SEATTLE WEATHER: 50º, 2 MPH winds, 10% chance of rain.
The big news out of Seattle is that Percy Harvin is out for Sunday’s game. Not that it really changes anything, but there you go. Does anyone see the 49ers doing anything differently against Seattle on defense than they’ve done in recent weeks? I don’t. We certainly won’t stack the box to stop Marshwn Lynch, and that worries me. Then again, the weather conditions aren’t: a) -40º; b) 50 MPH winds; or c) rainy as hell. With the weather not being a factor, one would think both teams may try to stretch the opposing defenses for some big plays. With Harvin out, this will be more difficult for Seattle, but Tate is a big guy and has caught some long balls. On the Niner side, it’s a little more difficult with Seattle’s aggressive corners, but I think we should test KJ Wright and his recently healed broken foot by sending VD on some deep seams. The Niners WILL pound Gore up the middle, but I’d still like to see some misdirection with Hunter. Screens are still a pipedream, and the flare to Tukuafu resulted in his ankle sprain, but I see the same idea of thro2w to the guy single coverage. Whether it’s Crabs, Boldin, VD, or a recently productive Patton, Kappy needs to hit his mark quickly. Saeattle’s D line isn’t quite what Carolin’s was, but the difference is negligible. Quick plays are the idea. get the ball out fast to loosen things up for the running game. Get them back on their heels and then Gore them.
This game is going to be a very interesting chess match, if chess matches were blood sport. But both teams are built very similarly, and both coaches would love nothing more than the complete annihilation of the other. Ball control is paramount. Field position palys a large part in thids game, so LMJ becomes a focal point for not making mistakes. A big punt retun can change this game, as can a blown coverage or turnover. I’d stack Dawson vs anyone, so this game could very well end up something like 12-9.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
We have the two top teams in the league playing and these teams know each other about as well as any two teams. No surprise looks or tactics. Very little one team hasn’t seen the other do on both sides of the ball.
We both have potent running games. They stop ours better than we stop theirs. Both teams will be in the game to the bitter end and it will be decided on mistakes, taking advantage of them if they come and playing sixty minutes, not fifty-eight.
Crowd noise won’t be the killer it was last time. My biggest concern is CK7. His accuracy, his decisions, or being overly cautious about not making mistakes and pulling the ball down too quickly too often and getting put out of the game with a big, even illegal, hit.
Agree. It’s on Colin, this game. We go as he goes: bad and we’re done. But I expect him to come out focused and burn that house down in the end.
Good luck with the dream of screens and quick plays. I’ll dream that they don’t burn 2 TOs in the first quarter due to delay in getting the play off…
Screens would seem to be the order of the day, and I’d love to see it with Hunter, but we just have not shown any ability to set one up correctly. Besides, Miller was the go-to guy for those and he;’s out. Throws in the flat to Gore have been effective lately though.
NoFear, Seattle has been pretty inconsistent stopping the run. Which is why I’d like to see a lot more 3-4 WR formations.
Hopefully, the outcome of this game won’t hinge on some bullshit call/non-call by the refs but I have a sinking feeling it will. I’d really hate to see a game like this decided by inept officiating, that’s for sure.
Get ready for Victory! Get ready for a rout. Tight game……. not this one. Remember to pickup some kakis pants.
Sham, overall the playoffs have been better than the regular season. But that isn’t really saying a hell of a lot. In GGB they lat everything go. That 1st round was the best officiating as a whole.
From Joel Corry at NFP:
“Who do you think will be the biggest cap casualty surprise?-@chancey_
Keep an eye on Frank Gore’s situation even though he finished ninth in the NFL in rushing with 1,128 yards. Gore is scheduled to make $6.45 million next season, which is the last year of his contract, and turns 31-years-old in May. Running backs in their thirties usually don’t command such a high salary, especially on teams with good depth at the position. Marcus Lattimore, who is essentially “redshirting” this season as a rookie because of a serious knee injury suffered in college, could be the future of San Francisco’s rushing attack.
It is unusual for running backs to sustain or improve their production in their thirties especially if they have had a heavy workload earlier in their careers. Gore is second among active players with 2,187 career rushing attempts and tied for 29th all-time. Although Gore is still performing at a high level, just eleven running backs have ever hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark at 31-years-old.
The situation could take a turn for the worse if the 49ers ask Gore to take a paycut where he isn’t sensitive to the older running back marketplace. Only five running backs, including potential cap casualty Chris Johnson, are scheduled to make more than Gore next season. Darren Sproles and Steven Jackson, who are both 30-years-old, will be the highest paid older running backs with $3.5 million and $3 million salaries.”
I expect the Niners to ask Gore to cut his money in half next year and I think he will to finish his contract. He can’t get any better money on the open market at 31.
Also from Corry:
“For a team that doesn’t overpay, will Colin Kaepernick’s next deal forever compromise the integrity of San Francisco’s salary cap?-@DeSimone80
The 49ers won’t fundamentally alter their approach to contracts and the salary cap because of Colin Kaepernick. They will still sign core players to lon- term deals mostly at a discounted rate and with favorable contract structure well in advance of the expiration of rookie contracts. Having a quarterback with a deal approaching the $20 million per year neighborhood and upwards to $55 million in guarantees could change how cap dollars are allocated and may cause the 49ers to lose some key players to free agency that otherwise could have been retained. That’s a consequence of having a deep and talented roster. It may become more challenging for the 49ers to sign free agents to moderate one and two-year deals with escalators and incentives. More veteran players could be signed to one-year minimum salary benefit contracts. A player receives his league minimum base salary and a maximum of $65,000 as a signing bonus with these deals. The player’s base salary counts on the cap at the minimum salary for players with two years of service ($570,000 for the 2014 season) instead of at his actual base salary. The 49ers have one player with a minimum salary benefit contract this season. There were four in 2012 and none in 2011.
It will be a surprise if Kaepernick’s contract is structured like Joe Flacco’s deal where his peak cap number is over $30 million. It’s more likely the 49ers will use something similar to the Green Bay Packers’ approach with Aaron Rodgers, where the cap numbers are more manageable and without big fluctuations. Kaepernick’s contract will include large per game active roster bonuses, just like San Francisco’s other lucrative deals, even though they aren’t in most of the top quarterback contracts. Only Rodgers and Jay Culter have them. The primary benefit of the roster bonuses is that they provide some financial and cap relief with injuries. The per game amount is only payable if the player is on the 46-man active roster for that particular game. For example, All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman has $750,000 roster bonuses ($46,875 per game) in most years of his deal. If he suffers a season-ending injury after playing eight games in 2015, he won’t earn the remaining $375,000 of his 2015 roster bonus.”
I’m sure Gore will be amenable to restructuring. Shit, he needs 33 yards to reach 10,000. How fucked up would that be to see him do it in another uni?
it would be tragic.
Gore is obviously winding down. If Lattimore turns into gold, Frank is expendable. I’d like to see him retire after this season. He’s taken a lot of punishment, doesn’t need to take any more. At age 50, he’s probably going to have lots of health issues, even if he doesn’t play next year. Niners should draft another RB, say round 4 or later, to bulk up that position, and ratchet up the competition…
I figure he cuts his pay and carries and finishes his final contract year but like you I would be happy for Frank if he retired this year.
He’s got one more year left in him. They’ll phase him out as Lattimore picks it up.
Harvin out is good news for the Niners. He could have been a real game changer; at least now they don’t have to account for him…
For the record. Of our peerless prognosticators…Twin won last week; what you gonna call?
Chuck sez: 23-13 Niners. Seattle can lay claim to winning the NFC West this year, but the NFC Champions will remain the San Francisco 49ers. Niners win 23-13. I think Russell Wilson has a bad day and commits a couple turnovers. The usual clampdown by the defense keeps the score low.
philippinefan says: 27-17 Niners. All on Colin and he’s gonna have a real good game. We’re in for a treat. No stinking little runt QB is gonna show “the bastard” up, nuh uh, nope.
Flavor says: 17-13 Niners. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted to beat a team more than I want the Niners to beat Seattle this Sunday. I don’t have a real good feel about it but I certainly could see us winning this game. Agree with Snarkk, waiting to see Harvin’s status. I’d feel a whole lot better with them just going with the underwhelming Tate and Baldwin. Then you just focus up on containing #beastmode. Niners win 17-13 and I celebrate wildly.
shaman138 says: 24-21 Niners. I usually have a good feel about how games will go but for this one I can honestly say I don’t have a fucking clue. It really could go either way. But the hot hand who plays well on the road in the playoffs almost always wins out, and right now that’s SF, so I’ll go with SF 24-21. As for that *other* game, I hope they both lose but I’ll go with Donkeys over Cheaters 35-30.
Irish Kevin says: 20-13 Niners. Chuck says IF WE MAKE IT. What kind of talk is that?? of course we are going to make it, Niners 20 – Hawks 13
barleyfreak says: 19-13 Niners. That is how I think it will play out this weekend. I think our defense CAN hold it close, unlike the last two trips. The key is stopping Lynch, and keeping contain on Wilson. We have failed in their house doing just that. We have to stop Lynch. We have to make Wilson throw from the pocket. Our O will struggle at first but then start to impose its will, provided we’re not down 2 touchdowns (or more). Have. To. Keep. It. Close. 19-13, Niners.
Spitblood: 24-21 Niners. So if Harbaugh follows my formula of conservative specials teams plays, tackling the gargoyle low, more Hunter, reminding Kaep he’s adopted and our WRs pushing off, we win 24-21. Simple formula. What’s not to like?
16-13 Niners…
I have no damned idea what to expect. I’ll throw out 22-16, 49ers, just for the Hell of it.
I am so ready for the 49ers to kick the living shit out of the Pedhawks tomorrow!!!!
I’ve had to put the smack down on several incompentet Seattle fans at my local watering hole all week, oh we’re gonna kick your asses and we are so much superior BS,Well SHOW ME YOUR 5 FUCKIN SB RINGS instead of a trophy case full of cobwebs you fuckin LOSERS!!!!!!
49ers score early and lay the wood on there little midget QB often in a dominating performance for the ages, as their fans cry in their beer 🍻 heading home with their tails between their legs all BUTT HURT and 🌽HOLED!!!! 49ers win big 27-6 !!!! Book It
30 to 10 Niners!
Nip, Kat, Grumpy, snarkk- You are all officially entered in the Playoff Edition of the Niners Forever wild ass guess-ass-thon.
AKA Peerless Pigskin Prognosticators. Most looking for a tight game 3-4 point spread, Kevin has Niners by 7, Chuck & Phil Niners by 10, Nipper and Kat 20+.
May the force be with us!
If we win this game it will be because of our OL. We have to control the ball and that means getting those pesky 1st downs. Gore usually breaks a good one against them but overall Seattle has been able to contain him pretty good. If we have any tricks up our sleeves we should use them. Stop that POS Lynch and we should fare well.
best point I’ve read so far this week.
Bruce Miller and Chris Culliver got nice pay raises through performance escalators. More than double from $645,000 to $1,389,000 a year. Well deserved but ironic both players had reduced playing time through injury this year.
They are both a big part of our future and we could sure use em now.
HARBAUGH, a chestnut 3 yo colt who is 10-1 on the ML is running a bit later today in the Cal Derby at GGF. That soon-to-be stallion at Elmer’s Glue Farms is going to have a hard enough time trying to cross the finish line let alone do it while running wearing khakis and cleats.
I think I woulda put a little on that one for across the board. But there is a reason I no longer gamble.
Winder, it’s a good thing you quit gambling and didn’t put any money across the board on that horse. HARBAUGH finished next to last.
But you’ve found a “reason” to no longer gamble?
Please tell me why and I promise to show up at the next GA meeting. 😛
Niners 17 – 13
19-14 Niners
This game has had so much hype heaped on it, can it possibly live up to that hype tomorrow? I hope so…
I’m throwing all the previous visits to Seattle out the window for this matchup.
This hasn’t been about Seattle beating SF.
It’s been about Kaep beating himself.
I expect Kaep to get the Sea-Monkey off his back this time.
SF 27-20
I just love how all youse guys pick our Niners to win IN Seattle tomorrow.
How the flying fuck are we going to do that considering our last two attempts resulted in a 71-16 combined final. You know how? I’ll tell ya fucking how. Fuck the numbers.
2 things Del –
1) I hate those black-striped 9ers helmets with the maroon face cages.
2) Kaep has to settle down and make plays in the CLink.
Noise be damned, relax and execute.
That’s how we win in Seattle.
Game day thread iws up.
BLEEP thanks……