This game is for first place in the NFC West as both teams are currently 2-1.  The Seahawks were swept last season by the 49ers by a combined score of 44-28.  In defense of the Seahawks, they were quite banged up on the offensive side of the ball last season but they are clicking on all cylinders right now.

The 49ers defense is allowing 142.3 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so far this season so expect the Seahawks to attack that weakness.  RB Shaun Alexander has a broken wrist but he’ll be playing anyways.  He has carried the ball 66 times for 275 yards (4.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  It will be up to MLB Patrick Willis to be chasing Alexander around and hitting him all day.  If the Seahawks give Matt Hasselbeck time to throw the football he should have some success throwing the football.  WRs Deion Branch (13 rec, 199 yards), Bobby Engram (13 rec, 197 yards) and Nate Burleson (10 rec, 156 yards) have all played well for the Seahawks this season and they will spread the field and exploit the nickel back in coverage. 

The 49ers will try to go with what worked last season against the Seahawks which means they will be feeding the rock to Frank Gore.  Gore carried the football 53 times for 356 yards (6.7 ypc) in the sweep over the Seahawks last season!  The Seahawks run defense appears to be better than last season as they are allowing 102.0 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry and Frank Gore (175 yards rushing, 3.4 ypc) is off to a slow start this season so something will have to give here.  The Seahawks allow 273.7 yards passing per game so far this season but QB Alex Smith just isn’t good enough to take advantage of that.  That being said, look for WR Darrell Jackson to be inspired against his old team that traded him for a 4th round pick on draft day.

PREDICTION:  The Seahawks are the better football team here so they they should win this football game.  But, if Frank Gore gets off against the Seahawks the 49ers will win this game.

The Seahawks played just well enough to win their 2nd game of the season yesterday against the Bengals.  Matt Hasselbeck had a solid game as he completed 24 of 37 passes for 248 yards with 3 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  RB Shaun Alexander was also tough as he carried the ball 21 times for 100 yards (4.8 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 8 yards.  Hasselbeck did a good job of spreading the football around in the passing game.  Deion Branch (6 rec, 77 yards, TD), Nate Burleson (6 rec, 76 yards, TD) and Bobby Engram (5 rec, 62 yards, TD) all played good games.  The Seahawks rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries (4.1 ypc) and they completed 24 of 37 passes for 238 yards.

Safety Deon Grant (9 tackles, fumble, interception) and linebacker LeRoy Hill (9 tackles) both played good games but the defense wasn’t good as a whole.  The Bengals rushed for only 84 yards on 30 carries (2.8 ypc) and they completed 27 of 43 passes for 328 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270923026

This game will likely be a shootout as both teams have good offenses and below average defenses.  The Bengals would love to run the football with Rudi Johnson (168 rushing yards) against a Seahawks defense that is allowing 111.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  The Bengals would love to control the clock and they their defense on the sidelines.  But the Bengals won’t be able to resist throwing the ball against the small corners of the Seahawks.  Chad Johnson (16 rec, 304 yards, 3 TDs) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (17 rec, 119 yards, 3 TDs) should both have field days against the Seahawks secondary.  The Seahawks had better blitz Carson Palmer if they are going to stop the Bengals because if he has time in the pocket he’s going to dissect this defense.

The Seahawks will likely have the same offensive gameplan that the Bengals will trot out.  The Bengals defense has allowed 166.5 yards rushing per game and 6.1 yards per carry so far this season.  RB Shaun Alexander is probably licking his chops thinking about Sunday as he has 175 yards rushing this season with 2 TD runs.  The Bengals will also have to try to blitz Hasselbeck because if he has time to throw he will have a good game.  Bobby Engram (8 rec, 135 yards), Deion Branch (7 rec, 122 yards) and Nate Burleson (4 rec, 80 yards) could all have good days against a Bengals defense that is allowing 267.5 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  The Seahawks will get a stop or two on defense in this game.  The same can not be said about the Bengals so look for the Seahawks to win a high-scoring, thrilling football game.

 

Matt Hasselbeck was banged up most of last season but he’s healthy now and the Seahawks are very happy about that.  Hasselbeck has completed 39 of 60 passes (65.0%) for 503 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 interceptions (102.3 QB Rating) so far this season.  Look for Hasselbeck to continue playing well this season as he has a nice receiving corps to throw to.

The Seahawks played a pretty decent game on offense but the defense just had a hard time stopping the Cardinals offense.  Matt Hasselbeck was efficient as he usual as he completed 22 of 36 passes for 281 yards with 1 TD pass.  Shuan Alexander was busy also as he carried the football 18 times for 70 yards (3.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Deion Branch led the way in the passing game for the Seahawks with 7 catches for 122 yards (17.4 avg).  WRs Bobby Engram (5 rec, 71 yards) and Nate Burleson (2 rec, 39 yards, TD) also had decent games.  The Seahawks finished up with 92 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.8 ypc).  They also completed 22 of 36 passes for 278 yards.

The defense did not play well for the Seahawks.  Can’t blame linebacker Lofa Tatupu for that as he led the way on defense with 12 tackles and an interception.  The Cardinals gashed the Seahawks defense for 132 yards rushing on 26 carries (5.1 ypc).  The Cards didn’t stop there as they also completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270916022