4 Reasons San Francisco 49ers Fans Should Be Concerned Heading into Seattle

Further proof that a 16-game NFL season induces evolution faster than any force on Earth can be seen in the Seattle Seahawks. This is a team that started the season 0-2 with less-than-inspiring efforts in San Francisco and then Pittsburgh. 

They improved to a hit-and-miss performance through October that included a 34-12 home loss to Cincinnati followed by a 23-13 loss in Dallas. Since then, they have gone 5-1 and appear to be something much different than what 49er fans saw in Week 1 in San Francisco. The 7-7 ‘Hawks find with some hope of playing in the playoffs. It’s a remarkable run.

 For the San Francisco 49ers, who are coming off an impressive 20-3 Monday night win over Pittsburgh, it is going to be a very tough test this Saturday at CenturyLink Field. Here are five reasons to be concerned about Saturday’s game in Seattle.

Seattle’s 12th Man

Let’s let Wikipedia do the talking about what it means to play in Seattle.

 “The Seahawks began playing at CenturyLink Field in 2002. Every regular season and playoff game at CenturyLink Field since the 2nd week of the 2003 season has been played before a sellout crowd, a streak of 52 consecutive games.^[13]

Inside CenturyLink Field the noise level can reach as high as 137 decibels, or the equivalent of a jet engine. Indeed, this has caused problems for opposing teams, making them have numerous false starts and penalties. From 2005 through the beginning of the 2010 season, fans have caused a league-high 107 false start penalties.

Prior to kickoff of each home game, the Seahawks salute the loudest fans in the NFL by raising the 12th man flag at the south end of the stadium.”

The Seahawks, for all their problems, have quietly built a solid defense that is sixth in points allowed and eighth in yards. They give up only 3.7 yards per rush attempt, good for fourth. They have given up only 17 passing TDs and have 21 interceptions. Defensive end Chris Clemons is among the league leaders with 11 sacks.

It’s not an easy place to play, period. Last year, the Niners opened the season on high hopes as many picked them to win the NFC West. Seattle crushed them soundly.

Now the Seahawks, a different team than what came to San Francisco in September, await with revenge fueling their passion in the loudest stadium in the league.

This is not a game to take lightly. The combination of Seattle’s defense and the crowd noise will make for a very tough test.

Marshawn the Man

Since, oh, the middle of October, Marshawn Lynch has been the best running back in the league. He’s over 1,011 yards, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story. In the last six games, he’s run for 611 yards on 148 carries for a 4.1 average.

He’s been a workhorse because he had to. Sidney Rice is out for the season. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t have any other big-play receivers, so the best thing left for coach Pete Carroll was to turn to Lynch. And he’s responded.

Lynch averages just under 19 carries a game. In the last six games, it’s been closer to 25, and that’s why the Seahawks reformulated into a playoff contender.

For a defense that is No. 1 against the run, hasn’t allowed a 100-yard performance in 36 games and hasn’t allowed a rushing TD all season, this will be the 49ers’ biggest test.

Comfortable

Four of the first six Seahawks games were on the road, including stops in San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The ‘Hawks were still trying to figure out who they were. They had a new quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson, and they were counting on free-agent receiver Sidney Rice to add some pizzazz.

Rice never became a factor. Jackson got hurt. But they have rallied Part of that can be attributed to the schedule. This will be Seattle’s fifth home game among its last seven. That included a three-game stretch at home, during which the Seahawks inexplicably lost to Washington.

At home, Seattle averages 23 points on offense and gives up about the same. In their last three games, they have given up 14, 13 and 14 points against Philadelphia (one of the best offensive teams), St. Louis (challenged offensively) and Chicago (really, really challenged).

There’s no doubt that this will be the Seahawks’ biggest game, a playoff bid as well as a chance for Pete Carroll to get back at Jim Harbaugh.

What to Do

It’s not like Seattle is the second coming of Walter Payton and the 1985 Bears. They have issues, to be sure. They have given up 42 sacks, and Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst have thrown only 13 TD passes. Let’s just say that stability is still trying to find the Seattle offensive line.

This is a game in which weather, crowd noise and Seattle’s drive for revenge combine to lift the team into a hyper state. And there’s a natural letdown after playing such a big game against one of the NFL’s elite franchises.

But all that was gained with the win over Pittsburgh can be lost without a first-rate effort in Seattle on Saturday. It will be Jim Harbaugh’s biggest coaching challenge.