WEEK 14 9ERS VS SEATTLE AT LEVI STADUM

 by Geep

The 9ers enter the game coming off a blowout win over the Eagles while the Seahags enter the game in desperation mode.

* Seahawks Defense vs 49ers Offense:
Purdy is playing at a high level and leads the MVP odds. The engine of the 9er offense is CMC, who is also playing at an MVP level.
If Seattle loads the tackle box to shut down McCaffrey, Purdy will burn them down the field. WR Aiyuk is having a career year, in part due to Purdy’s aggressiveness and accuracy throwing the ball down the field. Aiyuk is on pace to have 77 receptions and 1,432 yards. That's 18.5 yards per catch and he’s the guy Purdy will look to on key third downs.
WR Deebo Samuel isn't having his greatest season, but last week we saw his 3 TD's transformed the game, as the Eagles D was incapable of stopping him! Then there's TE Kittle, who's having a career year and on pace to have his first 1,000-yard year since 2019. This is another product of BP at QB, who looks to Kittle more than JG did.
The 9ers 3Rd WR, Jennings can catche teams sleeping and sneak underneath the attention that Samuel, Aiyuk, Kittle, and McCaffrey garner.

* So how does Seattle match up?
Seattle has a good cornerback duo in 2nd year Tariq Woolen and rookie Devon Witherspoon, but neither of them could tackle the 9ers’ YAC weapons on Thanksgiving night.
The key to victory for Seattle will be to get to BP and pressure him WITHOUT blitzing. Purdy is one of the game’s best quarterbacks when blitzed because he knows where the open man is at all times. Philadelphia learned this the hard way after Purdy went 10-10 for 213 yards and 3 TD's against them when blitzed.
HOWEVER, the 9ers have the 28th-ranked pass-blocking O-Line, so it may be possible for Seattle D to get to Purdy without sending more than 5 rushers and hope their defense can coax a rare mistake out of
Purdy. (good luck with that).
While Seattle D does have a good cornerback duo, their coverage at linebacker and safety doesn’t exist. If they give Purdy enough time, Kittle and CMC will burn them in the intermediate and short passing game. So Seatle’s ONLY path to stopping the 9ers is try to pressure PB without blitzing. And I said before, good luck with that!
For the 9ers? Run the ball and pass deeper occasionally to keep the Seahag's defense honest.

* Seattle offense VS 9ers defense:
The 9ers defense just got done shutting down the Eagles, one of the better offenses in the league......BUT.....
Geno Smith is coming off his best game of his season. if he carries that over in this game, Seattle has a chance at upsetting the 9ers at home. Another big factor is the return of Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III, who was absent from the Thanksgiving match-up. If he's healthy, Walker will provide another dimension to the Seahawks’ offense. Walker is a dynamic running back and it will force the 9ers D to play both the run and pass.
The key match-up in the game will be the battle between Seattle WR D.K. Metcalf and 9ers CB Charvarius Ward. Ward held Metcalf to just three catches and 32 yards on nine targets with two pass break-ups. IWard actually leads the entire NFL in pass breakups and is a huge match-up that will determin who wins the game. Metcalf comes off a game where he completely torched Daron Bland, who was considered part of the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Another match-up that will be key in this game is the chess match between 9ers DC Steve Wilks and Seahawks OC Shane Waldron. Wilks just got done shutting down Hurts and the Eagles’ high-powered rush attack, while Waldron just got done lighting up one of the league’s premier defenses. The Seahawks and the Eagles don’t run similar offenses, but shutting down the Seahags run games will go a long way in taking advantage of the match-up.
Seattle was blown out by the 9ers on Thanksgiving because they were one dimensional on offense. They tried to drop back and pass, with no play-action and didn’t try to establish a run game. That didn’t go too well, to the tune of 6 49ers sacks. This time around, expect Waldron’s offense to center around a heavy rush attack combined with a lot of hard play action and bootlegs. Getting Smith on the move should help alleviate some pressure off his shoulders.

So how do the 9ers stop Smith and the Seahawks’ offense?
Easy, do what they did against the Eagles. Shut down the run, collapse the pocket, and sack Smith.
For the Seahawks? open holes for RB Kenneth Walker, Run play action and get Smith on the move to either side.
Final score: 9ers 38 VS Seattle 24