SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy was just 4 years old when a banner hung outside the 49ers’ locker room reading: “Win The West.”
That was in 2005, when first-year coach Mike Nolan knew the franchise’s quickest path back to relevancy was a division title, never mind that it took until 2011 to end the Niners’ playoff drought.
Now, after Purdy’s delivered back-to-back NFC West crowns to the 49ers, they need division wins more than, well, they just need them.
The 49ers (5-4) could be recapturing the playoff form after two months of bungling the role of reigning NFC champs. Sunday, they can improve to 2-2 in NFC West action and move into a share of first place with the Arizona Cardinals, so long as they beat the Seattle Seahawks (4-5) at Levi’s Stadium in a seventh straight meeting.
“There’s never a moment where we walk into this game going it’s going to be given to us or anything,” Purdy said.
The 49ers’ only divisional win this season came by outlasting the Seahawks 36-24 in a Thursday night, Oct. 10 visit to Seattle. More divisional drama awaits on Thursday, Dec. 12 when the Los Angeles Rams come to Levi’s Stadium, with the regular-season finale Jan. 5 or 6 in Arizona.
Here are five keys to victory for the 49ers:
1. CMC ENCORE VS. LBs
Christian McCaffrey’s most impressive play in his season debut came when he exploited a mismatch against a linebacker (Lavonte David) for a 30-yard reception via Purdy’s heroic throw in the face of pressure. The 49ers will, and always have, seek similar mismatches. The Seahawks’ linebacker corps has undergone a radical, in-season makeover, with last month’s trade for Ernest Brown IV and Tuesday’s release of leading tackler Tyrel Dodson, who’ll be replaced by rookie Tyrice Knight.
McCaffrey winces at any thought the new-look Seahawks are easy prey and instead noted how maligned teams often pull out a surprising win under a recently named interim coach. (See: New Orleans Saints’ last Sunday).
The Seahawks’ duo of Bobby Wanger and Jordyn Brooks couldn’t stop McCaffrey last season: 259 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ two wins. McCaffrey, since joining the 49ers two years ago, has run for over 100 yards in all four of his faceoffs against the Seahawks, including a January 2023 playoff opener. Neither Achilles flared up after his 56-snap, 107-yard debut in Tampa, so “I’ll keep rolling.”
2. OVERCOME SPECIAL TEAMS
The 49ers’ season-long issues on special teams include a Seahawks’ kickoff return for a touchdown. More woes came last Sunday when Jake Moody’s three missed field goals (before his game-winner) and a muffed punt return caused by Darrell Luter.
Simply, the 49ers are the point they must expect and overcome another special-teams gaffe. Even tight end George Kittle noted that the desperate Seahawks could take chances such as a fake punt, on which they scored a touchdown in their 2021 game at Seattle.
“They’ve kind of had our number on big special teams plays,” Kittle said. “I’m not in special teams meetings so I don’t …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment