49ers at Seahawks
THE STORY: The San Francisco 49ers have already wrapped up the NFC West title, but they have a tenuous hold on the No. 2 seed in the conference and an outside shot at the top seed. That being said, the Niners have plenty of reasons to be wary as they head to Seattle for a divisional matchup with the resurgent Seahawks on Saturday. Not only does San Francisco have to worry about a letdown after an emotional home win against Pittsburgh on Monday night, it is facing an opponent that has won five of its last six games and had the 49ers on the ropes in Week 1 until Ted Ginn Jr. returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the final four minutes.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: 49ers -2, O/U 38
ABOUT THE 49ERS (11-3): San Francisco's defense, which has allowed a league-low 185 points, flexed its muscles again in a 20-3 victory over the Steelers. The 49ers forced four turnovers by Ben Roethlisberger and extended their streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher to 36 games, the longest active streak in the league. Rookie DE Aldon Smith was an imposing presence with 2.5 sacks, giving him 13.0 on the season. QB Alex Smith threw for only 187 yards but was not sacked and did not commit a turnover. He found TE Vernon Davis six times for 72 yards and a TD.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (7-7): Seattle has won three straight to keep its faint playoff hopes alive. Predominantly a running team, the Seahawks are averaging 33 points per game in their three-game winning streak and have outscored opponents 99-41. Marshawn Lynch has sparked Seattle's revival, rushing for over 100 yards in five of the last seven games and scoring a touchdown in a franchise-record 10 straight contests. He will be facing the league’s top-ranked defense, one which limited him to 33 yards in Week 1. QB Tarvaris Jackson is not putting up huge numbers, but hasn’t been picked off in the last three games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. San Francisco is the first team in league history to not allow a rushing TD in the first 14 games of a season.
2. The Seahawks are tied for second in the league with 21 interceptions. They returned two for TDs in last week’s 38-14 win at Chicago.
3. Niners RB Frank Gore has the two highest rushing games in franchise history and both have come against Seattle – 212 yards in November 2006 and 207 in September 2009.