Here we go. Game 5. The BIG early test. The 49ers managed not to trip over their dicks to an inferior opponent in the Cardinals, but the Seahawks managed to lose to an 0-3 team down to their backup QB. Even in their latest win over the Chargers, they nearly slept their way to another loss in the 2nd half, getting outscored 17-3 to close the game out. And only a late fumble by hapless Justin Herbert kept the Chargers from a potential tying score.

Seattle did get 2 picks and a gift muffed punt as well. And they still looked shakey. But hey, they were likely thinking about week 5 as well.

Charbonnet is out but that means nothing as the Seahawks will try to assert their run game and control the clock. Darnold is having a decent season but he’s 27th in yards, 12th in completion percentage, tied for 13th in TDs, and tied for 4th with 3 picks and 5 sacks. But wow. His rating is 9th at 101.1 but his QBR is a dismal 37.4. Good enough for 26th place.

Purdy? Well, 12th in yards, 5th in completion percentage, tied for 1 with 11 TDs, and tied for 2nd with 1 pick and no sacks. His rating is #2 at 126.2 and his QBR is #1 at 89.7.

Last week was a struggle for the whole team, Purdy included but he still managed a 107.4 rating, 2 TDs, and 218 yards. The run game churned out 140 tough yards against a defense that did a good job of slowing it. Til the 2nd half.

I wasn’t crazy about the play calling by Shanahan, esp the 4th down call, but in the end our O line did wear down their D line and we managed to come out a lot more balanced in time-of-possession at 30:53 to 29:07. A far cry from the earlier games.

But in the 2nd half, Shanny saved his best for last by picking up on the zero coverage and the blitz by the LB that left Kittle wide open with only one block to throw for a 56 yard TD.

Got to say, Shanahan has really impressed me with the game-time adjustments that he has made so far as well. Let’s hope Raheem Morris goes hard and heavy after Darnold. He is a guy the NEEDS to be rattled early to get him out of his game. That and simply double Njigba every play.

Prog metal?