Things don't get easier for the 49ers this week as the resurgent Seahawks visit The Bay for an NFC West showdown.
The New York football Giants delivered a swift kick to the 49ers’ collective faces on Sunday at Candlestick.
The 49ers don’t have much time to nurse their wounds. They have to get right back up and prepare for a primetime showdown on Thursday night with fellow division leader Seattle.
Jim Harbaugh is preaching that mindset:
“Dust off and let’s ride. We’ve got a football fight coming, and let’s get ready for it.”
Expect a slugfest between two of the top defenses in the NFL. The 49ers have allowed a league-low 276 yards per game, while the Seahawks are fourth, giving up just 295 yards per game.
The 49ers have given up 94 points, but the Seahawks have given up 93. Only one team has allowed fewer (Chicago with 71).
Both teams have built their 4-2 records on their defenses. Alex Smith and rookie Russell Wilson aren’t exactly filling up the stat sheet.
The Seahawks come into San Francisco riding high after two straight wins, at Carolina and home against New England. Seahawks rookie QB Wilson already understands how big Thursday night’s game is:
#Seahawks Russell Wilson: "Ever since I landed here in Seattle everybody kind of talks about the NFC West and how big this game is." #49ers
— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) October 16, 2012
Smith will be tested against a defense with 17 sacks which gives up just 170 passing yards per game. Against the Giants, Smith was sacked six times and threw for just 200 yards.
The Seahawks are going to put a lot of pressure on Smith, and if he doesn’t handle it well, it could be a long night for the 49ers offense.
The 49ers defense hadn’t given up more than 100 rushing yards to a running back this season until Sunday when Ahmad Bradshaw pounded out 116 yards on the ground. On Thursday, the 49ers face another tough test in Marshawn Lynch, who is third in the NFL in rushing.
Last season, in Week 16, Lynch was the first running back to gain 100+ yards against the 49ers since Week 11 of 2009:
Vic Fangio on Marshawn Lynch: "He's the best back we played last year by far."
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 16, 2012
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