Category: Breaking

Week 14 preview and prediction: Seahawks @ 49ers

I usually have a fairly rosy outlook, but even I am struggling to find reason for optimism here.

The Seattle Seahawks are in a tough spot right now. Having lost their previous three games, the road does not get any easier for them today. Seattle is slated to have their rematch against the domineering San Francisco 49ers.

Historically speaking, the Seahawks own the 49ers overall. But in the last four meetings between these teams, San Francisco has the decisive edge. The 49ers have had their way with Seattle, winning by an average margin of 16 points. The only game that didn’t end in a multiple score loss for the Seahawks was a 21-13 defeat in Week 15 last year, and San Francisco still led 21-3 in the third quarter.

Now Seattle is going to the Bay Area as +13.5 point underdogs, which is the largest point spread against the Seahawks since Week 2 of the 2011 season. Seattle lost that game to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-0.

I usually have a fairly rosy outlook, but even I am struggling to find reason for optimism here. The 49ers are an absolute wagon, having most recently decimated the Eagles in Philadelphia 42-19 last week. The Seahawks, on the other hand, are reeling. Sure, they put up 35 points against the stout Dallas defense last week, but their own defense surrendered 41 points. Unfortunately, I don’t see Seattle having the same statistical output offensively, and for one key reason.

Prediction: 49ers over Seahawks 30-3

Quarterback Geno Smith might not play! As of this moment, he is a game time decision due to a groin injury he sustained earlier in the week of practice. If Smith is unable to go, the responsibility will fall upon Drew Lock. In limited action this year, Lock has not exactly impressed, completing 4-of-12 passes for 66 yards and an interception.

The Seahawks offense can’t seem to get things going against San Francisco even with a healthy Geno Smith. So with Smith banged up, or Lock at the helm, I don’t see how this team is going to move the ball. As for the defense, they have yet to figure out a way to slow down the one-man weapon that is Christian McCaffrey.

Expect another long afternoon of Seahawks football today.

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Week 13 preview and prediction: Seahawks @ Cowboys

Week 13 preview and prediction: Seahawks @ Cowboys

By nature of one of the weirder scheduling quirks in recent memory, the Seattle Seahawks are gearing up for their second-straight game on Thursday night. Following their blowout loss on Thanksgiving to the San Francisco 49ers, the road does not get any easier for the Seahawks, as they will have to face off against the Dallas Cowboys.

This will be Seattle’s first trip to Arlington, TX since their 24-22 Wild Card loss to the Cowboys to conclude the 2018 season.

The Seahawks have been struggling to stay afloat for the majority of the last two months, especially on offense. Last week was the second blowout defeat in the previous four weeks. They have also failed to score more than 30 points since their Week 3 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

As for the Dallas Cowboys, they have been quietly rolling. Thanks to the dominance of both the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys have been somewhat flying under the radar. They are 8-3, which would be good enough to lead every division but their own and the AFC North (as Baltimore is 9-3).

Part of the Cowboys’ success has been by quarterback Dak Prescott, who has rebounded nicely from his subpar 2022 season. Prescott has been putting together an MVP-caliber campaign as one of the better signal callers this season. No longer is he turning the ball over at an alarming rate, which has led to Dallas fielding one of the better offenses in the league. With the Cowboys playing clean football, they are a difficult matchup for anyone.

As for the Seahawks, they are a team fighting for their football lives. The margin between them and the franchises not in the playoff picture exists, but will shrink drastically with a loss. A team with their backs against the wall is a dangerous one to face, but will it be enough to overcome Dallas?

Prediction: Cowboys over Seahawks 26-19

Games between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks are always competitive. Four of the last seven meetings between these teams have been one score games, and two of the three that weren’t were 24-13 and 21-12 Seattle victories. I fully expect the Seahawks to do what they have done best under Pete Carroll, and give their opponent a fight.

But Dallas has been making mincemeat of teams that don’t have their act together this season, and unfortunately, this now includes Seattle.

The Seahawks’ offense is broken and incapable of sustaining meaningful drives, especially against the NFL’s heavyweights. In 2023, Seattle is 6-0 when the offense scores at least 20 points, and 0-5 when they don’t. If the Seahawks can manage to sustain a few offensive possessions, they might have a chance at an upset.

If not, and it’s been like the last few weeks where the defense is on the field far too long, then it’s going go be another long Thursday night.

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Padres pitcher and Seattle native Blake Snell to raise 12th Man Flag

Padres pitcher and Seattle native Blake Snell to raise 12th Man Flag

Thanksgiving may be synonymous with football, but for a moment there will be some love given to baseball. For the Seattle Seahawks’ Thursday Night Football showdown, San Diego Padres star pitcher – and Seattle native – Blake Snell will be raising the iconic 12th Man Flag in the south end zone.

Blake Snell, the former Shorewood High School Stormray, is coming off his second Cy Young caliber season. In 2023, Snell was a rare bright spot for the disappointing Padres. Snell helped guide San Diego to a 14-9 record in his starts and had an MLB-best 2.25 ERA. He has now won a Cy Young in both the American League and the National League.

Of course, Snell’s presense will surely have fans wondering about the team who plays just south of Lumen Field. Snell is currently a free agent, and while the Mariners aren’t thought to be in the market for starting pitching depth, bringing him home to Seattle would go a long way to repairing the damaged goodwill between the organization and its beleaguered fans.

Should Snell be announced as a surprise signing before the game, it would most assuredly warrant quite the roar from the 12th Man.

A man can dream, can’t he?

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Seahawks vs 49ers: preview and prediction

Week 12 inactives: Frank Clark, Kenneth Walker III OUT 

Week 12 preview and prediction: Seahawks vs 49ers

Week 12 preview and prediction: Seahawks vs 49ers

For the second straight year, the Seattle Seahawks will be hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football. But this time, it’s not your average Thursday showdown, as the first ever Thanksgiving Day game will be hosted at Lumen Field. But the 49ers are not likely to be the best dinner guests for the Seahawks.

Four days ago Seattle dropped a frustratingly winnable game to the Los Angeles Rams 17-16 in which they held multiple two-score leads. Now they will have to find a way to bounce back against the reigning NFC West champion 49ers.

Currently, San Francisco is on a rare three-game winning streak over Seattle, as the Seahawks dropped all three contests last year – including a blowout Wild Card loss to end their season. Interestingly enough, three-straight losses to the 49ers is tied for the longest losing streak in the all time series history. The record is four-straight, which occurred from 2010-2012.

Unfortunately, it’s not going to get any easier. San Francisco looks every bit the powerhouse they were billed as. Despite an injury-filled three-game losing streak of their own, the 49ers bounced back in a prominent way by dismantling the Jaguars in Jacksonville 34-3 in Week 10 and the Buccaneers 27-14 on Sunday.

The challenge for the Seahawks will be finding a way to slow down the league-leading rusher, running back Christian McCaffrey. With 825 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, as well as 364 through the air, McCaffrey is a one-man weapon. He also punished Seattle on the ground, rushing for 227 yards in two games against them. But he is truly the key to their offense. With him shut down, pressure mounts on second year quarterback Brock Purdy, who did not play well at all in any of those three losses San Francisco has suffered.

The 49ers are favored by a full touchdown, and on paper are certainly a stronger team. But can the Seahawks pull off a Thanksgiving Day upset for the ages?

Prediction: Seahawks upsets San Francisco 24-23 

Seattle’s backs are against the walls. Losing to the Rams on Sunday eliminated any possible remaining margin of error for them. After this game against the 49ers, they travel to Dallas, play San Francisco again, then host the Philadelphia Eagles. Simply put: the Seahawks are desperate.

Call it blind faith, call it superstition in the action green uniform luck, or call it Seattle’s exemplary 34-14-1 prime time record under Pete Carroll – including 10-3 on Thursday nights. I have a gut feeling this team is going to surprise folks who would otherwise be settling in for a turkey-induced nap.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Seahawks in the Carroll era, is it’s never wise to count them out. It seems the universal consensus is on San Francisco. But it was also on the Detroit Lions’ side in Week 2. Just like I zigged when everyone zagged in Week 2, I’m going to once again not bet against the Seahawks in a must-win primetime environment.

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Week 12 inactives: Frank Clark, Kenneth Walker III OUT 

Seahawks Week 12 inactives: Frank Clark and 5 others ruled out

Week 12 inactives: Frank Clark and 5 others ruled out

The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up for their first Thanksgiving game at Lumen Field. They will be hosting the reigning NFC West champs – and current division leading – San Francisco 49ers for a crucial showdown.

Seattle will be doing so without the services of defensive end Frank Clark, who was made a healthy scratch. Additionally, running back Kenneth Walker III is also inactive, but no surprise there.

The good news is quarterback Geno Smith appears healthy enough to play. We’ll quickly find out how well he has recovered from Sunday’s loss to the Rams.

The full inactives list can be seen below:

Pressure increased for Seahawks, as 49ers obliterate Jaguars 34-3

Pressure increased for Seahawks, as 49ers obliterate Jaguars 34-3

In recent weeks, the Seattle Seahawks have been able to move into position for a share of 1st place in the NFC West thanks to a three-game losing streak by the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, San Francisco was able to get off the schneid in a big way in Week 10.

The 49ers, coming off a bye, traveled east to Duval County, FL for a showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars, on a five-game win streak themselves, were supposed to be a road challenge for San Francisco.

Jacksonville was more of a speedbump (at best) than a roadblock, as the 49ers absolutely waxed the Jaguars to the tune of 34-3. San Francisco looked like the team they were during the first five weeks of the season. They ran for 144 yards as a team, Brock Purdy had three touchdowns and 296 yards passing, and newly acquired defensive end Chase Young recorded half a sack along with two quarterback hits.

This puts pressure squarely on the Seahawks, who now need a win over the visiting Commanders just to stay tied with the 49ers in first place. A loss to Washington would be a crucial blow, and would greatly diminish any remaining margin for error Seattle might enjoy.

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Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon named Defensive Rookie of the Month

Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon named Defensive Rookie of the Month

The Seattle Seahawks have yet another star in the making at the cornerback position. Seattle bucked “conventional” thought when they selected Devon Witherspoon with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and so far all he’s done is prove the Seahawks made the right decision.

Witherspoon is only six games into his career, but he’s already earned a rather special accolade to his resume. The former Illinois Illini standout was just named Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.

Witherspoon is already proving himself to be quite the difference maker on defense. The rookie has been playing out of his mind lately. In October, Witherspoon recorded 17 total tackles, three quarterback hits, two sacks and his first career interception… which he took 97 yards to the house. Having a game-changing pick-six on Monday Night Football in New York is quite the way to get yourself noticed.

Seattle’s young corner is certainly on the inside track for being named Defensive Rookie of the Year, an award that should have gone to his fellow teammate Riq Woolen last year. But for now, having this honor is certainly a momentous achievement.

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Seahawks trade for Giants DL Leonard Williams

Seahawks trade for Giants DL Leonard Williams

Seahawks trade for Giants DL Leonard Williams

If you wanted any indication the Seattle Seahawks are truly in it to win it this year, you just got it. Refusing to remain idle on this victory Monday following their 24-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Seahawks took advantage of the upcoming trade deadline and made a splash move.

Seattle cut a deal with the New York Giants to acquire defensive lineman Leonard Williams. All it cost the Seahawks was a 2nd round pick in 2024, and a 5th round pick in 2025. The Giants will still be on the hook for most of his salary in exchange for better draft capital.

Originally the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft for the Jets, Williams has only known football in the Big Apple, playing for both NYC teams. Now, he heads to the Emerald City to help bolster a vastly improved Seahawks defensive line.

This move makes sense for both teams. Although Seattle’s run defense has vastly improved, there’s no such thing as too much quality depth when it comes to defensive linemen. As for the Giants, they are 2-6 and in the midst of a lost season. Williams was one of the few assets of value they could move before they engage in yet another rebuild.

The Seahawks moved into first place in the NFC West yesterday with their win and San Francisco’s loss. Seattle clearly wants to keep their place on top of the mountain, and this move shows their commitment to winning.

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Vikings score touchdown on 49ers risky defensive call

The 49ers made a historic blunder on Jordan Addison’s deep touchdown

The Minnesota Vikings got a crucial touchdown at the end of the first half, as Kirk Cousins and Jordan Addison hooked up for a spectacular play. Cousins hit Addison well downfield, Addison made an incredible play to wrestle the ball away from defensive back Charvarius Ward, and took the ball 60 yards to put the Vikings up by two scores going into halftime.

Maybe the most impressive aspect of the play, however, was just how improbable it was in the first place. Most teams in that scenario are playing conservative, content to go into the half and make the necessary adjustments for the second half. But that’s not how this one played out.

Instead, the 49ers defense took a calculated risk and tried to force Cousins to make a quick, and potentially bad decision. They sent a blitz and brought seven defenders at Cousins, and the Vikings quarterback made the 49ers pay dearly for their aggressive tactics.

Just how aggressive was the decision to bring seven? It was the first time a team had brought seven or more defenders on a pass rush in the last 30 seconds of a half with the offense in their own territory since Week 11 of the 2020 season.

The 49ers saw an opportunity to try and take some momentum going into the half, and instead, they gave even more to the Vikings, and that has carried through the second half.

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WATCH: Jordan Addison makes spectacular effort to extend halftime lead

Jordan Addison rips the ball away from San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward to extend Minnesota’s first-half lead.

Jordan Addison is showing the world why he was a first-round wide receiver last April. After losing the first struggle for the football on the opening drive that ended in a Charvarius Ward interception, Addison returned the favor in a major way.

Cousins put the ball on the money for Charvarius Ward to get his second interception of the game. Instead, Addison pulls the ball away from Ward’s waiting arms, leaves him clueless on the field, and goes 60 yards to extend the Minnesota lead to 16-7.

This Vikings offense is firing on all cylinders and Kevin O’Connell is not letting up in this pivotal prime-time matchup.

This game is starting to become a statement that this Minnesota team is not letting their foot off the gas on the 2023 season.

The play of Addison, Cam Akers and T.J. Hockenson highlights this amazing performance in prime-time.

Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live game updates.