The division rival Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are set to square off in prime time Monday night they’ll face each other for the first time this season.
We asked Niners Wire managing editor Kyle Madson three important questions ahead of the Week 10 matchup.
1) Richard Sherman is still a household name in Seattle. Now that he is healthy, his production is mimicking his Legion of Boom days with the Seahawks. What can we expect from Sherman Monday night?
I think Sherman will have a little extra edge since it’ll be the first game of consequence between him and his former team. He’s been superb this season, and his tremendous football IQ is on display as his athleticism declines. Sherman is still extremely physical, very smart and a lethal defender on the outside when tested. It may not show up on the stat sheet, but I’m expecting a vintage Sherman showing akin to his days when he terrorized the 49ers.
2) The 49ers are unbeaten and sitting atop the NFC West. What factors do you attribute to this season’s success to, and what weaknesses will Seattle be able to exploit Week 10?
It’s been all about the defensive turnaround and the pass rush. They’ve been tremendous at getting after the quarterback, forcing turnovers and winning the field position battle. The offense is inconsistent at times, but the defense continually puts them in positions to succeed. The area to exploit is their run defense. If the Seahawks commit to Chris Carson and getting him 25-plus carries and keep the 49ers offense off the field, Seattle could have a lot of success.
3) Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is rolling this year, off to one of the best starts of his career. With a few new weapons around him, will San Francisco find a way to stop him in Santa Clara?
I don’t think anyone really stops Russell Wilson. Limiting him is really the key, and San Francisco has the pieces to do that. They have an explosive pass rush that can force him to get outside the pocket sooner than he might like. They’ve also had some terrific play in the back end, but trying to keep Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf hemmed in when Wilson scrambles is easier said than done. It wouldn’t surprise me if Wilson has a little bit of a down game, but I don’t think the 49ers have enough weapons on defense to stop him.
