love seeing divisional matchups going to round three. With the season series split, you know I have the Seahawks winning, but I want to hear from you. Who do you think is going to claim the first spot in the NFC Championship game tonight?
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts and preview of the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Seattle Seahawks. Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day and look forward to seeing you again soon.
