For the second straight week, Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks are trying to figure out what went wrong in the fourth quarter of a game they thought they were going to win. There is still plenty of season left to turn things around, and the way the Seahawks have played at times shows there is plenty of talent on this roster to win games, but beginning with Thursday night's game at San Francisco, the Seahawks know they need to get back to closing out games the way they have in years past.
"They're really disappointed and they know we're better than what has shown the last couple of weeks," Carroll said of his players' state of mind. "And we need to get going. These guys are very clear about being determined to get that done. That's how we're going about it."
Getting it going shouldn't take drastic changes for the Seahawks, just a more complete effort through four quarters. A couple more first downs or another stop or two, and the Seahawks could be in a very different position right now. So while there are issues that need to be cleaned up, nobody is pushing the panic button in Seattle.
In addition to finishing stronger, turning things around in San Francisco could also could come down to these three matchups for the Seahawks:
1. Marshawn Lynch vs. the 49ers front seven.
Marshawn Lynch has yet to have a big game this season, but Thursday night would be a great time for that to happen. Back when the 49ers had the league's stingiest run defense, Lynch was one of very few backs to gain 100-plus yards on San Francisco, and over the past few seasons, he has been a huge part of Seattle's success against its NFC West rival.
In 10 games since coming to Seattle, postseason included, Lynch has seven games with 90 plus yards, including five games over 100 yards, and nine total touchdowns. When Lynch goes for 90 or more yards, the Seahawks are 5-2 against San Francisco, including five straight victories.
"It's always important," 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said of containing Lynch. "He's just a tremendous player in this thing for a long time."
The 49ers defense isn't quite what it used to be, having lost several star players, including defensive end Justin Smith and linebacker Patrick Willis, who both retired, but there are still playmakers on that side of the ball for San Francisco, most notably All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who is back after missing the entire 2014 season with a knee injury.
"It's very important (to contain Lynch)," said Bowman, who has 31 tackles in his last two games. "He's a back that's put his staple on the NFL for several years. We understand the type of attention that he deserves so we're definitely preparing for that."
2. Colin Kaepernick's current form vs. his history against the Seahawks.
If Colin Kaepernick plays like he has in his career against Seattle, the 49ers could be in trouble. If, however, Kaepernick plays like he has in his past two games, the Seahawks will have their hands full.
In six career starts against Seattle, including one postseason game, Kaepernick has won just once, and has three touchdowns with nine interceptions. Since throwing for 244 yards in his first start against Seattle, Kaepernick has yet to throw for more than 175 yards against the Seahawks, and he has a 52.5 percent career completion percentage and a 53.7 passer rating.
Kaepernick's last two games, however, have been very encouraging for a San Francisco offense that started slowly this season. In the past two weeks, including last week's win over Baltimore in which he threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns, Kaepernick has thrown for 602 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
"The throwing game really came together (Sunday) for them," Carroll said. "… Obviously they found the throwing game and that was in some big plays. Torrey (Smith) had some big plays, so they did some good things. I think they're just scrambling to get it together too, with a new squad, new (play)-callers, all of that. Unfortunately, they probably hit their best stride the week before they play us. We'll see what happens."
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3. Seahawks offense vs. third down.
Ask Carroll or offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell about the offense's inability to put together a drive to close out a game in the fourth quarter, and they'll point to an inability to convert on third down. As for their red zone struggle? That's a third down issue too, they say.
Sometimes not converting on third down comes down to simple execution or a decision made by a play-caller, while other times it is the result of poor results on first and second down creating unfavorable third-down situations, but whatever the reason, the Seahawks need to be better on that crucial down.
"We're doing a really nice job of keeping our third downs manageable," Bevell said. "That's probably the positive that we've been able to do. We're staying in shorter yardage situations. Like under 6 yards, those are ones that we feel like that's where we want to live. We've kind of done that really well. We just haven't been able to get the number of conversions that we like. So we're all working. That's what the major emphasis was (Tuesday). I'm looking for things, coaches are looking for things. Things that we can help our guys, put them in the best position to be successful. Calls I need to make, calls I need to change, those kinds of things. Players are working hard at making sure they're working their routes, working their depths, working their progressions, protection, all this stuff works together. And we'll continue to work at it."
When the Seahawks aren't converting on third down, especially on those manageable ones, it also means they're not finishing drives. One reason Seattle is losing games in which it wins the turnover battle is that the offense isn't turning those turnovers into touchdowns—the offense has yet to score a touchdown off a turnover this season. And in Carroll and Bevell's view, third-down struggles have been a big reason why the Seahawks are scoring touchdowns on only 28.6 percent of their trips into the red zone, the lowest conversion rate in the league.
"We're not converting," Carroll said of the red zone. "I see it as third-down conversions. We missed on a couple shots down there and it just accentuates the importance of third down. When you're down there, you get your next set of downs, you get your either-or down situations on first and second down to make the plays and call the passes that you want. I really sense that it's the lack of the third down conversions down there that's part of it. We have to improve there."
Before their Thursday Night Football showdown, take a throw back look to each of the 33 epic regular and postseason meetings the Seahawks have had against their NFC West rival, the 49ers.


Seattle Seahawks guard Tom Lynch (61) takes on San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dan Bunz (57) during an NFL game in San Francisco, Oct. 7, 1979. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 35-24. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

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 wide receiver James McKnight (82) catches a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Warren Moon in the second quarter of their game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, in Seattle. Defending on the play is San Francisco's Merton Hanks (36). (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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 linebacker Tim Terry (59) and defensive back Shawn Springs (24) combine to tackle San Francisco 49ers full back Fred Beasley (40) 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 quarterback Jeff Garcia (5) making run 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)

San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Lloyd, right, makes a one-handed catch while being defended by Seattle Seahawks' Kelly Herndon, left, in the first half on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, right, hands off to running back Shaun Alexander (37) in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, 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)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21)runs with the ball during a game against the Seattle Seahawks Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

San Francisco 49ers tight end Delanie Walker (46) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, September 30, 2007 in San Francisco. The Seahawks won the game, 23-3.

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 12: Punter Andy Lee #4 of the San Francisco 49ers punts from the endzone against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 12, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 24-0. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Andy Lee

Seattle Seahawks' Julius Jones, right, scores as San Francisco 49ers' Michael Lewis tries to get a hand on him in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

San Francisco 49ers heads tight end Delanie Walker (46) fumbles during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -








The Week 2 matchup was so big it was featured on Sunday Night Football, and a thunderstorm stopped the game in the first half. Even after the weather delay, threatening skies continued over CenturyLink Field.


Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman skies to intercept a deep pass intented for San Francisco's Vernon Davis along the Seattle sideline as head coach Pete Carroll (lower right) watches.

When San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick challenged Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in the first quarter, Sherman responded with an interception as head coach Pete Carroll celebrated on the sideline.
