Field Gulls
We are hours away from Round 3 between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Round 1 was narrowly San Francisco’s, while Round 2 was clearly Seattle’s. What do we have in store for Round 3? I don’t care if it’s narrow or emphatic, it just needs to be a win, because whoever loses this NFC Divisional Round tilt is headed home for the year.
Let’s get to some game predictions for Seahawks vs. 49ers, Act III. First, let’s review what happened last time out!
Bold prediction: Better late than never for Rashid Shaheed
Still waiting.
Seahawks offense prediction: The Seahawks finally score multiple 1st half offensive touchdowns
They got one, which was an important one, and it was enough.
Seahawks defense prediction: Multiple turnovers off of Brock Purdy again
They got one, which was an important one, and it was enough.
49ers prediction: George Kittle still has a big day
Didn’t happen. And unfortunately for George, we don’t know how many more big games he has left after that awful Achilles tear against the Eagles.
Game prediction: Seahawks are the kings of the NFC West
Indeed they are.
This is my last Rashid Shaheed bold prediction for the season, win or lose. He had a bye week for the first time all season; when he was traded to Seattle, the New Orleans Saints didn’t have their bye yet. That bye week included a couple of practices, aka two practices to gain more chemistry with Sam Darnold.
I’ve loved Shaheed’s special teams value and his presence may have opened the running game a bit, but he was brought here to be a formidable receiving threat. Outside of the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts games, that hasn’t really materialized. Something hasn’t quite clicked and maybe it just needs another offseason to click. I’d rather it start clicking now, and perhaps it’s time he get some WR2 looks over Cooper Kupp and see if anything changes.
Shaheed doesn’t have to be typecast as a deep threat; get him on shallow crossers, screen passes, anything that allows him to use his speed for yards after catch.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is surely going to lead the Seahawks in receiving yards and receptions, but I think Shaheed won’t be too far behind.
JSN has scored against the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, but his first TD awaits against the 49ers. He’s already had two 100+ receiving yard games against San Francisco, so he’s ready to be a thorn in their side for a long time.
I don’t care if he scores on Deommodore Lenoir, who probably won’t be matched up with him at all on Saturday. He just needs to get into the end zone, and I see him taking advantage of the second-year corner Renardo Green for an explosive play touchdown.
Seahawks defense prediction: Brock Purdy...
