49ers’ 2018 NFC West opponent preview: Seattle Seahawks

49ers vs. Seahawks Game Predictions

The 49ers don’t play the Seahawks until the second half of the 2018 season and after their Week 11 bye.

Their first contest is a good one — a prime-time showdown on Sunday Night Football on Dec. 2 in Week 13. It will mark the first time Richard Sherman returns to CenturyLink Field and not as a member of the Seahawks.

That’ll be an interesting reception, for sure.

Two weeks later, San Francisco hosts Seattle in a key game that could determine the 49ers’ 2018 playoff chances and NFC West division standings.

So let’s dive into some predictions.

Week 13 at CenturyLink Field — 8:20 p.m. ET

Sherman told Niner Noise earlier this offseason he was going to go up to Seattle in Week 13 and “put on a show.”

And that’s exactly what every 49ers fan wants to see. The once-hated villain is now on the Niners’ side, right?

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Of course, the game will come down to more than just Sherman and his return. The Niners will be playing their second consecutive road contest, and winning up in Seattle is never easy. Even if the Seahawks appear to be a shell of their former selves. However, the Seahawks will be returning from an East Coast road trip the previous week against the Carolina Panthers.

Perhaps that plays into San Francisco’s hands, although one might expect this to be a close contest.

Home team wins, unfortunately.

Prediction: 49ers 21, Seahawks 24

Week 15 at Levi’s Stadium — 4:05 p.m. ET

While the 49ers aren’t going to feel good about their Week 13 prime-time loss to the Seahawks, they’ll have some retribution two weeks later.

For starters, the Seahawks have to host the Minnesota Vikings and their tough defense on Monday Night Football the previous week, meaning Seattle will be traveling on a short week to take on a Niners team fresh off a home game against the Denver Broncos.

Putting things simply — the 49ers don’t have to travel and get a normal amount of rest and preparation. Seattle doesn’t.

This will be the contest in which the tables finally turn between these longtime NFC West rivals. And all those years’ frustrations of losing to Seattle come out, resulting in a laugher for the red and gold.

Prediction: 49ers 35, Seahawks 17