San Francisco 49ers (12-4) at Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
6:30 P.M. Sunday January 19, 2014
FOX
Line: Seattle -3.5
Seattle Seahawks Division Round Review
The Seahawks proved me wrong last week by knocking off Drew Brees and the Saints in the Divisional round. The Seahawks were able to keep the high scoring Saints scoreless through three quarters before giving up a big 15 point fourth. They were also able to hold tight end Jimmy Graham in check, holding him to one catch for eight yards. But they couldn’t keep Brees under 300 yards passing as him and Marques Colston played really well.
This week the Seahawks will need the secondary to step up and stop Michael Crabtree the 49ers top receiver. After allowing 11 catches 144 yards and a touchdown to Colston last week Seahawks fans have to be a little nervous about Crabtree and Anquan Boldin coming to town. It might not matter though because apparently the fans in Seattle are so loud they cause mini earthquakes, and we all no you can’t beat mother nature.
San Francisco Divisional Round Review
The 49ers are definitely the team you don’t want to play right now. Not only are they one of the most talented teams in the NFL but they are starting to find some of that playoff magic. Every year we have a team that defines the odds and goes the whole way through the playoff on the road. Usually these teams are 8-8 or 9-7 but the 12-4 49ers had the misfortune of being in the same division as the Seahawks.
But they obviously are on a bit of a hot streak right now. In the Wild Card they went into Lambo and sent the Packers home for the year. Then they went into Carolina and knocked off the 12-4 Panthers. This week they face another tough defense with little to no holes in maybe the toughest road environment in all sports. Maybe the rivalry factor will make the game an even playing field. Either way the 49ers have a good chance to pull off the upset and send their rival home for the year and get another shot at the Super Bowl.
49ers Seahawks
Passing Offense 186.2 (30th) 202.2 (26th)
Rushing Offense 137.6 (3rd) 136.8 (4th)
Scoring Offense 406 (11th) 417 (8th)
Passing Defense 221.0 (7th) 172.0 (1st)
Rushing Defense 95.9 (4th) 101.6 (7th)
Scoring Defense 272 (3rd) 231 (1st)
Turnover Margin 12 (2nd NFC) 20 (1st NFC)
Point Differential 8.4 (3rd) 11.7 (2nd)
Key Matchups
Michael Crabtree vs the Richard Sherman: Crabtree is the 49ers best receiver and they will need him to make plays. Sherman the Seahawks top corner will need to keep him in check….this will be very interesting.
Marshawn Lynch vs NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis: Lynch is one of the most powerful runners in the league, he runs hard and seems to get better after he’s hit. Willis and Bowman are the best inside linebacker tandem in the league. Let’s see if they can hold Lynch in check.
Biggest Mismatch
N/A: Not in this game no no no, these two teams are so evenly matched, and hate each other so much I don’t see anyone playing below the level of this game. There’s too much on the line with this game, bragging rights, season tiebreaker, Super Bowl! This will be a bare knuckle brawl that will be close the whole four quarters.
Prediction
Seahawks: 21
49ers: 24
I think the 49ers will come in riding their momentum wave and stick it to their rivals in their own house. These teams are so evenly matched that you have to go with the 49ers and this momentum they’ve picked up. History tells us that at least one of those road wild card teams will make the Super Bowl and I like the 49ers to be that team this year.