4 Key Things to Watch for in the Seahawks Versus 49ers Matchup in NFC Divisional Round

In one of the more heated rivalries in the NFL over the past decade, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will face off in the NFC Divisional round, as both teams will look to punch their ticket to the NFC championship game next week. Here are the four things to watch for come Saturday night between these two teams.

1. Can the Niners Defense Stop the Seahawks Revived Rushing Attack?

When these two franchises last met over two weeks ago to determine who would get the NFC’s top seed, the Seahawks ground game was almost unstoppable in their 13-3 victory in San Francisco. While the Niners were able to eventually contain the Eagles’ rushing attack in their 23-19 win in the Wild Card round last weekend, that luck will, in all likelihood, run out come Saturday.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has made it his mission to get the running game going since the halfway point of the season and has so far delivered on that vision. Seattle finished the regular season with the 10th-ranked rushing offense overall, while also finishing first in rush play percentage at 49%, and tied for fourth in total rushing attempts with 507 on the season.

Though the Seahawks ranked only 25th in yards per attempt at 4.1, their steady commitment to the run makes them tough to stop. If the Niners want a chance at an upset, their run defense must show up consistently.

2. The Niners’ Now Healthy Offensive Line Could be the Difference Maker

This is the biggest key for the Niners in their quest towards potentially hoisting their sixth Lombardi trophy, and the offensive line has quietly been great the past few months despite key injuries.

The Niners’ offensive line ranks in the top-five in overall run-blocking rankings, with linemen such as star left tackle Trent Williams and breakout right tackle Colton McKivitz being the anchors of an overall fantastic rushing attack.

If the Niners’ offensive line maintains its strong play and opens lanes for Christian McCaffrey, their passing attack could find opportunities in the Seahawks’ strong secondary.

3. Niners Playoff Experience Versus Seahawks Youth

Perhaps the biggest mismatch in the game that heavily favors the Niners heading into the game. Being a road underdog in the playoffs has almost become a staple for the Kyle Shanahan-coached Niners during his tenure, and the team has consistently excelled in this role.

While having a week off to prepare and get healthy plays in the Seahawks’ favor, that advantage is somewhat nullified, given the limited playoff experience of the Seattle players. That underdog label for the Niners could be the edge that San Francisco needs to walk away with a win.

4. Sam Darnold’s Health

Earlier today, the Seattle Seahawks added star QB Sam Darnold to their weekly injury report with an oblique injury. That latest report also listed Darnold as questionable for the game. This news may put a pin in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl chances if Darnold can’t play come Saturday, or his overall play is compromised in the game due to the current injury.

The former Viking had a rough go of it during his playoff debut with Minnesota last season. Darnold finished with just 245 yards passing to go along with one touchdown and one interception while being sacked nine times in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.

If Darnold is unable to go on Saturday, the Seahawks will have to turn to backup QB Drew Locke, which will swing heavily in the Niners’ favor come Saturday night. During a press conference today, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said that head coach Mike Macdonald will have more information regarding Darnold’s injury during his media availability tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

Rivalry games are notorious for being unpredictable, and this latest playoff matchup between the Niners and Seahawks will certainly be no different. All four of these key things to watch for will likely decide the outcome of Saturday night’s game, with the result of that game possibly determining which of these teams will win the NFC this season.