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Seahawks vs. 49ers: The History, Numbers & Connections Behind the Game

By Eric Melendez

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Week 14 has the San Francisco 49ers going up against an NFC West rival for the second straight game. The Niners are looking to avenge a big loss earlier this season to the Seattle Seahawks as their division rivals head into town.

Even though the 49ers have won four straight games versus the Seahawks when playing at Candlestick Park, Seattle is the favorite to win. They are riding a seven-game winning streak and are coming off a statement game win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. The only loss this season for the Seahawks was against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.

The Seahawks are the new leaders of the NFC West as they will likely end up winning the division this season. They need to win just one of their last four games to be crowned division champions. Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth.

A win by the Niners will split the season series with their archrivals and — more importantly – will show they are on an equal level in the rivalry despite having four losses. San Francisco needs to win not only to keep their playoff chances alive, but also so the Seahawks don’t clinch the NFC West title on Bill Walsh Field.

To preview the NFC West showdown between the 49ers and Seahawks, here is the history, numbers and connections behind the rivalry.

The History

Matchups: 29

Series Record: Seahawks lead series 15-14

49ers Home Record vs. Seahawks: 49ers lead series 7-6

49ers Away Record vs. Seahawks: Seahawks lead series 9-7

First Meeting: 9/26/76, 49ers win 37-21, at Sea.

Last Meeting: 9/15/13, Seahawks win 29-3, at Sea.

Current Streak: Lost 2

Longest 49ers Win Streak: 4 (12/12/10 – 10/18/12)

Longest Seahawks Win Streak: 6 (10/12/03 – 12/11/05)

Most 49ers Points: 40 (12/12/10): 49ers win 40-21, at SF

Most Seahawks Points: 42 – 2 times, (Last 12/23/12): Seahawks win 42-13, at Sea.

49ers Shutouts: None

Seahawks Shutouts: 2 (Last 11/12/07), Seahawks win 24-0, at Sea.

The 49ers and Seahawks played their first game against each other in 1976, but the rivalry heated up when Seattle moved to the NFC West in 2002. The Niners won the first two games they played as division rivals, however, from 2003-2005 the Seahawks won six straight games. Two of those defeats were blowouts, with the Niners losing by 38 and 34 points.

The 2003-2005 seasons saw the Seahawks emerge as contenders winning the division twice — including a Super Bowl appearance — while the Niners finished in third-place once and fourth-place twice during that span.

In 2006, San Francisco swept Seattle during the season, winning the final game by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 24-14 win. Another memorable game was in Week 5 of the 2007 season. The 49ers were humiliated at home, 23-3, and Alex Smith went out for the season with a separated shoulder on a sack by Rocky Bernard.

Two other notable games were the regular-season openers in 2010 and 2011. The Niners lost in Seattle 31-6 and Mike Singletary thanked the Seahawks after the game for “kicking our tails” because it was a wakeup call for the team. When it was actually a wakeup call for Niners fans, foreshadowing Singletary was not the right man to coach the team. The 49ers and Singletary would get revenge later in the season with a 40-21 win at home. It was Singletary’s last win as the 49ers head coach.

The 2011 regular-season opener saw the 49ers dismantle the Seahawks, 33-17, with Ted Ginn Jr. returning a kickoff and punt for a touchdown. He collected 268 total return yards.

Last season, the Niners and Seahawks split the season series. San Francisco won the first meeting 13-6 at home in Week 7. Seattle would get revenge in Week 16, spanking the Niners, 42-13. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Seahawks.

History repeated itself for the Niners in Week 2 earlier this season against the Seahawks. Playing for the second straight time at Seattle, the 49ers were embarrassed and outplayed on national television, losing 29-3. San Francisco was doomed by turning over the football five times. Colin Kaepernick contributed to the loss with three interceptions and one lost fumble, while passing for only 127 yards. The Seahawks put the game away in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns and one field goal.

Series History (click image for larger view):

The Numbers

  • 7: All-time at Candlestick Park the 49ers are 7-6 against the Seahawks.
  • 16.4: The 49ers defense is giving up just 16.4 points per game this season, third lowest in the NFL.
  • 15.5: Seattle’s defense is giving up just over 15 points per game, second lowest in the league.
  • 13: Against the Rams last week, DL Glenn Dorsey had a career single-game high and a team-high 13 tackles. In the last game against Seattle, Dorsey recorded 12 tackles.
  • 50: Last week, Vernon Davis became the third fastest tight end in NFL history to score 50 career touchdowns.
  • 5: San Francisco’s defense is one of five teams to not allow a 100-yard rusher this season.
  • 12: WR Anquan Boldin has recorded 75 receptions for 945 yards and two touchdowns in 12 career games against the Seahawks.
  • 4: Number of turnovers (3 INTs, 1 fumble) by Colin Kaepernick against the Seahawks in their last matchup.
  • 8.5: LB Ahmad Brooks leads the 49ers with 8.5 sacks this season.
  • 19: In Week 16 last season, LB NaVorro Bowman had a career-high 19 tackles against the Seahawks. He made his NFL debut against the Seahawks in 2010.
  • 1,254: Number of career rushing yards RB Frank Gore has versus the Seahawks, the most against any opponent in his career. In a game in 2006, he rushed for 212 yards, which is the 49ers’ single-game rushing record in franchise history.
  • 9: LB Aldon Smith recorded nine tackles and sacked QB Russell Wilson twice in the last game between the two teams.
  • 135: In 12 career games against Seattle, LB Patrick Willis has 135 tackles to go along with two interceptions, one touchdown, one fumble recovery and six passes defensed.
  • 16.8: Vernon Davis is averaging 16.8 yards per catch, which ranks first among NFL tight ends this season.
  • 3: Number of wins Pete Carroll has in seven games against the Niners as the head coach of the Seahawks.
  • 10: Under Jim Harbaugh the 49ers are 10-1 in the regular season when they score on the opening offensive drive.
  • 24: The Niners have won 24 of their last 28 games when they win the turnover battle.
  • 18.75: San Francisco’s average margin of victory this season, highest average in the NFL.
  • 0: The 49ers defense has not allowed a defensive touchdown this season. Seattle has scored three defensive TDs.
  • 2: S Eric Reid registered his second interception of the season at Seattle in Week 2, picking off a pass by Russell Wilson. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Reid is the only 49ers rookie, since the merger in 1970, to register an interception in each of the team’s first two games.
  • 16: Seattle’s defense has registered 16 interceptions this season. S Earl Thomas and CB Richard Sherman lead the team with four INTs each.

2013 Comparison

49ERS (rank)               SEAHAWKS (rank)

8-4 (2nd NFCW) Record 11-1 (1st NFCW)

24.8 (t-9th) Points Per Game 28.3 (2nd)

311.0 (28th) Total Offense 364.3 (11th)

130.8 (7th) Rushing Offense 146.2 (3rd)

180.3 (31st) Passing Offense 218.2 (22nd)

29:59 (17th) Possession Average 30:07 (13th)

16.4 (3rd) Points Allowed Per Game 15.5 (2nd)

311.7 (5th) Total Defense 284.5 (1st)

105.5 (11th) Rushing Defense 107.2 (13th)

206.2 (3rd) Passing Defense 177.3 (1st)

30 (t-18th) Sacks 34 (t-11th)

13 (t-12th) Interceptions 16 (t-2nd)

48.7 (2nd) Punting Avg. (Gross) 42.3 (28th)

+6 (t-10th) Turnover Differential +12 (t-2nd)

The Connections

  • Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (2007-2010) and cornerback Richard Sherman (2006-2009) went to Stanford and played for 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
  • Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (2004-2006) and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (2003-2006) played at Cal.
  • 49ers running back Anthony Dixon and Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright were teammates at Mississippi State.
  • 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (2007-2009) and Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (2006-2009) attended Oklahoma State together.
  • From 2007-2009, Harbaugh (Stanford) and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (USC) coached against each other three times in the Pac-10. Harbaugh won two of the three games.
  • Carroll is a native of San Francisco and coached for the 49ers from 1995-1996 as the defensive coordinator.
  • 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari held the same position with the Seahawks from 2008-2009.
  • Solari and Carroll also worked together with the 49ers from 1995-1996.
  • Seahawks linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. (1994-2000) played for the 49ers.
  • 49ers wide receivers coach John Morton coached at USC under Carroll from 2007-2010.
  • 49ers’ secondary coach Ed Donatell coached at the University of Washington from 1981-1982 and in 2008.
  • 49ers special teams’ assistant Tracy Smith was a coaching assistant with the Seahawks in 2011.
  • Seattle fullback Michael Robinson played for the 49ers from 2006-2010.