SAN FRANCISCO @ SEATTLE (SF 3.5, 49.5)
NFL ODDS, NFL PREDICTIONS, NFL PREVIEWS
49ERS @ SEAHAWKS 10/10/24
The Seattle Seahawks had a 3-0 record and a two-game lead in the NFC West a week and a half ago. By the end of Thursday night's game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers, all of that could be undone.
The Seahawks (3-2) have dropped their last two games, including a 29–20 loss to the visiting New York Giants last Sunday. They would be tied for first place in the division with the 49ers (2-3) if they lost on Thursday.
Jason Myers' potentially game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt with approximately one minute remaining was blocked and returned for a touchdown, but Seattle came very close to rallying from a 10-point deficit in the final 2:09 against the Giants.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith leads the NFL in completions (143), pass attempts (199), and passing yards (1,466). Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III combined for just seven carries against the Giants. To beat the Niners, the Seahawks will try to establish the running game. The Seahawks have thrown the ball an NFL-high 67.4 percent of the time.
The 49ers have blown 10-point, fourth-quarter leads against the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals this season. The 49ers won 11 of 12 games against NFC West opponents the previous two seasons and won back-to-back division titles. The Niners latest blown fourth-quarter lead came last Sunday when Arizona came back to win 24-23.
The 49ers have had trouble offensively without running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), particularly when they are close to the opponent's goal line. After dominating the league at roughly 68 percent last season, they now rank 29th in the NFL with touchdowns on 40.9 percent of red-zone drives. Last season, McCaffrey, the current NFL Offensive Player of the Year, had 18 red-zone touchdowns.
Following K Jake Moody's high ankle sprain on Sunday, the 49ers signed Matthew Wright and brought in a number of kickers for tryouts this week. In addition, defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (knee), linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), cornerback Charvarius Ward (knee), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique), and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) did not participate in practice on Wednesday.
The 49ers have defeated Seattle five times in a row, including in a postseason game. In the series, that is the Seahawks' longest skid.
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Coach Rick's Free Pick:
BROCK PURDY OVER 253.5 PASSING YARDS
Purdy had a rough go last week and still managed to throw for 244 yards. He only completed 54.3 percent of his passes last week. That’s not typical. He’s closer to 65 percent for the season. Plus, his aDOT (average depth of target) was much lower than usual. In his three previous games, Purdy went Over 280 in each. He faces a Seattle defense that this week could be down two top edge rushers as well as two members of the secondary. All four players are questionable. In his most recent game against Seattle, Purdy completed over 70 percent of his passes for 368 yards.