The Seattle Seahawks are a 1-0 team that feels like an 0-1 team. The San Francisco 49ers are an 0-1 team that lost a game nine times out of 10 they would win. Say what? We’ll break it all down in the next few hundred words. Read on for a breakdown of the Seahawks vs. 49ers matchups, the key injuries, and game predictions from our NFL staff.
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers preview
Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett has been a human pinata all week. But his terrible game management and goal-line play-calling obscured a pretty uninspiring second half by the Seahawks offense. Seattle went scoreless and managed just 44 yards after halftime.
The Hawks didn’t win the game so much as they got out of the Broncos’ way and let them lose. That’s not very sustainable. But there is reason to believe this might be a better team than expected. Geno Smith completed 23 of 28 passes for 195 yards, and the Seahawks’ ground game averaged four yards per carry. And with Jamal Adams headed for knee surgery, the Seahawks will probably need their offense to perform if they want to stay competitive.
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The 49ers, meanwhile, probably deserve a mulligan after Week 1. Yes, they lost to an undermanned Bears team, but the game was essentially played on a Slip ‘N Slide. The combination of heavy rain and a terrible playing surface meant very little could be gleaned from a bad offense performance.
The most important thing to come out of the game? A significant knee injury to Elijah Mitchell. He won’t be available for two months, meaning Trey Lance will need to carry an offense that’s left with the likes of Jeff Wilson Jr., Tyrion Davis-Price, and Jordan Mason at running back.
Seahawks vs. 49ers prediction
Betting line (courtesy of Caesars)
49ers -9.5; 49ers -440, Seahawks +335; O/U 40.5
Adam Beasley’s prediction
8-8-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
49ers 23, Seahawks 16
Dalton Miller’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
49ers 30, Seahawks 23
Dallas Robinson’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 6-11 against the spread in 2022
49ers 21, Seahawks 17
How to watch Seahawks vs. 49ers
- Date/Time
Sunday, Sept. 18, 4:05 p.m. ET - Channel
FOX - Live streams
Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV (some markets), fuboTV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, FOX Now
Seahawks vs. 49ers matchup and stats
For the first 26 years of the Seahawks’ existence, the 49ers had little connection to them aside from being the closest team in terms of proximity. The two teams were in different conferences and played just six times between 1976 and 2001.
Then realignment happened, and one of the best rivalries in modern football was born. In the last 20 seasons, they’ve played 41 times. Seattle has won 28 of those games, including the last four and the 2013 NFC Championship Game. If history is a guide, expect a close game. Six of the last seven meetings were decided by one score.
Seattle Seahawks 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 17.0 (25th)
- Yards: 253.0 (29th)
- Yards per play: 5.2 (21st)
- Passing: 177.0 (27th)
- Rushing: 76.0 (T-24th)
- Defensive scoring: 16.0 (seventh)
- Yards allowed: 433.0 (29th)
- Yards per play allowed: 6.8 (29th)
- Pass defense: 330.0 (30th)
- Rush defense: 103.0 (T-16th)
San Francisco 49ers 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 10.0 (T-27th)
- Yards: 331.0 (20th)
- Yards per play: 4.9 (23rd)
- Passing: 155.0 (30th)
- Rushing: 176.0 (seventh)
- Defensive scoring: 19.0 (T-ninth)
- Yards allowed: 204.0 (first)
- Yards per play allowed: 3.6 (first)
- Pass defense: 105.0 (first)
- Rush defense: 99.0 (15th)
Injuries to know
- S Joey Blount (hamstring, doubtful)
- CB Artie Burns (groin, questionable)
- CB Justin Coleman (calf, questionable)
- SS Jamal Adams (injured reserve)
- DE L.J. Collier (injured reserve)
- LS Tyler Ott (injured reserve)
- CB John Reid (injured reserve)
- LB Alton Robinson (injured reserve)
- LB Tyreke Smith (injured reserve)
- WR Cody Thompson (injured reserve)
- CB Tre Brown (physically unable to perform)
- LB Ben Burr-Kirven (physically unable to perform)
- LB Jon Rhattigan (physically unable to perform)
- OL Daniel Brunskill (hamstring, out)
- TE George Kittle (groin, questionable)
- DL Maurice Hurst (injured reserve)
- TE Jordan Matthews (injured reserve)
- RB Elijah Mitchell (injured reserve)
- LB Curtis Robinson (injured reserve)
- DB Jimmy Ward (injured reserve)
- DL Jordan Willis (injured reserve)
- DL Kalia Davis (non-football injury)