San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco 49ers will hope their recent bye week will be put to good effect as the team travels to face the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Week 11.

San Francisco entered its Week 10 bye after pulling off its third win over the Atlanta Falcons at home in Week 9. While the 49ers sat idle the following week, the 4-5 Seahawks fell 39-32 to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football.

These two NFC West rivals may no longer be at the upper echelon of NFL talent as was the case a couple of seasons ago. Yet the 49ers have a chance to deliver a significant blow to Seattle's dwindling hopes of returning to the postseason once more in 2015.

Additionally, San Francisco wants revenge for the Week 7 20-3 loss to Seattle the last time these two teams met.

To do this, the 49ers will have to play a near-perfect game. Pound for pound, the Seahawks are still the superior team based on statistics alone. And home-field advantage continues to give Seattle an edge over its division rival.

Can San Francisco stage an upset? What will head coach Jim Tomsula's squad need to do in order to be effective over the course of 60-plus minutes?

Offensive Game Plan

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert will continue starting for Tomsula and the 49ers offense after delivering two touchdowns and a much-needed victory in Week 9.

The 49ers offense will likely be shorthanded again in Week 11. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (hamstring) is listed as doubtful, while running back Carlos Hyde (foot) is listed as questionable. And Hyde didn't participate in practice this week, per the team's website.

This means a heavy dose of running back Shaun Draughn to set up San Francisco's rushing attack.

Seattle may have a sub-.500 record. But its defense remains one of the better ones in the NFL based on yards allowed. On the ground, the Seahawks are averaging 3.7 yards per carry allowed, which ranks No. 5 in the league.

And the Seahawks defense remains formidable through the air with the second-best pass defense having allowed a total of just 1,825 passing yards.

	Points Allowed	Yards Allowed	Pass Yards Allwoed	Rush Yards Allowed
Statistic	179	2,730	1,825	905
NFL Rank	7	2	2	11

Based on these numbers, how can the 49ers offense manage to move the ball effectively enough to stay in contention?

Gabbert will need to move the ball through the air against a stouter defense than the one faced in Week 9. But there is an approach Gabbert and offensive coordinator Geep Chryst may employ based on what's seen in the video below.

During Seattle's Week 10 game versus Arizona, the Cardinals frequently lined up wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald out of the slot. Utilizing play-action passes on first down, Fitzgerald was able to find seams within the defense and rip off huge chunks of yards as in this 22-yard reception.

Perhaps this will be an element of San Francisco's offensive approach with wideouts Jerome Simpson and Bruce Ellington if a running game can be established soon enough to set up play action.

And don't be surprised to see the 49ers try to use more of tight end Garrett Celek in the red zone—an approach that seemed to work well in Week 9 as illustrated in the following play:

Breaking down the coaches' film of @BlaineGabbert's two TD throws to @GCells85.

READ: https://t.co/9vs0FR55Hs pic.twitter.com/VZflyOjCgE

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2015

Tight ends have been problematic for Seattle's defense this year. Look no further than what happened between the Seahawks and the Panthers late in Week 5. So, possibly, such an approach may be the best chance San Francisco stands in finding a way to establish some sort of offensive continuity.

Defensive Game Plan

Unlike their defense, the Seahawks offense hasn't exactly been a force with which to be reckoned.

The ground game will continue to be the staple of Seattle's offensive efforts against San Francisco even if running back Marshawn Lynch (probable) is dealing with an abdominal issue.

Seattle's rushing attack is ranked No. 4 in the league with 1,231 total yards on the ground.

This could be a strength-versus-strength matchup determining the eventual outcome of the contest. San Francisco's defense, while ranked 21st in the league with 1,007 yards allowed on the ground, grades out with a plus-17.1 grade on the season, per Pro Football Focus.

And it's impossible to overlook the team's efforts in bottling up Falcons running back Devonta Freeman two weeks ago—12 yards on just 12 carries.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman has been the 49ers' best defender against the run with a plus-8.4 PFF grade. And he's leading the team in tackles as well.

Player	PFF Grade	Tackles
LB NaVorro Bowman	+8.4	71
NT Ian Williams	+6.0	24
LB Ahmad Brooks	+5.9	16
CB Kenneth Acker	+1.7	30
DT Glenn Dorsey	+1.0	16

But Seattle's biggest weakness this season has been the lack of a passing game—likely the culprit of a faulty offensive line.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has been sacked 33 times on the season, and the Seahawks O-line has been among the worst in the NFL.

Enter linebacker Aaron Lynch.

Lynch has been San Francisco's best pass-rusher with a team-high six sacks and a plus-8.1 pass-rushing PFF grade. And the second-year linebacker was able to bring Wilson down twice the last time these two teams met.

This missed assignment reveals just a part of why Seattle's pass protection has been problematic:

https://twitter.com/jeremybjelland/status/538180029608624128

Still, the 49ers will have to contend with an aerial attack—despite being ranked No. 27 in the NFL with 1,937 yards—boasting tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Doug Baldwin.

Graham is the bigger threat of the two. While San Francisco will likely employ a variety of combinations to limit Graham, cornerback Dontae Johnson (6'2" and 200 pounds) may be the biggest physical matchup the 49ers want to employ.

San Francisco may still be shorthanded in the secondary with cornerbacks Kenneth Acker (concussion), Tramaine Brock (shin) and Keith Reaser (ankle) all listed as questionable.

Can cornerback Marcus Cromartie pick up where he left off in Week 9?

Key Players and Matchups

Johnson versus Graham will be one noteworthy matchup to follow on Sunday. But the 49ers will want to ensure Wilson has little time in the pocket while taking advantage of a suspect Seahawks O-line. 

Lynch and the 49ers pass-rushers will have some opportunities here.

But containing Wilson also needs to be a top priority. Wilson's escapability makes him a dynamic threat despite Seattle's passing woes on the season. And limiting the damage Seattle's quarterback can do with his legs on third down may be an essential element behind a 49ers victory.

On the flip side, Gabbert will be facing a tougher defense. And Seattle's pass rush is considerably stronger than that of the Falcons. Even though defensive end Bruce Irvin (knee) has been ruled out for this contest, the Seahawks pass rush is still potent.

This unit has a plus-45.1 PFF grade in comparison to the 49ers' minus-12.9 pass-protection grade.

San Francisco's rotation along the right side of its O-line will be a factor to monitor. Right guard Andrew Tiller appears to have emerged as the stronger candidate at this position over Jordan Devey. Meanwhile, center Marcus Martin and right tackle Erik Pears continue to struggle.

And yet a big matchup to watch will be between wide receiver Torrey Smith and cornerback Richard Sherman. San Francisco's speedy wideout figures to be matched up frequently against Sherman, per Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com.

Prediction

Perhaps their Week 9 win over the Falcons gave the 49ers some momentum. And, possibly, the bye week afforded Tomsula and Co. the adequate time necessary to both rest and prepare for this divisional showdown.

But it's been a long time since the 49ers won up in Seattle. And this San Francisco team did not look good against the Seahawks earlier this season.

A lot has changed. Gabbert is now under center instead of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers defense is playing better as of late. Yet will these factors make a significant difference?

The 49ers will have to play nearly mistake-free football to have a chance at a victory. Even though the Seahawks are dealing with their own woes as of now, San Francisco doesn't appear to have much of a shot to upset its division rival.

Expect the 49ers to go to 3-7 after a 24-13 loss to the Seahawks.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The San Francisco 49ers' tumultuous 2015 season continues as the franchise prepares for a Week 9 contest at home versus the 6-2 Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium.

San Francisco will not be starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick, which marks the first time since 2012 the signal-caller has not started a regular-season game for the 49ers. Instead, the 49ers will roll out quarterback Blaine Gabbert in his first start for San Francisco.

This changes the 49ers' game plan on offense—a unit that ranks last in the NFL with 109 points for and 2,258 all-purpose yards. 

The 49ers will also have to contend with a Falcons offense ranking third in the league with an average of 32 points per game, per B/R Insights.

On paper, San Francisco is set up for yet another blowout. The 49ers have scored seven or fewer points in four of their six losses. And their defense hasn't been able to hold the line long enough to keep the team in the game in later quarters.

Can San Francisco figure out a way to come away with a victory in Week 9?

Offensive Game Plan

Perhaps the biggest aspect leading into the 49ers' matchup versus the Falcons is the benching of Kaepernick.

Head coach Jim Tomsula was quick to point out, via the team's website, San Francisco's offensive woes were not entirely on the shoulders of its No. 1 quarterback.

"I felt like this was the direction we needed to go," Tomsula said. "In no way is 2-6 all on Colin Kaepernick."

Tomsula noted that Kaepernick needed a break from what has been a lackluster season and the quarterback needed "a breather" after eight mostly unimpressive efforts. Kaepernick, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, was quick to disagree with the head coach's assessments, though.

Colin Kaepernick on if he needs this breather, as Jim Tomsula said upon QB switch pic.twitter.com/crVDP6O9xU

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 6, 2015

Regardless, the 49ers will roll out Gabbert in an attempt to invigorate their offense in Week 9.

Offensive coordinator Geep Chryst noted Gabbert's abilities as being similar to those of former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area:

When we got Blaine on board here, there were some similarities to what we felt Alex Smith went through. Alex came here, was very young and played, had to slug out a lot of tough situations. And we felt like Blaine had all this talent, and as a young player, maybe a change of scenery would be good for him.

So how will this influence Chryst's offensive game plan?

Smith's best efforts came in high-percentage plays in which he would avoid potential turnovers and mistakes. With No. 1 receiving threat Anquan Boldin listed as questionable with a hamstring injury and tight end Vernon Davis no longer on the roster, Gabbert will look to get other targets such as wide receivers Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson involved as frequently as possible.

Atlanta is vulnerable against the passing game and has given up 2,096 yards through the air—24th in the league.

Additionally, the 49ers will have to establish some sort of ground game and will likely have to do so without the offensive prowess of starting running back Carlos Hyde (foot), who is listed as doubtful for the contest.

San Francisco signed running backs Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas prior to the game. So look for the 49ers to get some sort of rushing attack working with these two leading the way.

Atlanta's run defense ranks No. 1 in the league with an average of just 78 yards allowed per game, as indicated by the B/R insights graph below.

But the biggest X-factor for any sort of 49ers offensive success will be their offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, San Francisco grades out with a minus-46.7 run-blocking mark—the worst in the league.

This particular matchup is a Falcons strength versus a 49ers weakness. And signs don't point in San Francisco's favor.

	Overall	Pass	Rush	Pass Block	Run Block	Penalty
Grade	-77.1	-23.2	2.6	-12.2	-46.7	2.4
NFL Rank	32	32	20	16	32	8

According to 49ers radio color commentator Tim Ryan, who broke down the upcoming contest on KNBR 680, San Francisco will need to be physical at the point of attack and win the battle in the trenches.

Yet the 49ers haven't exactly been able to establish this sort of physicality over eight weeks this season and have regularly been overmatched at the line of scrimmage. And being without their leading rusher does not bode well for the 49ers' offensive prospects on the ground.

Defensive Game Plan

A similar concern exists on the defensive side of the ball. 

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is completing 67 percent of his passes on the season and owns a 92.3 passer rating on the season.

Atlanta is also doing a commendable job protecting the quarterback. Ryan has been sacked just 15 times on the season, and the 49ers have struggled generating much pressure with just 14 sacks on the season.

Wide receiver Julio Jones, as pointed out by safety Eric Reid during his weekly appearance on KNBR 680, remains the primary threat within the Falcons offense. Jones has a whopping 892 yards on 70 receptions and six touchdowns.

And the statistics don't match up in San Francisco's favor.

Per B/R Insights, the Falcons own the seventh-best passing offense, averaging 291 yards through the air per game. On the other hand, the 49ers are dead last in the NFL with an average of 315 yards allowed through the air.

This is bad enough for San Francisco's defense. And it gets worse.

According to PFF, Atlanta boasts the best run-blocking marks on the season with a plus-25.5 grade. This is a primary reason why running back Devonta Freeman has 709 total yards on the ground and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

Given the threat of the Falcons' aerial attack, the 49ers can't afford to load the box in an attempt to take away Atlanta's strong ground game. This puts increased pressure on San Francisco's front seven and forces run-stoppers Glenn Dorsey, Quinton Dial and Ian Williams to bring their A-game during the contest.

San Francisco is boasting a respectable plus-10.1 PFF grade against the run, but will it be enough?

Key Players and Matchups

Stopping Atlanta's vaunted offense will be the primary X-factor during this Week 9 bout. And the 49ers defense will have to play mistake-free football to have any sort of chance in limiting what Ryan and Co. can do on that side of the ball.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman is the 49ers' top run-stopper with a plus-6.7 PFF grade. So look for him to be an impact player if Freeman is able to break through San Francisco's first line of defense.

If the 49ers' run defense can hold its own, the next priority will be applying pressure on Ryan in order to prevent the quarterback from hitting vaunted targets like Jones. Right guard Chris Chester is the lowest-ranked lineman per PFF with a minus-4.4 grade on the season. So look for linebacker Aaron Lynch to try to exploit this matchup wherever possible.

On the flip side, the Falcons haven't been able to bring much pressure against opposing quarterbacks. Atlanta's pass rush has generated just 10 sacks on the season. But San Francisco's offensive line, primarily on the right side, has been more than permeable so far.

Defensive end Vic Beasley, who has two sacks on the year, will frequently match up against right tackle Erik Pears—a matchup likely to determine just how much pressure Gabbert will experience.

And Gabbert is another key player to note on Sunday. Given the O-line issues this season, will Gabbert's pocket poise be any better than Kaepernick's? With the 49ers struggling to move the ball on the ground this season, Gabbert's ability to effectively deliver the ball will be paramount in ensuring any sort of offensive prowess.

Gabbert's efforts in the red zone, should the 49ers get there in Week 9, will also be a critical element. The 49ers are converting on just 44 percent of their red-zone trips, per B/R Insights, while Atlanta has a 74 percent conversion rate in this same category.

Prediction

On paper, the Falcons appear more than just likable favorites in this Week 9 game. Atlanta's offense ranks toward the top in nearly every major category. And the 49ers defense, given how frequently the unit has been on the field, doesn't appear capable of staving off an elongated attack.

If the 49ers are to stand a chance during this contest, the offense will have to be able to maintain some sort of continuity—an element largely problematic over San Francisco's first eight contests this season.

Moving the ball through the air may be the only chance the 49ers have to do this given the Falcons' issues with their pass defense. 

Still, this may not be enough even if San Francisco is able to establish a number of elongated drives.

Atlanta has far too many weapons with which the 49ers have to contend. Unfortunately for San Francisco, this contest seems far too stacked in Atlanta's favor.

The Falcons are poised to hand the 49ers yet another blowout loss, and a score of 30-9 seems about right as Tomsula's team continues to endure a forgettable season in 2015.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The 2-5 San Francisco 49ers face off against the 3-3 St. Louis Rams in a Week 8 NFC West showdown at the Edward Jones Dome—a game that kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.

San Francisco's previous contest against the Seattle Seahawks displayed little more than whimpers from the offense, as the 49ers produced a mere three points and 142 all-purpose yards. Additionally, they generated fewer first downs (eight) than punts (nine) during the game.

Offensive woes have been a large story behind San Francisco's lackluster start to the 2015 season. And these problems could easily be magnified as the 49ers try to implement a stronger game plan against the Rams on Sunday.

St. Louis' defense may not be as good as Seattle's, but a strong Rams pass rush figures to be a major factor during the game. With the 49ers having allowed 25 sacks on the year, St. Louis' crop of pass-rushers could be in line for a big day.

How can San Francisco scheme against the pass rush?

Fortunately, the 49ers won't have to worry about a high-flying Rams offense. Like San Francisco, St. Louis is near the bottom echelon on that side of the ball. 

The 49ers' game plan should be simple: Don't let the Rams pass rush be an overwhelming factor and ensure St. Louis' struggling offense stays that way.

Offensive Game Plan

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick's woes against the Seahawks continued in Week 7. He looked as if he was trying to avoid making mistakes rather than big plays.

As noted by 49ers' radio color commentator Tim Ryan on KNBR 680 Friday morning, Kaepernick needs to take some risks over the course of Sunday's game in St. Louis. With the 49ers' season going nowhere fast, there isn't much use in a conservative, no-mistake approach.

This is, of course, easier said than done.

All one needs to do is look at the 49ers' offensive production in 2015 to realize San Francisco hasn't been capable of effectively moving the ball on offense. The B/R Insights graphic below tells all:

Running the ball has been one of the few 49ers strengths this season. But with running back Carlos Hyde nursing a foot injury, how effective can this approach be?

Surprisingly, San Francisco is struggling in its run blocking this season. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers have a minus-36.7 run-blocking grade on the year. That's obviously not good and may explain why Hyde is averaging just 50.3 yards per game, not including his Week 1 performance (168 yards).

Update: Hyde has been ruled out of Sunday's game per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

St. Louis' defense is vulnerable against the run, as the B/R Insights graphic below suggests. So it's likely to see some run-heavy approaches from offensive coordinator Geep Chryst on Sunday.

But running the ball won't be the entire answer. The Rams will likely load the box to take away this approach, which means more pressure on Kaepernick and the 49ers offensive line to integrate a strong passing game.

The Rams pass-rushers are good. Really good. Defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn have combined for 8.5 sacks on the year, and the entire team has 23 over six games played. Combine that with the 49ers' woes in protecting their quarterback, and Kaepernick could be in for a long game.

Pass protection has been an issue all season for San Francisco. And the O-line's efforts in Week 7 perfectly demonstrated why.

Kaepernick was sacked six times during that game, and the right side of the line was, again, the primary culprit, as we can see with linemen Jordan Devey and Erik Pears (yellow arrows).

Pears (yellow circle) is still doing a good job at this point, but Devey is clearly beaten (yellow arrow). The pressure forces Kaepernick to step up in the pocket, which he should do at this point, and try to extend the play.

But Pears eventually loses his man, and Kaepernick will go down after running into the back of left guard Alex Boone.

O-line troubles, anyone?

Perhaps the play-calling should involve extra blockers, either along the line in the form of added tight ends or backs in the backfield, in order to provide additional protection against the Rams pass rush. This may be one of the only ways San Francisco can keep St. Louis' front seven in check.

And the onus will also be on Kaepernick to get rid of the ball quickly.

Twenty-one of his 25 sacks have come when he's held onto the ball for 2.6 seconds or more, per PFF.

Defensive Game Plan

If the 49ers do have a bit of an edge in Week 8, it's because St. Louis is going through its own offensive struggles in 2015.

Yes, San Francisco ranks dead last in the NFL in both total points (103) and all-purpose yards (2,069), but the Rams are also ranked at the bottom in these same respective categories.

St. Louis has already had its bye week, which alters the total numbers somewhat. But as seen in the B/R Insights graphic below, the Rams' averages per game speak to their ineffectiveness on offense through six contests.

The Rams' primary strength will focus on the running game. Rookie running back Todd Gurley is quickly building a reputation as one of the league's best backs. He is averaging six yards per carry and 110.5 yards per game.

Ryan noted the 49ers should employ a similar defensive tactic seen by their own offense frequently this season: loading the box.

According to PFF, the 49ers boast a plus-3.8 run-stopping grade on the season. Defensively, it's one of the team's few strengths.

San Francisco struggled against Seahawks tailback Marshawn Lynch last week, but the middle-of-the-field defense won't have to worry about tight end Jimmy Graham when it faces off against St. Louis. This should free up players such as safety Jaquiski Tartt and linebacker NaVorro Bowman to support the run defense to a larger extent.

Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin figures to be the biggest aerial threat. Negating his abilities will actually fall upon San Francisco's pass-rushers. Linebacker Aaron Lynch had a solid game in Week 7, as seen below:

Lynch easily beats his man and quickly brings down quarterback Russell Wilson, despite the quarterback's attempts to step up in the pocket:

Pressuring Rams quarterback Nick Foles may not be as easy, though. The Rams have allowed just 11 sacks on the year. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been under pressure. Foles has been pressured 42.5 percent of snaps—third highest in the league, per PFF.

And the fact Foles isn't exactly mobile (10 rushing attempts this season for just 21 yards) means the 49ers could force the quarterback to get rid of the ball earlier than he'd like.

If the 49ers can clamp down on Foles' primary target in Austin, perhaps the secondary can force a few more of these:

Take another look at that @T26Brock pick! https://t.co/D0gwJ8gU5X

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 23, 2015

Key Players and Matchups

The focus in Week 8 will, once again, be on Kaepernick and whether or not he can bounce back from yet another abysmal effort the previous week.

St. Louis' pass-rushers will make this difficult, given their numbers on the season and the ineptitude of the 49ers O-line through seven games. Dialing up additional blockers may be the only way to keep Kaepernick upright and allow him to find his receiving targets.

Yet that will mean the 49ers wideouts and tight ends will have to get open. Doing so against a Rams secondary that is allowing an average of 255.4 yards per game (14th in the NFL) may not be easy. And it could be complicated given veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin (hamstring) is listed as questionable for the contest.

San Francisco's O-line will bear a heavy burden both in establishing the running game and protecting its quarterback. Look for this matchup to be a critical X-factor.

On defense, the 49ers' primary focus will be limiting Gurley to less than four yards per carry—not so simple. But making the Rams one-dimensional is an absolute must since St. Louis' passing attack ranks dead last in the league with just 1,066 yards.

This means players such as Lynch and fellow linebacker Ahmad Brooks will need to be on point. And the secondary will have to take advantage of underthrown and/or ill-advised passes.

Prediction

The 49ers have yet to win a road game this season and, aside from their Week 1 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, their best offensive showings have come against suspect defenses such as those of the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.

A strong St. Louis pass rush combined with horrid 49ers' pass-protection efforts may be the critical element determining the game's outcome.

Yes, the 49ers could do a few things better than what they showed one week ago. And they'll probably try to showcase adjustments made, given the added days off from last week. But will this be enough?

Sunday's contest will be decided on the defensive sides of the ball—which team gets the better of the struggling opponent's offenses. Statistically, St. Louis has a considerable edge here.

San Francisco will struggle to move the ball on offense, barring any sudden, unforeseen improvements from its offensive line. The Rams defense could victimize Kaepernick, pressuring him at every opportunity.

And, if that's the case, it's only a matter of time before the 49ers defense is worn down by having to stay on the field for the majority of the game.

Look for the Rams to come away with a 21-13 victory in Week 8.

Prediction: Rams 21, 49ers 13

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The San Francisco 49ers will look to continue their momentum as they host the Seattle Seahawks in a prime-time Thursday Night Football matchup in Week 7.

San Francisco is coming off a 25-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens—a game in which the offense continued its upward trend with quarterback Colin Kaepernick passing for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Whether or not he can do so against a Seahawks team which, over the quarterback's history, he's struggled against will be an inherent part of the 49ers' game plan. Additionally, San Francisco's defense will need to ensure the Seahawks continue to struggle on offense. 

Both teams enter the contest with 2-4 records. So this game isn't just another chapter of this heated rivalry but also, perhaps, a last chance for either team to save its playoff chances in 2015.

Let's take a look at the 49ers' offensive and defensive game plan and see what San Francisco needs to do to come away with the victory at Levi's Stadium.

Offensive Game Plan

Despite their fourth-quarter woes, the Seahawks defense remains a formidable force. Seattle has given up the fourth-fewest yards in the league with just 1,917 allowed over six contests. And the Seahawks pass defense ranks No. 8 in the NFL with an average of just 229 yards per game as indicated by the B/R graphic below.

In contrast, and despite their recent offensive breakouts, the 49ers are still averaging just 198 passing yards per game.

The context is slightly different for San Francisco's aerial attack given both the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens' pass defenses are towards the bottom of league standings.

Moving the ball effectively against Seattle's defense will have to combine both a strong rushing attack, with running back Carlos Hyde carrying a sizable workload, and Kaepernick continuing to make smarter decisions and executing properly under center.

The 49ers are averaging 129 yards on the ground per game, but Seattle is averaging only 93 allowed.

Simply stated, this game will be decided along the line of scrimmage.

Protecting Kaepernick has been problematic for San Francisco's offensive line. He's been sacked 19 times on the season, and the 49ers' O-line has a minus-7.1 season grade per Pro Football Focus. Surprisingly, San Francisco is worse in run blocking with a minus-30.4 PFF mark.

One trend from the 49ers offense has been to line Kaepernick under center more frequently compared to his more traditional shotgun approach—an aspect discussed by CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. By not having to focus on the long snap from center Marcus Martin, Kaepernick is, instead, able to look straight into the defensive configuration and act accordingly.

The 49ers had success last week with Colin Kaepernick under center. And, sure enough, that’s how they’re opening this game, too.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 18, 2015

Of course, the Seahawks will look to apply pressure as much as possible. Seattle's defense has a respectable 13 sacks on the year, and Kaepernick has an accuracy percentage of just 40.3 when pressured, per PFF—the fourth lowest in the NFL.

Additionally, Kaepernick's completion percentage drops from 74.3 percent to 44.1 when he holds on to the ball for 2.6 seconds or longer, per PFF.

What this means is that Kaepernick should attempt executing more quick-strike passes to his receiving targets—play-calling involving slants, well-executed screens and passes out of the backfield to running backs Hyde and Reggie Bush.

Bush is listed as probable for the contest.

And when the Seahawks attempt to load the box, and provided the O-line can hold, the 49ers can attempt to open things up with deep plays down the field.

Here are a few of Kaepernick's deep passes, including a 76-yard touchdown connection with wide receiver Torrey Smith:

49ers.com also provided this NFL coaches-film viewpoint. Notice how many defenders Baltimore has in the box anticipating a run play with the two-tight end set. The play opens up single-man coverage against Smith, and the result speaks for itself.

How about this pass protection on @Kaepernick7's 76-yard TD to @TorreySmithWR?

FILM REVIEW: https://t.co/vFvdMsLZYG pic.twitter.com/abUISRPNAU

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 20, 2015

Granted, Seattle's secondary is much better than the Ravens', and the Seahawks won't have a cornerback like Shareece Wright whom the 49ers can target.

But this is a balanced approach and one necessary for San Francisco's success.

And one can't overlook Seattle's fourth-quarter woes. The Seahawks' four losses on the season have all come after they held fourth-quarter leads. And opponents' quarterbacks are boasting a 130.6 passer rating in the final regulation frame though six weeks.

Look for this to be a factor.

Defensive Game Plan

A longtime staple of the Seahawks offense has been their rushing attack. Seattle has 827 yards on the ground and, despite the recent hamstring injury of veteran running back Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks are still perfectly capable of asserting this approach in Week 7.

San Francisco isn't as vulnerable against the run as it is versus the pass. The 49ers have allowed 617 yards on the ground and have allowed 100-plus net rushing yards only twice over six games this season.

The contrast between Seattle's ground game and San Francisco's run defense can be seen here courtesy of B/R Insights:

Limiting Lynch and backup RB Thomas Rawls will be essential to the 49ers' efforts. But it won't be the primary focal point.

Stopping Seattle's passing attack will also be a critical element. And yet the statistics suggest this will be more of a weakness-versus-weakness contest rather than strength versus strength.

The 49ers rank dead last in passing yards allowed per game as indicated above. Yet the Seahawks' aerial attack isn't exactly inspiring.

A microcosm of this matchup will be, again, in the trenches. San Francisco is struggling to generate a pass rush with just nine sacks and a PFF pass-rushing grade of minus-7.8. But Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been sacked more than any other quarterback this season (26 times).

Seattle's O-line is permeable and, despite Wilson's abilities in extending plays, 23 of those 26 sacks have come when he's been forced to hold on to the ball for longer than 2.6 seconds, per PFF.

The question will be whether or not the 49ers pass rush can close the distance without allowing Wilson to get beyond containment.

If he can, tight end Jimmy Graham will be a primary target. Seattle's leading receiver is a threat against San Francisco's middle-of-the-field defense. According to PFF (h/t B/R's Grant Cohn), opposing quarterbacks are completing 84 percent of passes when targeting this area.

On throws over the middle this season, the 49ers’ defense is allowing 10 ypa, a completion % of 84 and a passer rating of 115, per @PFF

— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) October 20, 2015

Graham is a significant threat here. And this NFL.com video showcases where Graham will likely attack:

So how do the 49ers defend against Graham? Second-year cornerback Dontae Johnson may be a plausible option given his 6'2" stature going up against the 6'7" prowess of the standout tight end. Or the 49ers could elect to combine coverage with their safeties and linebackers.

At any rate, San Francisco likely won't be able to afford to send as many defenders on blitzes during the contest for fear of the mismatch Graham creates.

Hopefully, the lackluster abilities of Seattle's O-line will mean the 49ers won't have to.

Key Players and Matchups

Johnson versus Graham will be an intriguing storyline to watch during the contest. And it should be known Graham has averaged just 37.5 yards per game in four career matchups against San Francisco.

But the bigger defensive focus will be up front. Given Seattle's pass-protection woes, look for linebackers Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks to get involved with the 49ers pass rush. Lynch is leading the team with three sacks and has 19 quarterback hurries, per PFF. 

On the flip side, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril will look to apply pressure on Kaepernick. Avril boasts a plus-14.1 PFF grade and will frequently go up against left tackle Joe Staley—the 49ers' best O-lineman.

Which running back—Hyde or Lynch—contributes the most on Thursday will also bear significant weight. Possession time, thanks to the running game, will play a critical role.

Yet, with little doubt, the biggest matchup will be that of Kaepernick versus cornerback Richard Sherman and the Seahawks secondary.

Sherman and the Seahawks have long been Kaepernick's primary weakness. San Francisco's quarterback owns a 53.7 passer rating against Seattle with just two touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Sherman's minus-3.4 pass-coverage PFF grade suggests he's not playing at the same level the 49ers are accustomed to. But that doesn't mean Kaepernick will be able to simply "pick up where he left off" in Week 6 against a suspect secondary.

Prediction

On paper, the Seahawks appear to be a far better team than the 49ers right now. Seattle has lost to three teams that are still undefeated on the season. And the margin of defeat has never been more than 10 points.

San Francisco can't say the same.

But the 49ers do have the benefit of staying home on the short week and also didn't have to travel for Week 5. This wasn't a beneficial factor for San Francisco when these two teams met on a Thursday last year for Thanksgiving.

And yet the context was so vastly different back then.

As Grant Napear of Sacramento's KHTK 1140 noted Tuesday, Seattle is losing games it typically didn't before and, per Napear, the Seahawks "aren't playing well at all." He predicted a 49ers upset, and we should as well.

Look for the Seahawks' fourth-quarter woes to haunt them Thursday. Combined with the short week, Seattle's issues in the final frame could either hand over the lead to San Francisco or allow the 49ers to increase the lead if they're already in front.

Let's go with a 24-17 victory by the red and gold. The 49ers are trending upward, while the Seahawks are scuffling.

Either way, if the 49ers can make this a competitive game and remain in contention until the end, San Francisco will continue to move in the right direction.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.