The Seattle Seahawks defense and the San Francisco 49ers offense are two of the best collective units in all of football, and the way they attack each other in Week 5 will be some of the most important tape to watch of the entire 2026 NFL season. Here are two things to watch for during America’s Game of the Week on Sunday.
First, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has historically owned 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in this battle. Shanahan’s offense relies on quarterback Brock Purdy running it like a point guard, making the simplest, easiest passes, with a massive emphasis on physicality up front. Macdonald’s defensive play-calling allows easy completions to the flats while punishing any eligible receiver between the hashes. They relish open-field
tackling. The 49ers might try to get players in stride on the outside with blockers downfield, and the Seahawks’ unquestionable ferocity won’t take that kindly.
Second, there’s been plenty of skepticism about Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori’s coverage ability. He was used as a traditional pass rusher last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, and some expect him to continue those usage trends this week — both because of his success in that department and because of doubts about his ability to diagnose pre-snap motions and have the feel for zone coverage after the snap. He’s been a revelation as a pro, partly because the Seahawks found an excellent role for him that minimized his flaws. He’s excellent flying downhill to make plays on a receiver or the football, but he hasn’t been tested going backward as much as he was in college. Shanahan will be aiming to do so with tight end George Kittle.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks defense vs. 49ers offense: 2 things to watch in Week 5
