Seattle Seahawks: 5 Players that must shine vs. 49ers in Week 10

2. The offensive line

Seattle’s offensive line has never gotten a lot of credit for the team’s success, largely because they haven’t earned it. The Seahawks are known for not investing in a complete offensive line capable of protecting Wilson. Duane Brown is the team’s only All-Pro caliber offensive lineman.

However, the Seahawks need the offensive line playing at an insane level this weekend. If Seattle has a shot at winning, the team needs Wilson on his feet, not on his back. The 49ers have 30 sacks this season, which are the third-most in the NFL. The team has four players with at least four sacks.

While Seattle’s line specializes in the run game, the unit needs a solution for Arik Armstead, Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford, on Monday.

1. Russell Wilson, QB

Even if some other players are garnering attention, Wilson is easily the frontrunner in the MVP race this season. There’s a case to be made that, outside of Drew Brees, Wilson is the best quarterback in the league without a league MVP. He’s taking steps to rectify that this season.

Entering Week 10, Wilson is leading the NFL in passing touchdowns (22), passer rating (118.2), percentage of pass attempts resulting in touchdowns (7.5 percent), and he’s intercepted the lowest percentage of times when attempting a pass (0.3 percent).

Per Pro Football Focus Wilson is also leading the NFL in passing yards versus pressure at 964 yards. Entering Week 10, Carson Wentz was in second but only had 728 passing yards versus pressure. That means, despite playing with a backup center and an offensive line that has given up 135 sacks in the past three seasons, Wilson is leagues ahead of other quarterbacks when it comes to handling pressure.

For all of those fancy numbers, Wilson is the most important player for the Seahawks simply because the offense cannot exist without him. Even with players like Carson and Lockett, the Seahawks would be an average offense without Wilson, and the team wouldn’t be playoff-caliber. Only Wilson can make the Seahawks elite.