Sep

30

AccuScore Game Preview: 49ers vs. Seahawks

Posted by sf49ers

September 30, 2007 |

AccuScore and other NFL prediction sites have all pitted San Francisco as the winner of this game, I predict the same but I have some reserves. I think there is a good chance Seattle could beat the 49ers, they are a good team that has been to the Super Bowl, so I wouldn’t underestimate them. Here is the game preview:

(Sports Network) - If you live in this world, you’re feelin’ the change of the guard. Steely Dan sang that.

This Sunday at Monster Park, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers might just experience it.

The visiting Seahawks have three consecutive NFC West titles in their hip pocket, the only current team other than the Patriots and Colts to call itself a three-time defending champ.

But the 49ers, after a long period in the NFL wilderness, look poised to give Seattle a run for its money this season.

Mike Nolan’s team made a statement of intent in 2006, when a young group earned a home-and-home sweep over the Seahawks, but wasn’t consistent enough over a 16-game slate to make a proper run at postseason contention in a 7-9 campaign.

But after a fruitful offseason landed San Francisco a handful of key new playmakers, the 49ers looked to most pundits to possess the goods necessary to unseat Seattle.

So far, the results have matched the prognostications. The Hawks and Niners are both 2-1 and tied atop the NFC West as Week 4 begins, and the winner of their test on Sunday will claim sole control of the division while announcing to the world which of the two competitors is actually the team to beat in the West.

Thus, it’s as pivotal a contest as you’re likely to see in September. Will the king ward off his longtime subjects, or is a changing of the guard afoot?

SERIES HISTORY

The all-time series between the Seahawks and 49ers is knotted, 8-8, with San Francisco evening things up by virtue of last year’s aforementioned home-and- home sweep. The Niners were 20-14 winners at Monster Park in Week 11, and scored a 24-14 upset at Qwest Field in a Thursday night game to open Week 15. The Seahawks had won the previous six meetings, sweeping home-and-homes in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren is 11-5 versus San Francisco, where he served as an assistant from 1986 through 1991. Holmgren was 5-1 against the Niners during his tenure as head coach with Green Bay (1993-98), including a 3-1 record in the playoffs. The 49ers’ Nolan is 2-2 against both Holmgren and the Seahawks as a head coach.

WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL

Seattle has been nothing if not consistent for the first three games of 2007, putting up 24, 20, and 24 points in two wins and a loss. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (751 passing yards, 5 TD, 2 INT) and running back Shaun Alexander (275 rushing yards, 2 TD) are still running the show, with both logging an impact in last week’s 24-21 win over Cincinnati. Hasselbeck completed 24-of-37 passes for 248 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, while Alexander hit 100 yards on 21 carries despite suffering a cracked bone in his wrist. Alexander is not expected to miss any time with the injuries. Each member of Seattle’s main triumvirate of wideouts - Deion Branch (13 receptions, 1 TD), Bobby Engram (13 receptions, 1 TD), and Nate Burleson (10 receptions, 2 TD) caught a touchdown pass last week. Another expected member of the receiving corps in ‘07, D.J. Hackett (ankle), has been out since Week 1 and is not ready to return. Hasselbeck has been sacked five times on the year, including twice last Sunday.

Whether or not Alexander’s health is an issue should be determined early in Week 4, as Seattle figures to attack a San Francisco defense that has shown some soft spots through three weeks. The 49ers allowed 205 rushing yards in last week’s 37-16 loss to the Steelers, including 133 for Willie Parker and a game-sealing 39-yard touchdown blast for Najeh Davenport in the waning moments. Inside linebackers Patrick Willis (26 tackles) and Derek Smith (19 tackles) must guard against the big gain from Alexander, and end Marques Douglas (16 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (7 tackles) must be sturdy in the trenches. The secondary is perhaps the overall strength of this team, with cornerback Nate Clements (14 tackles, 1 sack) and strong safety Michael Lewis (19 tackles) both living up to their free agent billing thus far. The Niners have nine sacks already in 2007, which ranks among the top totals in the league, including a team-best four from veteran end Bryant Young (13 tackles).

WHEN THE 49ERS HAVE THE BALL

The big story for San Francisco this week will be the play of wideout Darrell Jackson, who caught 441 passes and scored 47 touchdowns with the Seahawks from 2000 through 2006 and will face his old foes. Jackson (11 receptions), who was involved in a dispute over contract issues and was reportedly not a terrific practice player, was traded on draft day back in April. Jackson, fellow receiver Arnaz Battle (9 receptions) and reserve tight ends Billy Bajema and Delanie Walker (3 receptions) will have to compensate for the absence of tight end Vernon Davis, who will miss at least two weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee. The man throwing the ball to those targets is Alex Smith (461 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), who played extremely well in both wins over Seattle last season but has just a 67.4 passer rating and has been sacked nine times so far in 2007. Also looking to get untracked for the Niners will be running back and 2006 Pro Bowler Frank Gore (175 rushing yards, 3 TD), who is seeking his first 100-yard rushing game of the season.

Even without Davis in the lineup, the 49ers would be wise to attack the Seahawks through the air on Sunday. The undersized Seattle secondary had no clue against Bengals receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh last Sunday, giving up a combined 21 catches and 279 yards to the duo. Cornerbacks Marcus Trufant (18 tackles) and Kelly Jennings (17 tackles) must be better against the Niners, and safeties Deon Grant (16 tackles) and Brian Russell (8 tackles), who both had interceptions of Carson Palmer last week, will have to assist them. The run-stopping group comes off a solid effort against Cincinnati, which could muster only 84 yards on 30 carries (2.8 avg.) in a losing effort. Outside linebackers Leroy Hill (16 tackles) and ex-49er Julian Peterson (20 tackles, 2 sacks) combined for 15 tackles in the win, and tackle Rocky Bernard (7 tackles, 1.5 sacks) set the tone with four tackles and a sack in the trenches. As a team, Seattle has seven sacks on the year.

FANTASY FOCUS

Neither Alexander nor Gore has been setting the world alight with fantasy numbers, but both have done enough through two weeks to warrant a start. The same can probably be said of Seahawks like Hasselbeck and Branch, who aren’t sure things but generally put up decent stats. Niners QB Smith, however, is still a huge fantasy risk. Both kickers are worth starting, and both defenses are capable of getting the sacks and turnovers needed to produce fantasy points.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

If the 49ers are serious about winning the NFC West, they must first win this game, and they know it. Sure, San Francisco beat Seattle twice last year, but neither of those games was seen as having a major effect on the division race, meaning this is not only the first truly important matchup between these clubs in awhile, but also perhaps the most significant game of Nolan’s three-year tenure. Expect the 49ers to come out with emotion, and to ride that positive current to a key victory. Both of these teams have flaws, and both opponents have the ability to expose them, but in a road game against a fired-up foe, you can expect Seattle to make one more mistake than San Francisco when it matters.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: 49ers 24, Seahawks 20

My Predicted Outcome: 49ers 28, Seahawks 21

Source: AccuScore


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