Seahawks vs. 49ers: 2023 NFL NFC Wild Card Football Picks & Predictions (Saturday)
Few people gave the Seattle Seahawks any hope of making the NFL playoffs this season after selling away franchise quarterback Russell Wilson over the summer.
However, the Seahawks (9-8) did secure the seventh and final playoff spot for the NFC on Sunday night, thanks to some assistance from the Detroit Lions.
They will now fly to Santa Clara, Calif., where they will play NFC West foe San Francisco 49ers (13-4) on Saturday afternoon. With quarterback issues of their own, can the 49ers defend the work done throughout the regular season? Let’s dive in.
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Seahawks vs. 49ers NFL Wild Card Preview & Best Bets
Details
- Opening Line: 49ers -10 | O/U 43.5
- Current Line: 49ers -9.5 | O/U 42.5
- Last meeting: Dec. 15, 2022 – 49ers 21, Seahawks 13
Overview
After defeating the Los Angeles Rams, the defending Super Bowl champions, 19-16 in OT on Sunday, the Seahawks had to wait while the Lions eliminated Green Bay that night.
In Carroll’s 13 seasons, those two results earned the Seahawks their 10th winning season and 10th postseason berth. It was especially gratifying after the narrative became him vs. Wilson in the offseason.
Against the Rams, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III carried for 114 yards on a season-high 29 attempts. After recovering from an ankle ailment that lingered through the back half of the season, he concluded with three straight 100-yard performances, becoming just the second rookie in the team’s history to surpass 1,000 yards (1,050).
Geno Smith, the Seahawks’ new gunslinger, overcame two interceptions in the season finale, including one on the first play from scrimmage, while surpassing Wilson’s team record for the most passing yards in a season. The 49ers started the season 3-4 and were behind the Seahawks in the division standings before going on a 10-game winning streak, which included an easy 38-13 victory over visiting Arizona on Sunday.
With three touchdown throws against the Cardinals, quarterback Brock Purdy, the final choice in the 2022 NFL Draft this spring who has taken over since Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down with injuries, helped the 49ers win the NFC’s No. 2 spot.
Bottom Line
While claiming that his squad is peaking at the ideal time, coach Kyle Shanahan knows better than to plan too far ahead. Earlier this season, head-to-head against this NFC West foe, the 49ers handily defeated the Seahawks, triumphing 27-7 in Santa Clara during Week 2 and 21-13 on a Thursday night in Seattle in mid-December.
Add in the litany of injuries facing the Seahawks compared to a relatively healthy 49ers side, and I like for the home team to roll in this one.
Pick: 49ers -9.5
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