This really is a
matchup between the two best teams in the NFC. The only reason they weren’t the
top two seeds is because they play in the same division so somebody had to take
the Wild Card spot. The only legitimate cases that can be made, is Aaron
Rodgers and the Packers and that nasty Carolina Panthers defense. However, the
49ers erased any doubt and thumped both teams while playing in their home. They
hit the road again, this time against arguably the hardest place to play in Seattle.
Both teams protected their respective home field during the regular season with
Seattle blowing out the 49ers 29-3 in Seattle. Things have changed since that
Week 2 matchup, and as the great players say, the real season starts after
Thanksgiving. And come playoff time, it isn’t necessarily the team with the
better record that prevails, but often the team that gets hot. The 49ers are on
fire. Lets break down the teams and where the advantages are for each team.
Offense- No doubt about it, the better offense on the field
will be that of the 49ers. One big factor that wasn’t there in the Week 2 loss
was Michael Crabtree and he is back and better than ever. All season long
because of his injury, Anquan Boldin has been the starting receiver and has
been pretty good. But like last year, come playoff time, Boldin has completely
switched gears. He is playing at the highest level of any receiver that remains
in the playoffs. For Seattle, they have very limited receiving options and they
could be even shorter handed because of the fragile Percy Harvin. His status is
unknown. Russell Wilson badly needs the likes of Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin and
company to pick up the slack. Zach Miller also needs to be a security blanket
for Wilson and match at least half of the impact that Vernon Davis, the tight
end for the 49ers, will have on his team. Seattle is a running football team
and San Fran has not allowed a 100 yard rusher all season. The passing game
needs to help out.
Defense- Defensively, I would give the edge to Seattle but
it is very close. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett have made immediate impacts
this year coming to Seattle and the linebacking corp led by Bobby Wagner has
been solid. The strength of this team is the back end, in which Richard
Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas roam along with Byron Maxwell. The
Legion of Boom helps the front seven get a lot of coverage sacks and is the
number one pass defense because they physically impose their will on the
opposition. For the 49ers, they aren’t too strong in the back end but it works
in their favor a bit because Seattle is not a passing threat. Their front seven
is as good as they come though with excellent pass rushers in Aldon Smith and
Justin Smith and athletic freaks at linebacker in Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman,
and Ahmad Brooks. They will need every bit of that to slow down the athletic backfield
of the Seattle Seahawks.
Special Teams- With Percy Harvin, the edge would go to the
Seahawks. Without him, I have to say it is a tie. Both are not scary explosive
but can bust one out big. It will be a factor because field position will be
key.
Coaching- Pete Carroll is spectacular but I have to give it
to Jim Harbaugh here. The guy gets the best out of all of his players like Pete
does but I just think he is a little better schematically.
Result- Even though the 49ers have the edge in two
categories to the Seahawks one, I think Seattle can start planning for New York
and the Super Bowl. At the end of the day, defense wins championships so I
think the number one defense in Seattle will carry the team to a win. Seattle-20
49ers-10
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