At 8-0, the San Francisco 49ers are the last remaining unbeaten team in the NFL this season. San Francisco has been one of the most well-rounded teams in the league this year. Kyle Shanahan’s offense is humming thanks to a strong running game that has seen Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, and Raheem Mostert all perform above expectations. This plays into Jimmy Garoppolo’s ability to hurt opponents off play action. The addition of Emmanuel Sanders has helped shore up a young an unproven wide receiver group and George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the game giving Garoppolo a great set of options to throw to. Defensively, this team has one of the strongest defensive lines in football. After years of investing high first-round picks into the position, the team is seeing the returns pay dividends. The latest selection, 2019 second-overall choice, Nick Bosa, has been the key to unlock everything this season. The pressure up front has allowed for the secondary to be more impactful and Richard Sherman has had somewhat of a resurgence at cornerback.
Sherman’s former team will enter Levi’s Stadium in hopes of changing the number in the Niners loss column from zero to one. Seattle themselves have outdone even the most optimistic expectations and if not for San Francisco they would be tops in the NFC West and the NFC. The reason they have been so good? Quarterback Russell Wilson. Once seen as merely a game manager, Wilson is now solidly viewed as one of the best players at the position today. There’s nothing that he can’t do; throw from the pocket, throw on the run, throw accurately, throw deep, etc. you name it, Wilson can do it. Tyler Lockett has developed an even better rapport with Wilson than former number one target Doug Baldwin and the presence–and speed–of rookie wideout D.K. Metcalf has added a new dimension to the passing game altogether. If the defense focuses too much on slowing Wilson down, that opens the field for running back Chris Carson. Seattle still operates like a run-first team when they have the ball so forget about Carson at your own risk.
Seattle’s defense might no longer be run by the Legion of Boom but it remains a talented bunch. Their front seven features Ziggy Ansah, Jadeveon Clowney, Mychal Kendricks, Bobby Wagner, and K.J. Wright, which is about as good as it gets. The Seahawks usually are able to control the game without having to commit more than six or seven players to the box on each snap. As long as their talent plays to their abilities then this group is at worst a formidable group. The tides have changed and it’s the offense’s turn to lead the show but that doesn’t mean the defense can’t hold its own or even win a game or two when needed.
Tonight’s game will be about which team can play their brand of football best. Both teams want to establish the run and both teams have the pieces to slow down an opposing team’s run game. Wilson is the more establish quarterback and if push came to shove Seattle would have no issues turning this game into an all-out aerial assault. The 12th Man’s starter under center has put together an MVP-caliber season but Lamar Jackson’s recent stretch of play has tightened the race. A big performance on Monday Night Football might be just the thing Wilson needs in order to cement himself as the top option to take home the coveted hardware. Yet, Garoppolo and San Francisco could also use this win to fortify their standing among the league’s elite. Turning their season from one of a surprise to one of dominance. This meeting will be one everyone will want to watch.
PREDICTION: 49ers 25 , Seahawks 21
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