Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers are in Seattle to face the Seahawks. This is what you want, whether you’re a fan or a player, to go against your heated rival in the playoffs. Here are our staff’s predictions for tonight’s game.
The 49ers are disappointed with their performance in Week 18. I believe Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will come out with a chip on their shoulder. Yes, the 49ers are without George Kittle, but Trent Williams is returning, which opens up the outside zone to his side. If Ricky Pearsall can play, the 49ers have a downfield threat that will be able to back off the Seahawks’ defense.
The 49ers will struggle to run the football, but Kyle Juszczyk will help keep the 49ers on schedule with his short receptions, and I fully expect Shanahan to dial up shots and explosive plays for Juice. The run defense is in a better position and won’t miss 18 tackles again. Put Sam Darnold in obvious passing situations, and that’s when turnover situations will present themselves.
49ers 21, Seattle 17
I hilariously backed a shootout in Week 18, only for the 49ers to score a grand total of three points in defeat.
I’m not going to repeat that mistake, but I am going to pick the Niners to shock the world and win on the road at Lumen Field.
On paper, all the matchups are stacked in the favor of the Seahawks. That was certainly the case in Week 18, when Seattle could have won by a lot more than 10 points.
Yet, with Sam Darnold nursing an oblique injury, there’s significant scope for a turnover-strewn performance from the former 49ers’ backup, and those extra possessions figure to be worth their wait in gold to the 49ers.
Moving the ball theoretically figures to be even harder for the 49ers without George Kittle. However, the Niners proved they can do it without him in Philadelphia, and with Trent Williams back in the lineup, the offense should fare better than it did in the regular-season finale.
Ultimately, the 49ers’ hopes will come down to their offense repeating their production from the wild-card round and the defense making enough plays while producing the second-half improvements that have been a theme for this group under Robert Saleh in recent weeks. I’m backing both things to happen and the 49ers to pull out the victory.
49ers 19, Seahawks 17
We all know I was thinking the Eagles would win last week. That cynicism may have been what led to victory. This week, I’m not speaking on cynicism; I’m just trying to be rational.
And really, I don’t see the 49ers winning this. Now, if I’m a betting man, I’d be taking the 49ers and the points. I think they keep this close. I just don’t think they will move on. This is less about Sam Darnold keeping them in the game and more about that Seahawks defense doing Seahawks...
