Subscribe
Follow Us
The 49ers are peaking as they prepare for their Week 14 game against the Seahawks. They are coming off a dramatic and one-sided victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, demonstrating that they are in the same category as the defending NFC champions, and perhaps even better.
By going on the road and pulling off a 42-19 triumph over the team that had been the best in the NFL to this point in the season and the team that defeated them in last year's NFC title game, the Niners made a bold statement.
The fact that they had also overwhelmed the Dallas Cowboys 42-10 earlier in the season gives head coach Kyle Shanahan's team maximum credibility.
After earning such a satisfying victory over the Eagles, it seems that many teams might be facing a letdown in the following game. The 49ers are too powerful and too mature to expect such a development.
*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
(Fubo affiliate links by sport available here)
They are much more likely to be at their best than they are to mail in a less than stellar effort against their long-time division rival.
Christian McCaffrey is a legitimate MVP candidate and he should score at least 1 touchdown
McCaffrey is perhaps the most dependable and versatile player in the NFL, and he easily gives the Niners a credible ground game on an every-week basis.
McCaffrey comes into Week 14 having rushed for 1,032 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.91 yards per carry. There's a lot more to McCaffrey's game than running with the football. He is a dangerous receiver who has caught 51 passes for 429 yards and 5 touchdowns.
He is much more than a safety valve as a receiver. He can easily beat linebackers in 1 on 1 coverage and can occasionally do the same with defensive backs.
More than the numbers, McCaffrey plays with a hunger that is apparent every time he touches the ball. If defensive player try to arm tackle him, he can take any short gain and turn it into a long touchdown.
Deebo Samuel is a 49er weapon who can exploit the Seahawks defense
While we proclaimed McCaffrey as the most versatile player in the league in the previous paragraph, his top competition comes on his own team from Samuel.
He is a very dangerous receiver as he combines game-breaking quickness and speed with terrific power. Much like McCaffrey, he will punish any tackler that attempts to take him on with anything less than a full effort.
Article Continues Below
Samuel comes into this game with 38 receptions for 590 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is also a dangerous runner who has 29 carries for 160 yards and 4 TDs.
After missing several games earlier in the season due to a shoulder injury, Samuel is healthy again and making opponents play on an every-week basis.
Brock Purdy has mastered quarterback play for the 49ers and should pass for 250 yards and 2 TDs
He may have been the last player selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but Purdy has demonstrated that he understands the nuances of strong quarterback play and he has been executing extremely well.
Purdy has wonderful numbers, as he has completed 233 of 332 passes for 3,185 yards with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. More than those figures, Purdy reads defenses extremely well and will go through his progressions and find the open receivers.
Of course he is going to find McCaffrey and Samuel, but he knows where wideout Brandon Aiyuk is on the field and he can always find tight end George Kittle on key 3rd down plays.
The 49ers simply have an avalanche of offensive riches. Most teams would be satisfied to have one or two game-changing players, but the Niners appear to have 5 of them.
As a result, the Niners are playing their best football and are likely too much for the Seahawks to handle.
