Thursday | 8:20 ET
Thanksgiving’s nightcap should be a fun one as the 49ers will head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. San Fransisco is back. They have responded to a three-game losing streak with two emphatic victories. Quarterback Brock Purdy is cooking and his playmakers are performing at a high level. Seattle will come in after a tough loss to the Rams. Kicker Jason Meyers missed a potential game-winning 55 yard field goal attempt as time expired. Running back Kenneth Walker III sustained an oblique injury in the contest. Though it doesn’t seem serious, he will probably not be healthy in time for this matchup.
When the 49ers have the ball, they are one of the most efficient teams in football. The offense is second in yards per play and first in net yards per pass attempt. QB Brock Purdy is more than a game manager. He is able to make tough passes downfield now. WR Brandon Aiyuk had a massive game last week recording 156 receiving yards and a touchdown. RB Christian McCaffrey also grabbed another touchdown, perhaps starting a new streak. Luckily for Seattle, their defense is no slouch. Led by veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner (3rd in PFF grade among 80 qualified linebackers) the unit allows the 10th lowest net yards per pass attempt. The unit is average against the run. I could see 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan eating up the Seahawks on the ground. McCaffrey is one of the best runners in the game. He should be able to produce at a high level against a middle-of-the-pack Seattle run defense.
Switching sides, the Seahawks have a fun offense as well. They rank 10th in overall offensive PFF grade. Both quarterback Geno Smith and running back Kenneth Walker III were injured in last week’s contest. Smith should play on Thanksgiving, but rookie Zach Charbonnet will probably be the lead back. Luckily for Seattle, the passing game with wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett is the way that they Seahawks gain most of their yards. However, San Francisco’s defense will prove difficult to score against. It allows the sixth least net yards per pass attempt. The pass rush is also daunting; the 49ers rank second in PFF pass rush grade. Edge rusher Joey Bosa ranks first in PFF grade out of 105 qualified edges. He’ll give the banged-up Seahawks offensive line some issues.
In all, the 49ers have the clear edge on paper. I see them winning easily. The Seahawks home field advantage could make things a bit more interesting than they would be otherwise, but San Fransisco will win behind a big effort from Christian McCaffrey.