The Seahawks (6-4) play at San Francisco on Sunday, looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and are playing in a stadium in which they've never lost—the Seahawks are 3-0 in the Bay Area since the 49ers moved to Levi's Stadium. The 49ers (1-9) have struggled this year, but are coming off their first win of the season, and will be well-rested coming off a bye.
If the Seahawks are going to win their eighth straight game against the 49ers, these are three key matchups that could make the difference Sunday:
1. The Seahawks pass rush vs. San Francisco's O-line and rookie QB C.J. Beathard.
Heading into last week's game the Seahawks had recorded 13 sacks in their previous three games, and they were hoping that pass rush would help limit the Falcons offense. Instead, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said "we weren't able to get to the quarterback like we thought we would" following a loss in which Seattle had one sack and four quarterback hits. Now, it's worth noting that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the reigning league MVP for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his ability to get the ball out quickly, so there weren't a ton of opportunities to get to him, but the Seahawks were still hoping for more pressure regardless.
Facing San Francisco, the Seahawks will hope to get the pass rush going again, and being able to do so would make a big difference facing rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard, who showed last week what he can do with some time to operate. In his first three starts, Beathard was sacked 14 times, and in those games he threw one touchdown and three interceptions while never posting a passer rating higher than 71.6. With left tackle Joe Staley back last week following a one-game absence, Beathard was not sacked once, and he passed for 288 yards and two scores while posting a 123.4 passer rating in San Francisco's first win of the season.
"C.J. has gotten better each week," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on a conference call. "I thought he had his best game last week, and I thought the 10 guys around him had their best game too, which made it a little bit easier for him."
2. 49ers running back Carlos Hyde vs. Seattle's run defense.
Carlos Hyde enjoyed a big day when these two teams faced off earlier this season, gaining 124 yards on 15 carries, but the Seahawks have improved their run defense since a couple of early miscues.
After allowing Hyde to have a big day thanks in part to a 61-yard run, and after allowing DeMarco Murray to gain 115 yards the next week, the Seahawks have not allowed an opposing back to gain more than 54 yards in their past seven games. And during that span, the Seahawks are allowing just 3.2 yards per rush and 80 rushing yards per game, which ranks second and third, respectively, in the NFL during that span.
"At the beginning of the year, we were giving up 60-plus-yard runs, and that wasn't like us," defensive end Frank Clark said. "For as long as I've been here, and for as long as I've had knowledge of the Seattle Seahawks, this defense in Coach Carroll's era, that's not what I've grown comfortable seeing. So to see it happen to us early on in the year was kind of a shock, and it was immediately adjusted."
Yet even if the Seahawks have cleaned things up, they know they'll have their hands full with Hyde, who is not only San Francisco's leading rusher, but who also has a team-high 42 catches for 274 yards.
"He runs really, really hard, he's got great vision," linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "He sees the cutback, he cuts back really well. He's starting to get more involved in the passing game, so he's just a really good all-around player."
The Seahawks feel like they've cleaned up the mistakes that led to big plays early this season, and the past two months of stingy run defense strongly suggest those issues are behind them, but facing Hyde again, the Seahawks will look to put those early-season struggles to rest for good.
"We gave up, what 125 yards to him last time?" Clark said. "He had a huge run on a play that looked like not the Seahawks defense we're accustomed to, where we missed a lot of tackles. One thing we want to do, we pride ourselves on having a great run defense, and this time around we get a second opportunity to put that on display, and that's what we're going to do."
The 49ers, meanwhile, know that they'll need a running game to help take pressure off of their rookie quarterback while facing a very good defense.
"You just have to understand that if they get you in a one dimensional game, they tee off on the quarterback, and they play such sound, good zone defenses that that is going to be extremely hard for a rookie and extremely hard for any other quarterback in this league," Shanahan said.
3. A Seahawks run game looking to get on track vs. San Francisco's 31st-ranked run defense.
While Seattle's run defense has improved drastically since that Week 2 game against the 49ers, the Seahawks' rushing attack is still trying to find its way. Russell Wilson is currently Seattle's leading rusher, which in part speaks to how talented he is, but it also shows how much trouble the Seahawks have had settling on a running back thanks to injuries. Chris Carson, who rushed for 93 yards against the 49ers earlier this year, is on injured reserve, as is C.J. Prosise, while Eddie Lacy and Mike Davis have both dealt with groin injuries of late as well.
"We have just been inconsistent," Carroll said of the run game. "We haven't found our consistency and we have been trying. You've seen us, we have been experimenting to get the right guy on the field at the right time… Nobody has really found the consistency that we are looking for and connected to how we have been blocking up front and all that. It just hasn't worked out the way we wanted. We are behind it right now, and we are still finding yards and Russell is doing a fantastic job of finding his yards, but it's not exactly the way we anticipated and we want it to be. We would like to get those guys more productive and more on point."
Even though the Seahawks haven't found the running game they want, and even though Wilson is having a good season throwing the ball, Carroll has no plans to give up on trying to get a better rush attack going. He still firmly believes in having a balanced offense, and will continue to strive to find that.
"We are trying to figure it out," he said. "I still think it is going to happen. I still think that we are going to bust out."
The 49ers, meanwhile, are giving up 133.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks second to last in the league, but that number can be a little misleading. Because San Francisco has struggled this season, opponents have run the ball a lot while playing from ahead. So while the raw numbers don't look good, the 49ers are middle-of-the pack on a per-play basis, allowing 4.0 yards per carry while facing the most rushing attempts in the NFL. The 49ers also have first-round pick Reuben Foster, a play-making linebacker who has been very impressive of late, this time around after he missed the previous meeting with an injury, and are adding reinforcements on the defensive line, so this is hardly an easy "get right" game for Seattle's running game.
The Seahawks and 49ers face off on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks fullback Dan Doornink (33) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Oct. 7, 1979. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 35-24. (AP Photo/Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana (16) passes during an NFL football game against Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1985, in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 19-6. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers' Terrell Owens catches the game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia while Seattle Seahawks' Shawn Springs defends during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Monday, Oct. 14. 29, 2002. The 49ers won, 28-21. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Marcus Robertson (31) gets ready to make sure San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst (20) is stopped on Sunday, December 1, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 31-24. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks' Antonio Cochran (78) celebrates a fumble recovery by teammate safety Ken Hamlin on the first play after the 2-minute warning in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-19. At left is 49ers' Ron Stone. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers running back Kevan Barlow (32) looks for hole in line on Saturday, December 27, 2003, in San Francisco, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 24-17. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looks for room to pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers' John Engelberger (95) and Derrick Hamilton (88) in the first quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Darrell Jackson, right, runs in for a touchdown past San Francissco 49ers' Ronnie Heard on a 33-yard pass reception in the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Seattle Seahawks' D.J. Hackett (18) grabs a touchdown pass in front of San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer in the first half on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith attempts to pass under pressure from Seattle Seahawks' Craig Terrill, right, and Rodney Bailey (95) in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-3. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws downfield while under pressure from Seattle Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson, left, in the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) cannot hold on to a pass in the second quarter as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Mark Roman defends in the second quarter Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore, center, fumbles in front of Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp in the first quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 12: Tight end Marcus Pollard #88 of the Seattle Seahawks spins after the reception against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 12, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 24-0. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Marcus Pollard
Seattle Seahawks' Josh Wilson defends as San Francisco 49ers' Isaac Bruce makes a 33-yard reception in overtime in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Seattle. The 49ers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones, left, carries the ball in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry (59), top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Glen Coffee (29) during an NFL football game in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Justin Forsett in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ruvell Martin (82) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements (22) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) drives for the end zone during an NFL game against Seattle Seahawks defensive back Kam Chancellor (31) on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tries to make a tackle while blocked by Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller (86) during the NFL week 7 football game on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game 13-6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman comes down with an interception ahead of San Francisco 49ers' wide receiver Randy Moss in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 42-13. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes against the defense of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, intercepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) catches a 35-yard touchdown pass at 13:44 of the fourth quarter of the NFL NFC Championship playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, January 19, 2014 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 23-17. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson (10) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Nov. 27, 2014, in Santa Clara, Ca. The Seahawks won the game, 19-3. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner, left, closes in on San Francisco 49ers' Carlos Hyde, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) drops the ball after scoring a touchdown ahead of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) catches the ball against San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers, 37-18. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Jeremy Lane (20) tackles San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert (31) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In this third in a series of seven photos, Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Will Redmond, left, as defensive tackle D.J. Jones (93) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sept. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
