49ers seek 3-game sweep against Seahawks in wild card game
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco coach, knows what it takes to beat three opponents in a single season after losing against them last year in the playoffs against Los Angeles Rams.
The 49ers will open the postseason against a similar challenge, hosting NFC West rival Seattle on Saturday in a wild card playoff game less than a month following their win over the Seahawks.
“I don’t really look at it as you have to beat someone three times. Shanahan stated that he only sees it as a Saturday match. “That’s the game, I don’t think the other games have to do with it.”
The Niners (13-4), are looking for a better result against Seahawks (9-8). They lost last year’s NFC title game to Los Angeles by a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and were defeated 20-17 by Los Angeles.
“Once you know each other that well, usually the game becomes simpler,” Shanahan said. “You don’t trick each other after that and usually teams are playing at a higher level by that third time.”
The game was decided last year on several key plays. These included a San Francisco dropped interception, a failed short-yardage convert and an interception by Jimmy Garoppolo during the Niners’ final drive.
The Niners have won the battle against the Seahawks so far this season, winning 27-7 at their home in Week 2, before traveling to Seattle for a 21-13 win Dec. 15, in rookie quarterback Brock Purdy’s first road start.
It was the defense led edge rusher Nick Bosa (linebacker Fred Warner), that kept Seattle from a single TD drive on twenty offensive possessions.
“For the most part we were just behind the sticks a lot,” quarterback Geno Smith said. “We were behind the chains and we were in second-and-longs and third-and-longs and that’s not a recipe for winning football for us.”
Shanahan has led the Seahawks to success against the Niners in the past, winning eight of their 12 games. The most important win was won by San Francisco in Week 17, 2019, which decided the NFC West title.
“Sometimes they get us and sometimes we get them,” coach Pete Carroll said. “I say that about the chess match thing because I have so much respect for what Kyle does, their whole style of play and all that they have developed over the years. It’s going to be a good challenge.”
THIRD TIME IS A CHARM
The Niners are the 25th Super Bowl-era team to win against two opponents in regular season play and again in playoffs.
These teams were 14-10 in their third playoff meeting, with San Francisco losing to the Rams. The record of the teams that hosted the third match was 13-6.
DISCOVER DK
DK Metcalf from Seattle had a great 2022 season, with career-high 90 receptions and over 1,000 yards the second of his four seasons.
He was mostly absent the last two weeks despite these numbers. Metcalf was only able to catch one pass for 3 yards in Week 17, which saw him defeat the Jets. Last weekend, Metcalf’s activity against the Rams featured more jawing with Jalen Rams than catching passes. Metcalf was held to just three catches of 40 yards on eight targets by the Rams.
“We have run the ball very well the past couple weeks, and I know that’s taken up a lot of plays on offense but as long as we’re winning I’m not mad or anything because that’s my whole purpose of being here is just to win,” Metcalf said.
Metcalf could be a valuable player for Seattle against the 49ers. In the two games against San Francisco, he caught 11 passes. However, his longest reception was only 13 feet. Charvarius Widd did a great job eliminating his big plays.
TOUCHDOWN TABLE
Since taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo who was injured, Purdy has had a remarkable run. He won all five of his starts to increase San Francisco’s winning streak up to 10.
Purdy’s streak of six consecutive TD passes is the longest for a rookie. Many of those passes went to George Kittle, a tight end who has seven TD catches in four games.
“He does a great job of just creating space and I know where he is going to be,” Purdy said. “He’s a freak of nature and we just have to continue to have that connection moving forward for this playoff run.”
UNDER PRESSURE
Seattle can use pressure to try and frustrate Purdy. Fortunately, Seattle’s pass rush has made an appearance the past two games. In Week 17, the Seahawks recorded four sacks against the Jets, while Los Angeles’ Baker Mayfield was sacked five times.
These five sacks were split among four pass rushers. Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nawosu all contributed. This foursome produced eight QB hits, four of which came from Nwosu.
Last month, Purdy had only three QB hits and Seattle had one sack. But pressuring Purdy won’t matter if Seattle can’t slow the 49ers’ run game.
“If we can eliminate the run, we can get after them,” Nwosu said.
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This report was contributed by Tim Booth, AP Sports Writer
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