San Francisco 49ers (12-3 SU, 8-6-1 ATS) vs. Seattle Seahawks (11-4 SU, 7-7-1 ATS)
Week 17 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 4:25PM EST
Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
TV: Fox
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: SF -3/SEA +3
Over/Under Total: 47
The San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Sunday in the final week of the regular season. San Fran took care of business on Saturday with a heartfelt come-from-behind win over the Rams. The win allowed them to stay in the mix for some big things postseason-wise. Seattle, meanwhile, suffered a somewhat-puzzling loss to the Cardinals, 27-13. It took them out of the driver's seat as far as their postseason destiny goes. The winner of this game will win the NFC West. But the stakes are even higher than that.
As it stands right now, San Francisco is the top seed in the NFC. If they lose this game, they will become the fifth-seed in the playoffs. Getting a bye and all your games leading up to the Super Bowl at home is a lot better than taking to the road as a wild card team. A win locks them in as the top-seed. Seattle could also still get homefield advantage, but as it stands now, they're the fifth seed. As of press time, it's hard to hash through all the different scenarios, but suffice to say there is a lot to play for this week in Seattle.
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Let's look back briefly at the first game between these divisional rivals. It was a hard game to forget for those who watched their week ten overtime battle on MNF, won by Seattle, 34-31, in a great never-say-die game that painted both teams in a favorable light. The Niners got off to a 10-0 lead, with a Jadaveon Clowney fumble recovery for a TD starting Seattle's momentum. With some great late-game play by Russell Wilson, along with a strong run-game, Seattle hung in there, eventually handing the Niners their first loss of the season. Wilson was able to thrive aerially and on the ground against this "D" with a big pass-rush manifesting, along with some key turnovers from their own defense. Let's also point out that in this overtime game, the Niners did some good things too, as their defense secured four turnovers, along with their own big pass-rush doing damage. On offense, Jimmy Garoppolo wasn't his sharpest, but connected well with Deebo Samuel and will benefit from having George Kittle in this one, as he missed the first game between these teams.
Saturday was more meaningful to the Niners than what the win meant in the standings. The win stopped some of the bleeding, as another loss would have been hard to stomach. It also showed that Garoppolo is the kind of quarterback who can add a touch of magic to the game, as that final drive was perhaps his most-impressive showing of the season. The run-package of Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, and Tevin Coleman does a lot of damage. WR Deebo Samuel has even been getting some touches and their run-game is diverse with a lot of production. George Kittle is back in the swing of things, while midseason acquisition Emmanuel Sanders is really doing well. Again, what was most impressive about this offense on Saturday was how they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. And Garoppolo developing that late-game muscle to make things happen at the end could serve him in this spot, as this figures to be another well-contested game.
After watching the San Francisco defense allow 31 points to the Rams, it's hard to say many laudatory things. For much of the game, the LA offense was left unabated, as they moved the ball at will sometimes. Jared Goff was over 300 yards, with Todd Gurley scoring two touchdowns. They never got to Goff with their vaunted pass-rush. But a key play by Fred Warner, who returned a pick for a TD, was key and for most of the season, this has been a defense that can change games with big plays. But they have become more-porous over the course of the season. Still, after a rough first half on Saturday, they tightened up and their late-game resistance was a key part of securing the big win. But facing yet another offense that thrived against them previously, this side of the ball will need to do better if the Niners are to have a chance, not only in this game, but looking forward to the postseason in a deep NFC.
After losing two of three, perhaps Seattle is fraying a bit at the edges. Their road to this point has been a hard one, with one difficult test after the next. To be coming up short to a rising, but still beatable team in the Cardinals shows that they're not really peaking at the moment. Let's also acknowledge the trying three-game road stretch they were on, coming at a difficult part of the season. Now back at home, they can make it all better this week.
Home or away, the Seattle defense will prove to be the breaking point of this team. Getting run over by Kenyan Drake and the Arizona run-game was a bad development for this unit. On Sunday, they were taking up space out there. The pass-rush was pedestrian, they got no turnovers, and when it mattered, they evaporated. Against an opponent where they suffered before, what hope is there this week? Sunday was also a bad day for the offense to disappear. That's twice in the last three weeks that they put forth a flat showing. Playing from behind, they couldn't get the run-game and Chris Carson rolling. Worse is news that Chris Carson is lost for the season. The aerial game suffered with Wilson only throwing for 169 yards and while the Cardinals' defense has been improving, the offense looks for better this week and certainly moving ahead. But the Carson news is a kick to the gut
It appears as though Seattle is suffering and the idea of not having Carson in there is daunting with them already a bit thin at running back, with Rashaad Penny on IR and CJ Prosise also lost for the season after Sunday. A signing could happen. They thrived this season and overcame a lot, but the rigors of a tough season where they played over their heads at times have maybe started to manifest. Not that they won't recover, but I see the Niners being in a better position to thrive this week.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the San Francisco 49ers minus 3 points. Did you know... that you could be wagering on the San Francisco vs. Seattle game at discounted odds? There's a better than good chance that you're laying -110 odds (or more) with your book. Stop overpaying TODAY by making the switch to 5Dimes Sportsbook! You will be so glad that you did!
