3 Keys to Victory for the 49ers in Week 10 vs. Seahawks
An undefeated season on the line, Monday Night Football against the team’s biggest rival, and a divisional game that features the first and second place teams. Games don’t get much bigger than the San Francisco 49ers Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
It has been a few years since there has been anything more than pride on the line when it comes to this rivalry. However, with both teams firmly in the playoff picture, this game feels like a throwback to 2013. Luckily this time around Richard Sherman wears the Red and Gold.
The 49ers stand as the lone undefeated team in the NFL, but the Seahawks will be the best team San Francisco has played. Seattle rolls into town with a 7-2 record and the MVP favorite at quarterback. It will be a tough battle, but if the Red and Gold can accomplish these three keys, they will have a stranglehold on the division.
Get to Wilson with Four
While Monday night reignites the rivalry that peaked in 2013, the Seahawks are a different team than six years ago. The Legion of Boom is completely dismantled and Marshawn Lynch is enjoying his time out of the NFL as the King of Oakland. Seattle is no longer lead by a dominant defense and ground and pound rushing attack.
The 2019 version of the Emerald City’s team is led by an offense that ranks seventh in points per game, and ninth in passing yards per game. Part of the reason for the team’s success is explosive playmakers like wide receivers Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. To make matters worse, the addition of Josh “Flash” Gordon gives their offense another deep threat.
While the 49ers cornerbacks have played well, they haven’t faced a receiving core with as much big-play ability as the Seahawks. Thirty-one-year-old Richard Sherman’s achilies heel is speed receivers, and while Emmanuel Mosley has performed admirably, it would be a big risk to leave him on an island this week. San Francisco’s linebackers and safeties need to help keep Seattle’s weapons in front of the defense and that means less blitzing.
On the other hand, if quarterback Russell Wilson has too much time to throw, he’ll pick apart the secondary or use his legs and move the ball. Thus, San Francisco’s front four has to do its part by getting to Wilson quickly and without much help.
Luckily the Red and Gold’s defensive line matches up well against their opposition. Football Outsiders ranks Seattle’s offensive line 20th in pass protection, and the 49ers pass rush is one of the best in the NFL as they rank tied for third in sacks. Opportunities to rack up some sacks will be there for San Francisco, but it will have to come via three and four-man pressures.
Pound the rock
The first lesson any coach learns in Football 101 is if your team’s strength is the opponent’s weakness, exploit that deficiency as much as possible. Since the 49ers rushing attack averages the second-most yards per game (171.1), and the Seahawks defense ranks 13th in rushing yards per game (102.7), running the ball should be a big part of the gameplan.
As the year has gone on Seattle’s run defense has gotten worse. Through its first five games, the team allowed 80 rushing yards per game but in the last four contests, they have surrendered an average of 131 yards on the ground. If this trend continues, the Emerald City’s run defense could easily finish in the bottom 25 percent of the league.
Play caller Kyle Shanahan has done a fantastic job getting multiple players involved in the running game and designing some creative plays. The 49ers have three players with over 300 rushing yards this season and as mentioned above, are one of the most productive teams on the ground. The Red and Gold should be able to play ball control without having to sacrifice offensive production on Monday.
Make the 4th Quarter boring
While the 49ers faithful would love to see the team light up the scoreboard, the smart gameplan is to be conservative Monday night. Seattle averages the fourth-most points per game in the final quarter, and conversely, San Francisco ranks 20th. Last week is a perfect example of how dangerous the Seahawks can be in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers held a three-point lead heading into the last frame, but Seattle managed to put up 19 points in the 4th quarter and overtime to pull out the victory. Late game heroics are one of Russell Wilson’s strengths as he leads the league with four game-winning drives.
Of course, the 49ers need to have the lead before they can accomplish this key, but once they get up, the game can’t end quickly enough. With how explosive the Seahawks offense is they are never out of the game, regardless of the score.
Putting up style points can definitely send a message to the rest of the conference, but that risks leaving the door open for Seattle, which isn’t the wisest approach. For the Red and Gold, this game is about ignoring style points and walking away with a victory. In a sense, this key is a combination of the first two: keep the Seahawks offensive weapons in front of you and sit on the ball as long as possible.
