What are the odds it’ll be just like Week 18?
It’s time. Playoff football is here in Seattle!
The last time coach Mike Macdonald’s defense saw this San Francisco 49ers team, it beat the breaks off of them. The Seattle Seahawks held their rivals to the fewest points (3) a Kyle Shanahan offense has ever put up in San Francisco. Having that been said, coach expressed that there’s “about a 99.999% chance it’s going to play out way different than the last one” … hmm, that’s pretty damn high, Mike! What does he know?
You’re telling me they can’t all look like this?
I know Macdonald’s quote could be taken as a general football statement about any rematch, but let’s take a look at some differences straight off the top:
The legendary Trent Williams returned in last week’s elimination game against the Eagles. He missed Week 18. So did Seahawks left tackle, Charles Cross, but Williams is one of the greats of the current game. Can the Seahawks make QB Brock Purdy as uncomfortable with Big Trent there to watch his blind side?
Seattle owns the NFL’s longest active streak of consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher… 26 games straight! Nonetheless, Shanahan will likely look to run behind Williams to take advantage of his elite prowess outside. CMC just logged the most touches in a regular season of any HB in the last decade, and I think San Fran will look to squeeze the most out of him that they can.
Former first-round wideout Ricky Pearsall has been injured all year (RIP to my fantasy team, but also to his expectations for the year *if we’re being humane*), and he’s the only Niner who can legitimately win downfield on a consistent basis. His exposure to the SF offense may open things up a bit to give Purdy some breathing room. Seattle was sitting on routes from the remnants of the Niner receiving room in the regular season’s final week.
No George Kittle means Nick Emmanwori’s multifaceted job might be a little easier (Niners fullback, Kyle Juszczyk called George “the heart and soul” of their football team), but possibly Pearsall and probably Williams could spell a tougher time for edge players, safeties and corners in different ways.
Seattle should probably expect to be threatened by more than just 3 points scored as they spin the block back to Lumen Field. Challenging the edges in the run game, utilizing screens and play action early to slow down the rush and stretching the field vertically are all shifts that could manifest in some way in the divisional round.
On the offensive side of things, Grey Zabel acknowledged that “they might bring a little more blitzes” … he goes on to say, “we’re going to maybe have to take one or two on the chin to understand what the game plan is going to be and continue moving forward.”
That seems like one of the easiest ways to see this game playing out much differently. The Seahawks defense is tough and will challenge the 49ers offense at every turn… you can believe Coach Macdonald will have those boys ready to go. If Seattle is the presumed favorite, San Francisco may be inclined to be much more aggressive on defense to see if they can rattle QB, Sam Darnold.
This game will come down to who can game-manage better: 49ers QB Brock Purdy or Seahawks QB Sam Darnold. Purdy did have two interceptions last week against Philadelphia, as the Niners fought a physical game while Seattle sat on bye.
Role players like Robbie Ouzts and Eric Saubert have seen their roles grow in the run game in recent weeks.
Although there is potential for this game to go any which way, if Seattle double down on the run game, it feels like the Hawks can enact a little bit of a feeling of déjà vu upon John Lynch’s team. Beastmode said, “all you gotta do is ******** *** *** ****!”
He was theorizing that the run game is the foundation of offensive success and even a catalyst for agreeable defensive looks over the course of a contest. Just run the damn football.
Category: General Sports
