Seahawks vs. 49ers: Preview, score prediction for Week 12

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks will look to get back to winning ways after a heartbreaking loss to the Atlanta Falcons, as they face a San Francisco 49ers team in the rare position of seeking to record back-to-back victories in Week 12.

Seattle’s comeback against the Falcons fell short as Blair Walsh missed a 51-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime and, though they will be expected to put things right versus the Niners, a team with an offensive line as shaky as that of the Seahawks and with a decimated secondary can take little for granted.

San Francisco, despite its 1-9 record, remains very much in the spotlight due to the presence of Jimmy Garoppolo, who will again watch from the sideline after head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed C.J. Beathard will again start on the back of his very impressive performance in leading the Niners to a win over the New York Giants before their bye.

The Seahawks have won the last eight meetings with the 49ers but, with the Niners having lost by just a 12-9 margin in Seattle in Week 2 and the Seahawks defense looking vulnerable without their stars, there is some potential for an upset that would see Shanahan’s team all but end their division rival’s playoff hopes.

Keys to the Game

San Francisco was able to keep it close in Seattle as the defensive line constatntly pressured Wilson, sacking him three times and doing a decent job of containing him until he escaped a sack to hit Paul Richardson for the game-winning touchdown.

If Wilson and the Seahawks are to be successful, then the O-Line will have to hold up against a front seven restocked by the possible returns of Solomon Thomas and Tank Carradine and the additions of Sheldon Day and former Seattle defender Cassius Marsh.

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Of course the best way to prevent the Niners defense from simply teeing off on Wilson will be to establish a run game, which has been easier said than done for the Seahawks in 2017.

Seattle is 21st in the NFL in Football Outsiders rushing DVOA and will have to rely on Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy and J.D. McKissic to gain yards on the ground against a San Francisco defense that ranks last in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (133.5) but is tied for 14th in yards per carry given up (4.0).

For the 49ers look for Carlos Hyde to again be an integral part of the gameplan, San Francisco’s running back has been impressive on the ground as a pass-catcher this year and will hope to again prove a safety net for Beathard.

But their hopes of victory will largely hinge on Beathard’s ability to take advantage of a secondary missing Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Shaquill Griffin, particularly with rookie tight end George Kittle set to come back into the line-up, as well as potentially first-year slot receiver Trent Taylor.

A shoulder injury could rob Beathard of his right tackle Trent Brown, that would be very problematic for the rookie signal-caller, but if he can repeat his showing from the Giants game against the depleted Seahawks then the Niners may have some hope of at least keeping pace with Wilson and Seattle.

Odds

Point Spread: Seattle -6.5
Moneyline: Seattle -305 San Francisco +245
Over/Under: 45.5

Next: NFL 2017: Best games to watch in Week 12 on Sunday

Prediction

San Francisco has played Seattle close in each of their last two meetings, losing by a combined five points. The Seahawks’ injuries should offer the 49ers the chance to do the same again. However, Wilson has been able to put the Seahawks on his back before and the smart money says he will get them over the line in this one.

Final Score: Seattle Seahawks: 27, San Francisco 49ers: 24