The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are playing the last, and arguably best, regular season game of the season on Sunday night.
Whichever team wins will secure the NFC West title and a top three seed in the playoffs, while a loss would move Seattle into fifth place and a first round road game against either Dallas or Philadelphia.
That alone makes this must-watch football, and factoring in the triumphant return of Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle offense should make this game an instant classic, much like the team’s first matchup in Week 10.
How much action Beast Mode gets, how Seattle handles George Kittle and pass protection issues up front are three of the biggest storylines in this game, and all three are previewed in this article.
Kickoff tonight is at 5:20 p.m. PT. You won’t want to miss out.
How does Seattle divide carries in the backfield?
Or, in other words, how much action does Marshawn Lynch get? Coach Pete Carroll understandably didn’t divulge his depth chart or plan for his two new running backs, Lynch and Robert Turbin, saying folks will have to “wait and see.”
However, it’s pretty clear the feature back duties will go to rookie Travis Homer, with Lynch and Turbin splitting backup responsibilities.
Carroll did indicate his two new backs only focused on portions of the team’s playbook, which will curb the amount of plays they can contribute.
Ultimately, fans should expect a healthy dose of Homer, with Lynch likely playing short down situations and Turbin serving as a pass protector and perhaps a receiver out of the backfield on occasion.
Can Seattle’s offensive line protect Russell Wilson?
The Seahawks saw just how important left tackle Duane Brown is to the team last Sunday against the Cardinals.
His absence forced backup Jamarco Jones into the starting five, and he spent the entire day getting worked by veteran Chandler Jones, who recorded four sacks and six quarterback hits.
Brown is out again this week, and either Jones or George Fant will be tasked with protecting Russell Wilson’s blind side on Sunday.
The 49ers will be without Dee Ford, which is a nice break for Seattle, but they’ll still have to deal with Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner across the defensive line.
If Jones and/or Fant are unable to hold their blocks on the outside, it could be another long day for Wilson and the Seattle offense on Sunday night.
Will Seattle have an answer for tight end George Kittle?
Seattle’s defense will face a big challenge on Sunday night in tight end George Kittle, an elite offensive weapon who was dealing with injuries last time these two teams met, and did not suit up.
Kittle has 78 receptions for 967 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just 13 games this season, making him one of the best offensive players in the NFL, and an extremely tough matchup for Pete Carroll and the Seattle defense.
“He’s an amazing player, he really is,” Carroll said on Tuesday. “He’s a heart and soul guy for them, and a clutch guy, too. They go to him when times are crucial and all that. He’s a fantastic player. Not just a catcher, he’s a blocker as well. He’s a good ballplayer.”
Kittle’s contributions in the San Francisco offense are critical, and it will force Seattle to change their defensive strategies to account for him.
“We won’t be able to play them the way we did last time,” Carroll said. “We’re going to have to do things much differently because he’s in the game.”
How exactly that will play out remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt Kittle makes things much tougher on this Seattle defense.
