For most of 2018, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman downplayed the ability to play the Seattle Seahawks, saying it was "just another game" on many occasions. After the Niners beat the Seahawks 26-23 in Week 15, however, the game took on a bit more meaning for the veteran defensive back.
The San Francisco 49ers no longer are riding a losing streak to their NFC West division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. This, after the Niners pulled off a thrilling 26-23 win in overtime at Levi's Stadium in Week 15.
And while he might not have said so before the game, the win meant a lot to cornerback Richard Sherman, who spent the first seven years of his NFL career in Seattle before being released and signing with San Francisco last offseason.
Sherman was noticeably happier about beating his former team than with the other 49ers victories this season when he addressed the media not long after kicker Robbie Gould notched his fourth field goal of the game to win it. Yet Sherman was also quick to deflect the attention on the win towards his teammates.
"It means a lot, beating Seattle, to me," Sherman told reporters after the game. "But it's just the way the guys showed up and kept battling the whole game. This was a tough game. Those guys played their hearts out."
Like the 49ers' Week 14 win over the Denver Broncos, Sherman also credited a number of the younger players who played with the same vigor and relentlessness to give San Francisco its first winning streak this season.
"We've got three rookies in the secondary," Sherman continued. "We've got, basically, three rookie receivers. [Tight end George] Kittle is in his second year. ...Young guys, but they stepped up to the moment."
Sherman, who won a Super Bowl in 2014 with Seattle, was brought in largely to mentor a primarily young squad. And it appears as if he's had an impression on many of those younger teammates.
"We've been talking about it," Niners wide receiver Richie James said of getting Sherman a win over his former team. "We needed it for him. We did it for the team, but we did it for him, for sure. He contributes so much to this team and helps us out. Especially with most of us being younger, he contributes so much and helps us out."
Sherman recorded three tackles during the game, although defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was one of the game's stars, picking up two sacks and becoming the first 49ers defender with double-digit quarterback takedowns since Aldon Smith back in 2012.
Still, nearly everyone remained thrilled for Sherman. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh too, who got his start with Seattle as an assistant.
"We have a lot of guys in this locker room that this game means a lot to," rookie offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said after the game. "Sherm, Saleh, all the guys that played there, have coached there. It is huge for us to get over this hump and build on this for the next two weeks and obviously next season, as well."
And when the 49ers start off next season, they'll no longer have to worry about looking at a multi-season losing streak to their rival Seahawks.