After a long wait, the regular season is back. The Seattle Seahawks open against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field and are considered underdogs by betting markets.
This series of articles will always feature play-by-play analysis, but in Week 1, things are very different. There are many expectations and projections that we will only get answers to as the season progresses. The NFL is not predictable. Who would have thought the Minnesota Vikings would achieve 14 wins last year?
Let’s go!
The teams have changed since the last matchup
In the
last matchup, the Seahawks emerged victorious after a losing streak since Geno Smith took over as the starter. The roster has changed significantly, starting with Geno Smith, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders and has been replaced by Sam Darnold. The Seahawks’ offense, now led by Klint Kubiak (who will face his brother, Klay, who also took over as 49ers OC for 2025), should become simpler but more efficient, focusing more on the running game, especially after the departures of Noah Fant, Tyler Lockett, and DK Metcalf.
The offensive line appears to have a new identity with John Benton and received a major addition with the arrival of Grey Zabel, the return of Abe Lucas, a stronger Charles Cross, and a “new” center (Jalen Sundell was on the roster, but only as a backup). The unit made a good impression against the Kansas City Chiefs, especially, but, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, preseason performance levels are not reliable indicators, and this game should be the real test.
The running game is also crucial to slowing down the 49ers’ pass rush. Nick Bosa had 17 pressures (2 sacks, 2 hits, and 13 hurries) in the two games last season. He only had three in the last game when he lined up against Abe Lucas and ended the game injured.
Looking at the 49ers’ defense, many changes are evident. Robert Saleh returned to lead the defense in place of Nick Sorensen. If the Seahawks prepared to run the ball during the offseason, the 49ers are preparing to defend against it on defense.
Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West are excellent players defending the run. This gives the 49ers solidity both inside of the line and in the edge, so, this will be a tough matchup against the Seahawks’ rebuilding offensive line.
The 49ers’ defense lost Talanoa Hufanga (S), Maliek Collins (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), DeVondre Campbell (LB), Dre Greenlaw (LB), and Charvarius Ward (CB). On offense, they lost Aaron Banks (LG), who will be replaced by Ben Bartch, and Deebo Samuel was traded to the Commanders.
The other absences are likely injury-related. Dominick Puni (RG) may be questionable for the game, Yetur Gross-Matos has a knee problem, Brandon Aiyuk is on the PUP list, along with safety Malik Mustapha, and Demarcus Robinson is suspended.
The importance of combating the run Game
With the absences of Aiyuk and Robinson, the run game becomes even more important for the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey is a unique and spectacular player and will require a lot of attention from the Seahawks defense. The 49ers also traded for Brian Robinson, which raised the bar for their backups.
If you remember correctly, the last game against the 49ers marked a change in the Seahawks’ defense, especially in combating the run game. Mike Macdonald used the Double Edge Blitz to counter the Wide zone-heavy scheme, and this should happen again.
The Double Edge Blitz consists of a 6-1 front (6 players on the DL and only 1 LB). It’s worth noting that this formation won’t always be shown before the snap, as with most MM plays. The natural scenario is to have four DLs with their hands on the ground and add two blitzers coming from the edges of the line. The idea is to eliminate cutback options and force the run inside, where the DLs need to make the play.
The Seahawks are in a big nickel formation with Julian Love lining up in the slot. The snap is made, and he and Tyrice Knight are sent on a blitz along the edge, also aiming to mark the boot action. Roy Robertson-Harris (an underrated addition from last season) makes an excellent play, forcing CMC to re-plan his route. The RB still considers a more outside cut, but notices Julian Love’s arrival on the edge, giving Byron Murphy time to make the tackle.
There’s a subtle touch of the Pete Carroll-era approach to tackling the run game for Mike Macdonald. Carroll, at least in recent years, prioritized creating one-on-one situations for his players to make plays. With Macdonald, the approach seems to be more of a collaborative one.
Final Thoughts
A final point about the 49ers’ offense is that Brock Purdy is a QB who has shown he can handle pressure and even free rushers, throwing four touchdowns and only one interception in that situation last season. He’ll have Jauan Jennings, who excelled on third down, especially against the Seahawks, and Ricky Pearsall, who had an excellent training camp.
Finally, they should have the healthiest version of George Kittle in recent memory. An excellent test for Tyrice Knight, Ernest Jones, and Nick Emmanwori.
I believe it will be a very close game, but I disagree with the 49ers being favored, considering the Seahawks will be playing at home (despite the controversy surrounding a 49ers fan “invasion” at Lumen Field) and are healthy.
