Can Brock Purdy win on the road? Five burning questions for 49ers vs Seahawks

The San Francisco 49ers will look to clinch their first NFC West division title since 2019 when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night at Lumen Stadium in Seattle.

San Francisco is riding a six game win streak into Seattle and won the first matchup between the two division rivals in week two 27-7.

After starting the season 6-3, Seattle has lost three of their last four and fallen to 7-6. The Seahawks lost to Carolina 30-24 on Sunday, their second consecutive loss at home.

Here are five things to watch for during the game Thursday night.

1.) Can Brock Purdy get it done on the road?

Brock Purdy has been on a roll since taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo one series into a win over Miami, recording two passing touchdowns in each game.

Now it’s time for Purdy to show what he can do away from home. The environment in Seattle is one of the loudest in all professional sports. If the rookie is able to take care of business on Thursday night it would further prove he is the real deal.

Purdy is listed as questionable with oblique and rib injuries suffered when he dove for a first down early in the game against Tampa Bay.

If Purdy throws for at least two touchdowns against Seattle he will become the first 49ers rookie quarterback since at least 1970 to reach that total three games in a row.

2.) Will the 49ers replace the production of Deebo Samuel?

The Niners offense will be without its wideback in Seattle after Deebo Samuel suffered injuries to his MCL and ankle late in the second quarter against Tampa Bay.

Losing Samuel is a blow for San Francisco. He has been very good against the Seahawks in his career with over 501 total yards of offense and three touchdowns in four games.

The last time the 49ers were without Samuel it was Christian McCaffrey who stepped up with a big performance in a win over the Los Angeles Rams. McCaffrey has faced Seattle only twice in his career. In those matchups in 2018 and 2019 as a member of the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey had over 175 scrimmage yards. He has averaged 113.3 yards of total offense and a touchdown in five starts for San Francisco.

In addition to McCaffrey, keep an eye on Ray-Ray McCloud and rookie Danny Gray.

While Samuel was away from the team during offseason workouts and the beginning of training camp, it was McCloud who took advantage of the opportunity for additional snaps.

3.) Can the 49ers stop Kenneth Walker?

The emergence of Kenneth Walker played a large role in Seattle’s early season success. The rookie running back is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns while helping Seattle to a 6-4 record in the ten games he’s played.

Walker is set to return to the lineup after suffering an ankle injury two weeks ago against the Rams.

Walker’s return could stress the middle of the 49ers defensive line. San Francisco has lost Hassan Ridgeway and Kevin Givens in consecutive weeks and Kerry Hyder Jr. is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.

Although San Francisco has yet to allow over 60 yards to any rusher this season, they have shown to be vulnerable against a team that can sustain the run. In their week six loss to Atlanta, the Falcons ran for 168 yards.

4.) Will the 49ers defense get to Geno Smith?

The 49ers defense has recorded two or more interceptions in each of their last two games, not a good sign for veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith has seen a career resurgence this season in Seattle, but after a hot start has begun to cool down a bit with at least one interception in each of his last three games.

In the first meeting between the two teams Smith finished 24-30, 197 yards and an interception. The Seahawks are at their best when the run game is working, and Smith is not the focal point of the offense.

5.) Can San Francisco figure out how to win in Seattle?

Seattle has not been a place San Francisco has found much success. Since the Seahawks joined the NFC West in 2002, the 49ers are 5-16 in Seattle.

San Francisco has also won only twice since 2010, however both were key to clinching division titles.

In 2011 Michael Crabtree “saved Christmas” with a leaping grab of an Alex Smith pass that set up the game winning field goal. In 2019 it was Dre Greenlaw stuffing Jacob Hollister at the goalline to preserve a 26-21 win and secure home field advantage through the playoffs.   

Prediction:

49ers 23 Seahawks 16

This article has 26 Comments

  1. It will be tough as we rarely win at Seattle, even with great teams of the last 15 years. We’ve only one like twice. I think people are a bit too confident that the 49ers will win.

  2. I worry skinny Brock will be a target for Seattle. He is hurting and the questions of his being able to standup to NFL beasts. Can he stand the heavy hits?

    1. allie,
      Brock is your guy, he needs you to believe in him .
      Believe in your team.
      He will lead this team to a win tomorrow and kick in the door to the playoffs.
      Believe it, there is not one member of that team that does not believe 100% that they are going to win tomorrows game.
      Go 9ers!

    2. Allie stop with the skinny, he isn’t. Also did you see the first play of the last game ? He got clocked and went on to drive down the field and score a touchdown. Believe!

      1. He is my discovery after all. Yes, I will be nervous each time he is hit but I will close my eyes and make it better!

        1. Allie,
          Your discovery? Not quite I was here early in the 21 off season calling for the 9ers to draft Purdy in the 5th round. One full year before they drafted him. He decided to come back for his senior year. I wanted the 49ers to draft a QB with the 12th pick of the draft and then draft a 2nd QB later in the draft. Although I will admit I saw him as a quality backup to whomever they chose in the 1st round.

          1. OK, Coach. But I saw him for what he is once he was in OTA’s and camp. I saw a quality person brought up by an intact, loving family as much as a smart, confident player. So, I shall share my attraction to him with you. I am his same age and just graduated from Byrn Mawr College in Pennsylvania

  3. My concern this week is at the DT spot. Ridgeway out, Givens out and Kinlaw out. The only 2 healthy DT’s are Armstead and TY McGill. They will have to play all of the run downs and Armstead will also play most of the obvious passing downs. They can get away with sliding a DE inside on passing downs but most of them would get pushed on run plays. Another Armstead injury would go a long way towards destroying their playoff chances. Do they have any DT’s on the PS? Are there any DT FA’s out there. I think Suh is available. They drafted a DT this year who they knew was injured who would have to sit, I wonder if he is available?

  4. My concern this week is at the DT spot. Ridgeway out, Givens out and Kinlaw out. The only 2 healthy DT’s are Armstead and TY McGill. They will have to play all of the run downs and Armstead will also play most of the obvious passing downs. They can get away with sliding a DE inside on passing downs but most of them would get pushed on run plays. Another Armstead injury would go a long way towards destroying their playoff chances. Do they have any DT’s on the PS? Are there any DT FA’s out there. I think Suh is available. They drafted a DT this year who they knew was injured who would have to sit, I wonder if he is available?

  5. Seattle and the 49ers have very similar offensive stats. Seattle is scoring slightly more points than the 49ers per game. The big difference is the 49ers have the best defense in the league and the Seahawks are a bottom 5 defensive team. Seahawks are giving up a full 10 points more per game than the 49ers. The 49ers are a much better overall team so this game really should be a 49er knockout punch early in the game. BUT this is a rivalry and the 49ers haven’t played well in Seattle. In my opinion there are 3 deciding factors in this game:

    1. If Brock Purdy is unable to play or leaves early due to injury then the 49ers will lose. Can’t win an NFL game with Josh Johnson at QB.

    2. The Seahawks rush defense is the 2nd worst in the NFL giving up an average of 160 yards per game. Kyle Shanahan should be able to devise a game plan that absolutely destroys the Seahawks based on this weakness alone. However, the 49ers never seem to run well against the Seahawks. In the first matchup, this year the 49ers rushed for 189 yards on 4.2 yards per carry which is good but not great. The 49ers really need that interior o-line to come to play. Brendel got owned in the last game against the Seahawks. Al Woods had 7 tackles and 3 TFL in that last game. He completely destroyed Brendel on every snap. Brendel is the biggest key to this game.

    3. The Seahawks have a history of huge special teams play that sparks momentum in games that costs the 49ers. Even this year, the 49er special teams haven’t been good. If the Seahawks score on special teams then the Seahawks have a better than 50/50 chance to win.

    So my best guess is the 49ers win this game. I’m thinking 13-10 sounds like a reasonable score. Purdy plays but he comes down to earth a bit, especially with his injury and without the threat of Deebo. 49ers defense continues to dominate which delivers the division to the 49ers in Seattle.

    1. The Patriot gives a sober assessment of our chances given the history of Seattle’s dominance for far too long. Brock is hurting and his health must be preserved or we have no miracles left. Josh is, at 36, mainly a fill-in to hand off. He is a real journeyman. Is Trey a secret weapon for the playoffs if my Brock is hurt?

  6. What’s happy in the past has nothing to do with this game. The Niners are a very good team and Seattle isn’t. If the Niners even have an average game, They will win. Seattle will likely load the box opening up the passing game, we won’t need to score a ton to beat this team.

    1. Kyle Shanahan, per 49ers.com.
      “I know their numbers are struggling, but it’s really never been that way when we played Seattle, they’re a tough group to run the ball on. I know they haven’t been this year statistically, but usually when you are struggling and I know them meeting us here in two days, I know that’s something they’re going to try to take away and it’s something they’ve done a very good job of there in the past.”

      I agree. All records and stats don’t matter much in a 49ers/Seahawks contest.

  7. “What happens in the past has nothing to do with this game” That may be the most ridiculous statement I have read here since DS left the blog. If the past is meaningless, then why do coaches and players watch soooooooo much tape of “past” games?

  8. Only 3 things worry me about this game.
    Not Seattles offense, not their defense, not their home field advantage.
    1 special teams. They always seem to score or have a big play vs us with that unit.
    2. Their coach. Carrol just knows how to beat SF and or play then tough for a chance at the end of games.
    3. The most important. Injuries Injuries Injuries. The luck of this team once again with injuries is flirting with disaster the last couple of games. And it’s very rare SF walks out of a game vs Seattle without a big injury.
    Those are my three burning questions and or Worries.

  9. Regardless of the history, if the 9ers are at 100% health wise, they win hands down… they aren’t healthy, at key positions which creates problems….in pro football, injuries are a part of the game, and the ‘next man up’ is great to say, but they’re running out of the ‘next man’, so any injuries across the defensive front could be disastrous…the defensive starters are going to have to step up a bit….offensively.. protect Brock Purdy, pay attention to the play clock, keep the hands in tight (McGlinchey) and hold on to the ball…that being the said, the 9ers have to play virtually error free football tonite…minimal penalties (none would be preferred), no getting baited into shoving matches, no turnovers, no blown coverages, forced turnovers and red zone tds….play the game the way they were taught

    1. Time to see Poe and any other young potential stars we have waiting. We just have to be healthy for the playoffs.

      1. Hopefully, a win tonight will open the door for these young players to get on the field.
        For tonight’s game, I’m also hoping that Purdy doesn’t get a harsh reality check. The Oline has to keep BP clean as well as keep him from having to run.

        1. agree. I have both fingers crossed. I will bark at any Seattle monster that hurts him or even hits him.

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