This game reminds me a bit of the playoff game against the Rams in 2021. The Rams won even though Seattle won the division and had beaten them in the previous outing. This time I could see Seattle taking down LA. Or not . . .
If San Francisco plays their best ball, we'll have little chance. But if they slip and if Seattle comes to play, a win is possible.
Over at NN they seem to think the rain is a bigger threat to their team than the Seahawks. Sweeping a team is difficult; three wins vs a team in one season is very rare. Might the Niners come in overconfident and mistake-prone?
I am a MICH fan and prior to the TCU game their board looked like the NN board (hell I thought TCU would be a walk-over also, and given how Georgia took them out behind the shed, MICH should have taken that game).
The point is, even though the Niners *should* win based on form it doesn't mean they *will* win. The Seahawks coaching staff knows them inside out. Pete will have a game plan together that he believes will win the game for Seattle, and will have the team believing in it too. I will never bet against Pete.
"Bosa had six pressures and two sacks in Week 2, then one sack and three pressures in Week 15, totaling three sacks, nine pressures, and five QB knockdowns."
Well the way this is going it is easy to see that Nick Bosa will only have 1 and a half pressures along with just one half of a sack. We be good.
I do think that Purdy and Garoppolo are good. If Garoppolo was just "a guy", the Niners would not have had awful seasons when he got hurt and they had to resort to Beathard and Mullens.
Mostly wanted to say, perfect still of Brock for the article cover. What an expression!
I don't expect us to win Saturday, but I wouldn't be shocked. I'm no Xs and Os authority either, but I could not agree more that we need to worry about the offensive playmakers and not Purdy. CMac, Kittle, and Deebo are among the best in the game at what they do. The 49ers have an embarrassment of riches in their top tier talent. While not at that level, we have some pretty darn good players too though. If Walker and one pass catcher have a great day, we can score on them at any rate we need to. On the other side of the ball Irvin, Taylor, and even Barton have been stepping up big when it matters most. Plus Woolen is overdue a pick and Quandre has been taking the ball away on defense.
If I do that thing where I list the starters at each position and compare, the 10 point spread will seem about right, if not generous to Seattle. I think both teams are well-coached and their players are put in positions to succeed. But I'd be more nervous than usual as a 9ers fan going into this game. If I remember right, teams are 14-7 after sweeping teams in the regular season. 2-1 historic odds aren't bad. Also if I were a fan of the dirty 9ers, I would have almost preferred a loss in week 14-18. Those winning streaks are so hard to keep alive once you hit the postseason. I was Googling that earlier today, but didn't find a direct answer and was having to decide whether 6, 8, 10 or whatever # of consecutive games won would need to be looked into so gave up on it. But the undefeated Patriots who lost in the Super Bowl did not look like an outlier.
My guess is that we will need to play (terrible) mistake and (big, backbreaking) penalty-free football for the most part. And hope they don't. Getting pressure on the rookie qb playing in the rain can only help. Geno needs to play at his efficient if unspectacular best. And the defense needs to have their game of the year. Tall order? Sure. But we're the 7 seed playing the 2 seed, and that's what you get. Let's win just one playoff game in the year after we traded Russell Wilson and pundits called us a worse roster than the Texans.
It’s fashionable to dis the argument that “it’s hard to beat a team three straight times.” Well, it *is* hard. Not because Team A learns from its defeats, but because Team B got the breaks in their two wins. If the breaks even out, Team A has a great opportunity in the the third game. Me, I think that the Hawks are overmatched. But if they can hang in there and keep it close--which they are historically good at--who knows how the ball will bounce in the fourth quarter?
It's nice feeling like we've already won the season. As fans (in general) we're feeling good no matter what happens on Saturday. Oddly, the bigger the underdog we are the happier I feel, because it forgives a loss and makes a win all the more satisfying. I know the players and coaches have different beliefs and expectations about the team than we do, but they have to be feeling some of this as well. I think we are going into this game both relaxed and confident, which is a killer combination for an upset. Plus, rain.
Having followed this team since its inception, I’ve seen enough unexplained wins and losses to wholeheartedly believe in the phrase “on any given Sunday.” But in this case we’ll say Saturday.
I believe the Seahawks can win. Don’t know if they will, but they can.
To do so, there need to be few or no mistakes. Walker needs to get rolling and I think he will. He’s no longer dancing in the backfield and is more decisive. And he’s been producing!
Geno can’t throw any picks. Ok, he can throw one if the Hawks are up by 3 scores with less than 3 minutes remaining.
Both Diggs and Woolen need to be prepared for when Purdy is off target, and go get the ball.
Making Purdy have to move off his preferred spot is another key. Get him a bit gun shy.
All this is doable. But the Seahawks haven’t yet put it all together. If they do, and my fingers are crossed they do, it could well be a Seahawks victory.
I am an optimistic guy by nature but as much as I admire Pete as a coach I will be surprised if the Seahawks pull out a win on Saturday. And deliriously happy!
In order to pull it off the Seahawks must have a mistake-free game, which would be a rare sight this season. They will also need to create some breaks on D through turnovers, and that seems at least possible.
Glad to read about our chances. I will increase my expectations. I want to see aggression, defensively, and that doesn't jibe with your analysis, but I imagine Pete will side with you.
This game reminds me a bit of the playoff game against the Rams in 2021. The Rams won even though Seattle won the division and had beaten them in the previous outing. This time I could see Seattle taking down LA. Or not . . .
If San Francisco plays their best ball, we'll have little chance. But if they slip and if Seattle comes to play, a win is possible.
Over at NN they seem to think the rain is a bigger threat to their team than the Seahawks. Sweeping a team is difficult; three wins vs a team in one season is very rare. Might the Niners come in overconfident and mistake-prone?
I am a MICH fan and prior to the TCU game their board looked like the NN board (hell I thought TCU would be a walk-over also, and given how Georgia took them out behind the shed, MICH should have taken that game).
The point is, even though the Niners *should* win based on form it doesn't mean they *will* win. The Seahawks coaching staff knows them inside out. Pete will have a game plan together that he believes will win the game for Seattle, and will have the team believing in it too. I will never bet against Pete.
That one guy who likes our line also means he likes our center. I think he got into the medical marijuana.
"Bosa had six pressures and two sacks in Week 2, then one sack and three pressures in Week 15, totaling three sacks, nine pressures, and five QB knockdowns."
Well the way this is going it is easy to see that Nick Bosa will only have 1 and a half pressures along with just one half of a sack. We be good.
I do think that Purdy and Garoppolo are good. If Garoppolo was just "a guy", the Niners would not have had awful seasons when he got hurt and they had to resort to Beathard and Mullens.
Speaking of paying it forward/ paying it back, a win is a thank you note for Denver: let's improve their first rounder by sending the niners home.
Mostly wanted to say, perfect still of Brock for the article cover. What an expression!
I don't expect us to win Saturday, but I wouldn't be shocked. I'm no Xs and Os authority either, but I could not agree more that we need to worry about the offensive playmakers and not Purdy. CMac, Kittle, and Deebo are among the best in the game at what they do. The 49ers have an embarrassment of riches in their top tier talent. While not at that level, we have some pretty darn good players too though. If Walker and one pass catcher have a great day, we can score on them at any rate we need to. On the other side of the ball Irvin, Taylor, and even Barton have been stepping up big when it matters most. Plus Woolen is overdue a pick and Quandre has been taking the ball away on defense.
If I do that thing where I list the starters at each position and compare, the 10 point spread will seem about right, if not generous to Seattle. I think both teams are well-coached and their players are put in positions to succeed. But I'd be more nervous than usual as a 9ers fan going into this game. If I remember right, teams are 14-7 after sweeping teams in the regular season. 2-1 historic odds aren't bad. Also if I were a fan of the dirty 9ers, I would have almost preferred a loss in week 14-18. Those winning streaks are so hard to keep alive once you hit the postseason. I was Googling that earlier today, but didn't find a direct answer and was having to decide whether 6, 8, 10 or whatever # of consecutive games won would need to be looked into so gave up on it. But the undefeated Patriots who lost in the Super Bowl did not look like an outlier.
My guess is that we will need to play (terrible) mistake and (big, backbreaking) penalty-free football for the most part. And hope they don't. Getting pressure on the rookie qb playing in the rain can only help. Geno needs to play at his efficient if unspectacular best. And the defense needs to have their game of the year. Tall order? Sure. But we're the 7 seed playing the 2 seed, and that's what you get. Let's win just one playoff game in the year after we traded Russell Wilson and pundits called us a worse roster than the Texans.
It’s fashionable to dis the argument that “it’s hard to beat a team three straight times.” Well, it *is* hard. Not because Team A learns from its defeats, but because Team B got the breaks in their two wins. If the breaks even out, Team A has a great opportunity in the the third game. Me, I think that the Hawks are overmatched. But if they can hang in there and keep it close--which they are historically good at--who knows how the ball will bounce in the fourth quarter?
It's nice feeling like we've already won the season. As fans (in general) we're feeling good no matter what happens on Saturday. Oddly, the bigger the underdog we are the happier I feel, because it forgives a loss and makes a win all the more satisfying. I know the players and coaches have different beliefs and expectations about the team than we do, but they have to be feeling some of this as well. I think we are going into this game both relaxed and confident, which is a killer combination for an upset. Plus, rain.
Having followed this team since its inception, I’ve seen enough unexplained wins and losses to wholeheartedly believe in the phrase “on any given Sunday.” But in this case we’ll say Saturday.
I believe the Seahawks can win. Don’t know if they will, but they can.
To do so, there need to be few or no mistakes. Walker needs to get rolling and I think he will. He’s no longer dancing in the backfield and is more decisive. And he’s been producing!
Geno can’t throw any picks. Ok, he can throw one if the Hawks are up by 3 scores with less than 3 minutes remaining.
Both Diggs and Woolen need to be prepared for when Purdy is off target, and go get the ball.
Making Purdy have to move off his preferred spot is another key. Get him a bit gun shy.
All this is doable. But the Seahawks haven’t yet put it all together. If they do, and my fingers are crossed they do, it could well be a Seahawks victory.
And just how wonderful would that be!
I am an optimistic guy by nature but as much as I admire Pete as a coach I will be surprised if the Seahawks pull out a win on Saturday. And deliriously happy!
In order to pull it off the Seahawks must have a mistake-free game, which would be a rare sight this season. They will also need to create some breaks on D through turnovers, and that seems at least possible.
Ever thought of coaching Joe?😁
Glad to read about our chances. I will increase my expectations. I want to see aggression, defensively, and that doesn't jibe with your analysis, but I imagine Pete will side with you.