The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field in a pivotal NFC West matchup on Sunday. Seattle (5-1) looks to avoid losing a division contest for the second time in as many weeks, while San Francisco (4-3) aims for its third consecutive victory.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson holds a 31-8 record in games following a regular-season loss. It’s the best mark by a quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.

Undefeated at home in 2020, the NFC West-leading Seahawks face a 49ers squad which has not lost on the road this season. Ahead of Sunday’s showdown, here are four bold predictions from the Seahawks’ perspective.

1. Russell Wilson throws for 300+ yards, rushes for 35+, throws 3 TDs

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, NFC West
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The 49ers’ defense showed flashes of their 2019 stout unit last Sunday in their clobbering of the New England Patriots. They held the Patriots to six points, collected four interceptions and posted two sacks. Things got so bad for the Patriots they had to yank starting QB Cam Newton out of the game, opting to bench the former MVP in favor of Jarrett Stidham in a 33-6 defeat.

Fresh off their best defensive performance of the year, can the 49ers slow down the Seahawks’ No. 1 ranked offense? They will have to find a way to contain Russell Wilson, who is the MVP frontrunner, despite throwing as many interceptions (3) as touchdowns last Sunday night. Wilson leads the league in passing touchdowns (22) and has produced the NFL's best passer rating (119.5) this season.

Wilson should be able to attack the 49ers mostly through the air. But if needed, he can exploit a defense which has burned by QBs on the ground. The 49ers have yielded 253 rushing yards to opposing QBs, the most in the NFL. Wilson has turned 29 rush attempts into 237 yards this season.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (foot) is expected to miss Sunday’s contest and beyond. Backup running back Carlos Hyde is dealing with a hamstring ailment. The uncertainty surrounding the running game should force Wilson to throw as often as possible. With plenty of volume, Wilson will find a way to eclipse 300 passing yards for the sixth time this season. While he may throw an interception, Wilson will find a way to throw three more passing TDs.

2. Tyler Lockett posts 100 yards receiving, scores another TD

Tyler Lockett enjoyed the best game of his career against the Arizona Cardinals on “Sunday Night Football,” catching 15 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Lockett, who leads the NFL in receiving TDs (25) since the start of the 2018 season, had a historically dominant performance.

The slot receiver will likely be covered by 49ers cornerback Jamar Taylor, the former Seahawk who has played for six teams in the past four years. Taylor did an excellent job against Julian Edelman (one catch, 13 yards) last Sunday, but the Seahawks are far more deadly on offense than the Patriots.

Lockett has a much easier matchup than teammate D.K. Metcalf, who will likely see Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley in coverage. Thus, Wilson will again be looking Lockett’s way a ton yet again, after the wideout had a whopping 20 targets last week. Despite the emergence of Metcalf, a no doubt star, it's Lockett who leads the Seahawks in targets, receptions, yards, touchdowns and catch percentage.

Squaring off against Taylor, who has allowed 10.8 yards per target, Lockett should be in line for another big performance.

3. Seattle Seahawks get burned by another WR, this time Brandon Aiyuk

The Seahawks have been crushed by opposing receivers all season long. An opposing wideout has gone for 100+ yards five times in the team’s first six contests. The Seahawks have surrendered 132 receptions to wide receivers.

Teams are attacking Seattle through the air. Opponents’ wide receivers have seen a league-most 188 targets—despite the Seattle Seahawks already having their bye week. Seattle has allowed a 70% catch rate to wideouts.

With a game plan surely to be focused on getting the receivers involved, the 49ers will be counting on rookie Brandon Aiyuk. He will have a huge workload with Deebo Samuel (hamstring) not playing. Aiyuk had the best game of his young career on Sunday, racking up seven catches (including five first downs) for 115 receiving yards.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Aiyuk have built chemistry in recent weeks and that trend should continue Sunday. Look for Aiyuk to register his second consecutive 100-yard outing.

4. Seattle Seahawks win, cover 3-point spread

While the Seahawks will not have the luxury of playing in front of their boisterous crowd, they should continue their winning ways at CenturyLink Field. Russell Wilson is playing the best of his career and gets to face an injury-riddled squad.

The 49ers, the most banged up team in the NFL, have been ravished with injuries on the defensive side. Nine key defensive players, some of which are out for the season, were sidelined for last week’s blowout victory: Nick Bosa (knee, IR), Dee Ford (back, IR), Ziggy Ansah (arm, IR), Solomon Thomas (knee, IR), Kwon Alexander (ankle), Richard Sherman (calf, IR), K’Waun Williams (knee/hip, IR), Jaquiski Tartt (groin) and Jimmie Ward (quadriceps). Alexander and Tart are the only ones that may return for Sunday, having practiced on a limited basis this week. But the rest are out for Sunday against the league’s best offensive unit, which spells trouble for the 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks will take advantage of a banged-up San Francisco team and win its sixth game of 2020, successfully covering the odds makers' 3-point spread.