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First place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC is at stake in Santa Clara on Saturday night between the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) and San Francisco 49ers (12-4). If the Seahawks win or tie, they win the division and the first-round bye to the NFC Divisional Round. A 49ers win gets the job done for them and they’ll have somehow, someway won the division despite all of their injuries.
The Seahawks have won six straight, while the 49ers have won seven in a row. Something’s gotta give! San Francisco won the first meeting back in Week 1, when Nick Bosa strip-sacked Sam Darnold in the closing minute of regulation. Bosa is out for the season, as is (at least we think) star linebacker Fred Warner. It’s possible Trent Williams doesn’t play in the rematch, but it’s definitely that Seattle left tackle Charles Cross is out with his own injury. Much of Week 1 can almost be disregarded ahead of this rematch just based on injuries and how these teams have evolved over time. Seattle boasts an elite defense but an offense that has cooled off from its hot start, while the 49ers have an elite offense but a below-average defense without much of a pass rush.
Six years ago, the 49ers beat the Seahawks in Seattle to clinch the 1-seed on the final day of the regular season. Can Seattle turn the tables in Santa Clara? ABC and ESPN have the coverage on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.
