3 biggest worries 49ers must have entering Week 13 vs. Seahawks

The 49ers are surging, while the Seahawks are floundering. But all that is off the table when these two teams meet in a Week 13 NFC West showdown.

If the San Francisco 49ers were playing any other 3-8 opponent entering Week 13, one might figure the prediction pieces would focus on just how much head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad would demolish the opposition.

When it’s the Seattle Seahawks, however, it’s another matter.

Yes, it’s awfully weird to see the Hawks’ recent fall from grace. Losers of three straight games and six of the last seven, Seattle is no longer that perennial playoff threat. Quarterback Russell Wilson‘s return to the fray after suffering a finger injury hasn’t aided matters either, and one can safely wonder if the Niners are witnessing an end of an era with their NFC West rivals.

Still, all that goes out the window when these two teams face off this Sunday.

There are always going to be cliche arguments. Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll might be watching their playoff hopes disintegrate right before their eyes, but they’d want nothing more than to thwart San Francisco’s own playoff push. Seahawks fans are watching their team’s demise, but they’ll still come out in force at Lumen Field to make life difficult for the 49ers, probably a bit more than they would for any other team.

And the Niners can’t exactly boast of extensive success at Seattle over the years anyway.

Still, there are concrete reasons why San Francisco should be concerned about this game, so let’s break those down as these two teams prepare for their Week 13 matchup.

No. 3: 49ers won’t run the ball easily vs. Seahawks

When these two teams met earlier this season, back in a Week 4 Seahawks victory, the 49ers’ primary objective should have been to run the ball. After all, at least at that point in the year, Seattle was one of the league’s three worst teams in stopping the run.

That since has changed. And in a big way.

Entering Week 13, the Seahawks are allowing an average of just 3.9 yards per rush attempt, which stands at fourth best. And while the Hawks have given up a sizable 1,374 rush yards total this season, a good chunk of that number stems from the Seahawks trailing in games and opponents chewing up clock with the ground game.

Granted, Seattle has been atrocious in time of possession this season, currently last in league standings with an average of 24:09 possession time. Yet with the Niners getting back to a run-first offense and dominating their own time of possession as of late, one has to figure that’s offset a bit by the Hawks’ ability to limit gains on the ground.

Sure, it might end up working in San Francisco’s favor still, as an average of 4 yards per carry should still generate plenty of first downs and afford elongated offensive possessions.

But one shouldn’t automatically assume the 49ers will simply be able to run rampant over the Seahawks in Week 13. That won’t be the case unless it’s purely from a volume standpoint.

No. 2: Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf still pose problems for 49ers

Russell Wilson hasn’t been on point with his passing efforts since returning from injured reserve. Those who watched him under center during the Hawks’ Week 12 Monday Night Football loss to the Washington Football Team can attest to that.

And Wilson’s lack of attention to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in the game was, well… disturbing:

Metcalf has had just 70 receiving yards on eight catches the last three weeks. His counterpart, wide receiver Tyler Lockett, has been far more involved during that same span with 234 yards on nine receptions.

Yet that doesn’t mean the Niners are completely void of challenges facing both of them, however.

True, and perhaps for some odd reason, San Francisco’s pass defense ranks sixth best in the league with just 2,280 yards allowed. This, despite cornerbacks Josh Norman and Emmanuel Moseley being suspect to either giving up big plays or being flagged for pass interference. Norman alone leads the 49ers with six accepted penalties against.

So, if Seattle wants to exploit a key Niners defensive weakness on Sunday, going after the secondary with Metcalf and Lockett will be the primary way it’s done.

No. 1: Russell Wilson is still Russell Wilson

The recent trends from Russell Wilson over his last three games played may suggest a few different things.

Perhaps his finger isn’t fully healed, and/or he’s still learning to adjust to throwing accurately post-surgery. It’s also possible the Hawks offense simply isn’t clicking after being so potent in recent seasons.

And, just maybe, Wilson has already checked out, mentally, knowing he’s likely not wanting to be with the team anymore beyond 2021.

Who knows?

Wilson wasn’t good in Weeks 10 and 11, no. But despite the loss to Washington, the perennial Pro Bowler was still good enough in that game, going 20-of-31 for 247 yards and two touchdowns, the last of which nearly put Seattle in a position to tie the game late. It was one of those late-game comebacks San Francisco fans have seen far too many times.

Especially against the 49ers, versus whom Wilson has had plenty of success over the years.

Over 19 regular-season games against the Niners, Wilson is 15-4 with 34 passing touchdowns (the most against any opponent) and a 100.1 passer rating.

Wilson might not be covering up the Seahawks’ shortcomings elsewhere any longer. Yet if there was a game for which he’d want to be at his best, it’s Week 13.

San Francisco and Seattle kick off on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 4:25 p.m. ET from Lumen Field.