SF 49ers vs. Seahawks: 5 bold predictions for Week 8

The SF 49ers visit the Seahawks as underdogs in Week 8, yet some bold predictions coming true could mean the Niners pull off an upset.

After failing to win a game at CenturyLink Field from 2011 through 2018, the SF 49ers have a shot at doing something seemingly impossible.

Win back-to-back road games against the Seattle Seahawks.

This will be the context for the 4-3 Niners as they travel to take on their NFC West foes, who are coming off their first loss of the season to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. Despite the loss, the Seahawks still sit in first place within the division and boast the league’s best offense, thanks largely to the MVP-like season from quarterback Russell Wilson.

So it’s no surprise the banged-up 49ers enter this contest as three-point underdogs, according to The Action Network, although it sure would be nice if head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. back up their surprising and thrilling Week 17 win in Seattle from last year with another this season in Week 8.

Particularly with crucial NFC West seeding on the line.

Time for some bold predictions for the contest, right?

Prediction No. 5: SF 49ers hold Seahawks to under 100 rush yards

These aren’t those heyday years of the SF 49ers and Seahawks rivalry days of the early 2010s where both teams wanted to pound the ball on the ground and suffocate the other with stout defenses.

While the Niners are banged up at running back, Seattle’s situation isn’t much better. Running backs Chris Carson (foot), Carlos Hyde (hamstring) and Travis Homer (knee) are all listed on the Seahawks injury report, and there’s a good chance they’ll have to scramble for someone to shoulder the load on the ground.

Regardless of the injury woes Seattle is dealing with at the position, head coach Pete Carroll’s offense still ranks 25th in the league in total rush attempts (148), meaning the ground game isn’t exactly a major part of coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s game plan.

Plus, despite their own defensive setbacks, the Niners currently own the league’s ninth-best rush defense with opponents rushing for an average of 4.1 yards per carry.

If Seattle wants to win this game, it’ll go via the aerial attack, meaning San Francisco could easily hold the Seahawks rushing offense to under 100 yards.