Seattle is playing at an extremely high level entering this contest—an aspect that prompts the question whether or not they are the most dangerous contender in the NFC right now.
Its defense ranks No. 1 in the league with just 3,568 all-purpose yards allowed. The Seahawks defense is No. 1 against the pass (2,475 yards allowed) and No. 3 against the run (1,093 yards allowed).
Combine this with all the problems San Francisco has had on offense, and one should expect another blowout, right?
As per usual, it would be expected that the 49ers defense will have to be the primary force in order to keep San Francisco in contention.
Chris Borland vs. Marshawn Lynch
The Seahawks will pound the ball with running back Marshawn Lynch on Sunday. Slowing him down, and hopefully stopping him, will fall upon 49ers run-stuffers—namely rookie linebacker Chris Borland.
Borland has emerged as San Francisco's tackling machine this season. He currently leads the defense with 81 tackles despite not earning a full-time role until Week 6.
But tackling Lynch proved to be a far more difficult task when these two teams met last.
Borland described the challenge, via Eric Branch of SFGate.com:
Beast Note: #49ers LB Chris Borland said #Seahawks Marshawn Lynch accelerates through contact, whereas many RBs brace for contact.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 5, 2014
Lynch gained 104 yards against the 49ers in Week 13. His abilities, combined with the remaining cast of Seattle's runners, have pushed the Seahawks into the No. 1 rushing team in the league with 2,211 yards on the ground.
Aldon Smith vs. Russell Okung
San Francisco's pass rush was widely absent in Week 14. It can't afford to be again versus Seattle.
Linebacker Aldon Smith has had some success against the Seahawks in recent contests and will look to replicate such performances on Sunday. He'll be lined up against left tackle Russell Okung with the hopes of edging around the O-lineman en route to quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wilson was sacked four times when the 49ers last played the Seahawks. The quarterback has been sacked 33 times on the year, so there will be opportunities for the pressure to reach him.
Smith will be a part of that equation. If Smith is doubled in protection, expect fellow pass-rushers like linebacker Aaron Lynch and/or defensive end Justin Smith to attempt the pressure.
49ers Secondary vs. Doug Baldwin
A depleted San Francisco backfield hopes to receive the added reinforcements of Tramaine Brock and Chris Culliver on Sunday. Depending how that works, the secondary will look to contain wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who has emerged as Wilson's favorite receiving target in 2014.
Baldwin leads Seattle with 53 receptions and 616 yards.
Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury News writes, "Baldwin has adjusted well to assuming the No. 1 receiver role on the heels of the Seahawks parting ways with Golden Tate and Percy Harvin."
VIDEO of Russell Wilson's touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin https://t.co/oCMb1E5aEu
— Danny Kelly (@FieldGulls) December 8, 2014
But getting the ball to Baldwin will ultimately fall in the hands of Wilson, who marks the next point of emphasis.
49ers Defense vs. Russell Wilson
While the rushing prowess of Lynch embodies almost everything the Seahawks do on offense, Wilson is equally as effective at thwarting opposing defenses' plans in limiting Seattle. His mobility and elusiveness within the pocket create a variety of problems for any defense.
Corkran describes how well Wilson is performing at this point:
He has accounted for 3,456 yards, 22 touchdowns passing and rushing combined so far. His ability to run the ball whenever a play breaks down or there’s an opening makes the Seahawks offense so much more dynamic. He is playing as well as any quarterback in the game right now.
Simply putting pressure on him isn't enough. The pass rush needs to close him out and close off avenues in which he can escape. That's no easy task. San Francisco's defense will also need to account for his rushing abilities.
Perhaps this unit will assign a spy out of its linebacker corps to handle situations in which the signal-caller takes off.
Anthony Davis/Jonathan Martin vs. Michael Bennett
Right tackle Anthony Davis (concussion) is still listed as questionable, but he was able to practice on Wednesday, per Brandon Wise of CBS Sports. If Davis is unable to go, Jonathan Martin will get the start once more. Martin hasn't exactly been the most stellar lineman up front this year.
Either tackle will have to face off against defensive end Michael Bennett, who leads the Seahawks with six sacks on the year. One of those came against San Francisco in Week 13.
San Francisco's O-line has been under scrutiny for much of the season. This beleaguered unit has dealt with a flurry of injuries all year, which has contributed for 43 sacks allowed—third most in the NFL.
But Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman still has respect for this unit and others, having stated such via Seahawks.com (h/t 49ers.com):
You see (Anthony) Davis, you see (Mike) Iupati, the center is gone but Joe Staley is still there. They’re the same guys, (Frank) Gore is still back there. You still got Anquan (Boldin), so you still got all the pieces there. You don’t see any weakness; those guys are big-time players in this league and anytime you have them on the field, they are going to play like big-time players because they have pride in their games.
Davis, Martin and the O-line will have to be atop their game against a healthy Seahawks defensive front. Whoever wins this matchup will likely go home with the victory.
49ers Receivers vs. Richard Sherman
Sherman did point out a certain level of respect for players like wide receiver Anquan Boldin. But his coverage skills in Week 13 were primarily matched up against wideouts Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson.
During those contests, it was Sherman who came away with two interceptions—further fueling the discussion regarding Kaepernick's effectiveness.
But Jerry Rice called out the receivers' responsibility in each of those two picks via KNBR 680 (h/t Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News):
"As a wide receiver, when the ball is not going where it needs to be, you have to be a defender. In the Seattle game, there were a couple interceptions there. The ball was off line, but as a receiver you've got to get in there and break it up."
Add this to Rice's explanation that the receivers need to do a better job of separating, and one can see the importance of overcoming the likes of Sherman and the Seahawks secondary.
Frank Gore/Carlos Hyde vs. Seattle's Front Seven
The 49ers have struggled to move the ball on the ground in recent contests versus Seattle. While running back Frank Gore has had a good career history against the Seahawks, their defense has been able to bottle him up over the last two contests in which these teams have faced each other.
In Week 13, Gore netted only 28 yards on 10 carries.
Frank Gore's last two games against the Seahawks totaled: 21 carries 42 yards 2.0 yards per carry
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) November 28, 2014
Getting Gore and No. 2 back Carlos Hyde their respective touches will not be enough. The O-line will have to win the battles at the line of scrimmage and open up the holes necessary for San Francisco's runners to exploit the gaps.
Doing this against the top-ranked Seahawks defense won't be easy, but an effective running game has to be a part of the equation.
Colin Kaepernick vs. Himself
Back-to-back losses in Weeks 13 and 14 have highlighted all that is wrong with Kaepernick in 2014. The inconsistent performances, poor decision-making, lack of poise within the pocket and overall inaccuracy have fueled this discussion.
All of it boiled over during Kaepernick's press conference following the 49ers' loss to the Raiders.
But football is about more than physical attributes. It's a mental challenge as well. Hopefully his most recent presser suggests that the quarterback has turned a page and will approach this contest with a more positive mindset.
Still, Kaepernick's career efforts against Seattle have proven to be his Achilles' heel. He owns a career-49.5 quarterback rating against the Seahawks—the lowest out of any opponent in which Kaepernick has faced at least twice. Seven interceptions against only two touchdowns further reinforce his problems here.
Yet Kaepernick's biggest obstacle in Week 15 won't be the Seahawks defense. It will be himself. Can he overcome all that has been said about him? Can he figure out a way to maintain the mental aspect of the game over 60 minutes?
That will be the true test.
49ers' X-Factors of the Week: Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman
Ultimately, the game plan falls upon the players to properly execute and contribute at a high level.
But the job of a coaching staff calls for the ability to put players in the best position to succeed. In this, the offensive combination of Harbaugh and Greg Roman has not done well in recent weeks.
Most of the blame will fall upon Roman. This is his offense, and it's not performing well. Yet each one of the calls goes through Harbaugh, where he can approve or change the plays as he sees fit. The success of these efforts have been lackluster at best since Week 11 and prior.
There was a time when the 49ers could outcoach other teams. But that ability has been lost in 2014.
Whatever has happened, both Harbaugh and Roman will have to put forth their best efforts in a place that has not been kind to San Francisco in recent contests.
