A November or December NFC West game with playoff implications has become the standard for the Seattle Seahawks in the decade Pete Carroll and John Schneider have run the show.
For the unbeaten 49ers, who host the Seahawks at Levi's Stadium Monday, a game of this magnitude is something new to almost everyone associated with the team. And make no mistake about it, that's no knock on the 49ers. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have built one the NFL's most talented teams and most ferocious defenses, and they helped lead a remarkable turnaround from four straight seasons with double-digit loss totals.
But while a turnaround this drastic is unusual, in a way what the 49ers have done is the norm in the NFL. Almost all teams have their ups and downs in a league set up to create parity. Now not every team can take those high draft picks and build a winner, but that's exactly what the 49ers have done.
In a lot of ways, the Seahawks' consistent success is the outlier in the NFL, and facing the 49ers in a game with playoff implications is a good reminder of that. In a sense, the NFC West has come full circle since Carroll and Schneider's early years in Seattle, with the Seahawks again battling the 49ers for NFC West supremacy.
In 2010, the Seahawks managed to hold off the St. Louis Rams for a 7-9 division title. The Seahawks went 7-9 again the next year, their last non-winning season under Carroll and Schneider, while the 49ers emerged as the NFC West power, winning the next two division titles and advancing to one Super Bowl. After falling short and ending up with a Wild Card berth in 2012, the Seahawks won the division each of the next two years, going to back-to-back Super Bowls, then Arizona took its turn on top of the division in 2015, with the Seahawks again a Wild Card team. The Seahawks won the NFC West again in 2016, followed by the Rams winning back to back titles the past two seasons, making it to the Super Bowl last year. And now the 49ers are back on top of the division after several years of struggles.
Add it all up, and in the nine seasons Carroll and Schneider have been in Seattle, the Seahawks have four division titles and seven playoff berths, two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl title, while the rest of the division has seven playoff berths, five division titles and two Super Bowl losses. As a result of that sustained success, the Seahawks have also had continuity at the top, keeping the same coach and GM together while the rest of the other three NFC West teams have had 12 head coaches and two interim head coaches.
The Seahawks haven't always been the best team in their division over the last decade, but they've always been in the mix, which is a big point of pride for head coach and GM who strive to build, as Schneider has put it on so many occasions, a "consistent championship-caliber football team."
"I do take pride in that," Carroll said. "That's what we're trying to be, uncommonly consistent. That is important. There's been quite a few coaches going through (the division). It's hard. We're still here. I'm glad we're still here. Happy for that."
Linebacker K.J. Wright, the only current Seahawk to experience a losing season in Seattle, having been a part of a 7-9 team as a rookie, said the team's consistent winning has been "amazing. Credit the guys they kept here, me, Bobby (Wagner), Russ (Wilson), and they did a great job drafting, and Pete has been a great leader. His message has always been the same. We never had that dip. I believe the most games I've lost was my rookie year, nine games. So this is just a championship team, it's a great culture here, we just know how to win… It is rare. You see other teams, they just find a way to not have a good season, but we've done a tremendous job. Russ has just been amazing since he's been here, back when we had Marshawn (Lynch), he was phenomenal. So we just always find players to plug in and be successful. I don't plan on (a losing season) ever happening while I'm here. It's been fun."
Even the people in charge of the team trying to hold off the Seahawks and win the division have a lot of appreciation for what Carroll and Schneider have done in Seattle.
"Kyle and I have a great deal of admiration for those guys," Lynch said Friday on Sports Radio 950 KJR. "… We've tried to model it very much like that. I've got a great deal of respect for that organization."
Lynch, who went from the broadcast booth to a general manager job, got to see how Schneider and Carroll did things up close as member of FOX's broadcast team, and he decided that if he were ever to work in a front-office role, he wanted it to look something like what he saw in Seattle.
"One thing I always admired about those guys, when I was talking to John if I was up doing a broadcast, or talking to Pete, they spoke the same language," Lynch said. "So, if I ever did this, it was going to be with a guy who I felt I could on the same page with. I think those guys have done that as well as anyone, it shows in their roster. When they rebuild their roster, they're simpatico, they're on the same page."
Of course winning year after year isn't easy. The Patriots are the extreme outlier, while teams like the Seahawks, Green Bay and Pittsburgh are also the exception and not the rule in a league where the vast majority of the teams have the occasional big dip in the win column. As Wright referenced, having a great quarterback obviously helps, and the Seahawks have had that in Wilson since 2012. But consistent success takes more than just one great player, even if he is a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback. And what has allowed the Seahawks contenders year after year is the same approach that makes them good week after week, and that has made them one of the toughest teams to beat in the NFL even on their bad days, with only five double-digit losses, postseason included, since the middle of the 2011 season.
"It's discipline," Carroll said. "It's the discipline of staying focused on what is right in front of you right now. That's what I'm selling out for. It's the ability to not be distracted by what's going on, what just happened, or what's coming up… I think it takes tremendous discipline to do that. It takes tremendous commitment in your language and in your approach to find that consistency that keeps you from going up and down because it's human nature—you're up and down. When it's tough assignments, you toughen up. When it's not as tough, you lessen—we can't do that if we're going to be different than everybody. I've been on this one for what seems like 20 something years now. I'm just trying to drill it home about focusing and establishing the mentality so that you don't get distracted with all the things you can get distracted by. It's what we talk about. We're trying to control those variables whenever we can."
And again, it takes a daily commitment to that type of consistency in approach for a team to be a playoff contender year after year for a decade.
"If you're not working on it the whole time, you can't create the mentality that catches you and keeps you on track with what it takes to really be in the moment right now," Carroll said. "Mindfulness is a big part of this and a strict discipline and the reminders and all that. That's just trying to separate from the rest of the crowd. Otherwise, you're going to be up and down. You're going to be like everybody."
And in an NFL where most teams have their ups and downs, the Seahawks don't want to be like everybody. They want to be uncommonly consistent.
The Seahawks and the 49ers will meet this Monday at Levi's Stadium on Monday Night Football for the tenth game of the 2019 season. Take a look back at photos from past games between the two teams.
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)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth (55) stands with defensive lineman Jacob Green (79) during an NFL preseason football game in 1988 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers Steve Young plays in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA. August 15, 1991. ( AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver James McKnight (82) catches a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of their game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park Saturday, August 9, 1997. 49ers beat Seahawks 21-17 in a preseason game. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Brohm (11). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park Saturday, August 9, 1997. 49ers beat Seahawks 21-17 in a preseason game. Lead by San Francisco 49ers center, Guard Chris Dalman (67) line take on Seahawks defense. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Tai Streets (89) is seen in action during an NFL against the Seattle Seahawks Dec. 1, 2002, in San Francisco, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Doug Evans (33) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, in San Francisco. (Greg Trott via AP)
Seattle Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, in San Francisco. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) hands off to running back Shaun Alexander (37) on Sunday, December 1, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 31-24. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Walter Jones (71) pass blocks during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2003 in San Francisco, Calif. The Seahawks won the game, 24-17. (Greg Trott via AP)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) on Saturday, December 27, 2003, in San Francisco, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 24-17. (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)
Aerial view of the Coin Toss before the start of the Seattle Seahawks opening day game vs San Francisco 49ers, at Qwest Field in Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Julia Robertson)
Seattle Seahawks' Ken Lucas (21) grabs San Francisco 49ers Jamal Robertson on a run in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, in Seattle. Robertson was held to no gain on the play, and the Seahawks won, 34-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cedric Woodard celebrates with the ball along with Grant Wistrom, center, and Chike Okeafor, right, after recovering a fumble by the San Francisco 49ers in the first half in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. The Seahawks won, 34-0. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Jerry Rice, left, greets San Francisco 49ers' Bryant Young after the game Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in San Francisco. The Seahawks won, 42-27. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Through the haze from pre-game fireworks, Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong (38) gains some yardage against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander reacts after scoring on a 3-yard run against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
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)
Seattle Seahawks' Michael Boulware, top left, and Kelly Herndon, top right, celebrate as San Francisco 49ers receiver Johnny Morton (84) misses a catch on a two-point conversion attempt on the last play of the game on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 in San Francisco. Seattle won 27-25. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander goes horizontal and into the end zone past San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Moore, left, for a touchdown in the first quarter in a football game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) passes in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, middle, is mobbed by San Francisco 49ers defenders as he carries the ball in the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Walter Jones (71) pass blocks during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 19, 2006, in San Francisco, Calif. The 49ers won, 20-14. (Greg Trott via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Patrick Kerney, left, is congratulated by Jordan Babineaux, top, and Darryl Tapp after Kerney forced a fumble and sacked San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex D. Smith during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks recovered. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) smiles after greeting former teammate and San Francisco 49ers back-up quarterback Trent Dilfer after an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 24-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer scrambles during a football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander jumps between San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis, left, and Mark Roman, right, during the third quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. The Seahawks won 23-3. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Seattle Seahawks' Heath Farwell (55) blocks a punt by San Francisco 49ers' Andy Lee in the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Casey, File)
Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver(43) runs with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan (14) calls a play during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram, left, tries to avoid the tackle of San Francisco 49ers safety Michael Lewis (32) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawksí Matt Hasselbeck in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan (84) heads downfield as Seattle Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne makes a tackle during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game, 20-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks' John Carlson reaches for a ball in the end zone during the second half on an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. San Francisco won 23-10. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace (15) rolls out during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 23-10. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
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 running back Marshawn Lynch (24) in action during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) calls a play during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 40-21. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) battles for the goal line during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) flies through the air for the first-down marker during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) runs against Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Alan Branch (99) and Anthony Hargrove (94) in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis, left, is hit by Seattle Seahawks' Kam Chancellor, right, during a reception attempt in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Leon Washington in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) under center against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, intercepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, (15), in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) runs past San Francisco 49ers' Dontae Johnson in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 17-7. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin (22) is taken down by San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) during an NFL game on Thanksgiving in Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Thursday, November 27, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
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 wide receiver Tyler Lockett is tackled by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (obscured), but powered through to score a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball as Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) defends during an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) runs the ball after an interception during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers, 37-18. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (32) runs the football during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers, 37-18. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Jimmy Graham (88) scores a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers'n NaVorro Bowman in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) celebrates his touchdown reception with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Don Feria)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Marcus Smith (97) celebrates after a tackled against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Don Feria)
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)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) catches a touchdown pass in front of San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore (33) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens drops back to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown, (18) celebrates with wide receiver David Moore (83) after Brown caught a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, right, runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
