placeholder image

Chris Coduto-USA TODAY Sports


‘I bet you it comes down to the last series’: 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan says Seahawks better than their record

Dec 3, 2021 at 11:52 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
On Thursday, tight end George Kittle shared a key stat in the rivalry between his San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. The latter has won 16 of the last 19.

That record dates back to 2012 and includes the playoffs. While Kittle acknowledges that none of the players on the roster were around back then, he declared the stat "not acceptable."

"This week's an opportunity to make it 16 for 20," Kittle told reporters. "So that's what we're going to try to do out there, is win, because they've had our number a lot over my career and years before that. So we just want to go out there and win this game."

San Francisco last beat Seattle during Week 17 of the 2019 season, which featured linebacker Dre Greenlaw making a massive stop in the closing seconds and lifting the 49ers to a division championship. The Seahawks have won the three games since and emerged victorious in four of the last five, including a Week 4 contest at Levi's Stadium this season.

This weekend, the 49ers will travel to Lumen Field to face a Seahawks team that looks nothing like the dominant division foe over the last decade. San Francisco is 6-5 and riding a three-game winning streak, while Seattle is 3-8 and has lost three in a row. It looks like a mismatch, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't being overly confident about his team's chances on Sunday.

"I can't remember playing Seattle when they've had a losing record," Shanahan said Friday on KNBR's Murph & Mac show. "So that just shows how good they've been over this last decade. But it doesn't matter with Seattle. Even watching their games this year, it's coming down to the end. They had a rough game on Monday night [against Washington], offensively, but they still had every opportunity to win that at the end. They missed a two-point conversion. They got an onside kick with an illegal formation. That definitely should have gone to overtime, and they didn't play their best ball."

Russell Wilson is clearly affected by the finger injury that most expected to cost the Seahawks quarterback six to eight weeks. Instead, he missed just three games.

The 49ers coach doesn't expect Wilson's shaky play to continue. At some point, the star quarterback will return to doing Russell Wilson-type things on the football field.

"And you know Russell's going to play a lot better," Shanahan said. "You know the competitor he is. You know all the great things he's done."

Shanahan added, "They missed Russell for a number of games where they struggled, and they haven't been great since he's come back, but I know he's going to get that rhythm. He's too good of a player not to. And that's why I expect this game, no matter what happens, I bet you it comes down to the last series."

Seattle's defense currently ranks No. 30 in total yards allowed. The 49ers coach says that doesn't tell the whole story, though.

"They have a top-10 defense, in my opinion," Shanahan shared. "They're ranked seventh in points [allowed]. They're ranked second in giving up explosives. They're ranked seventh in third down. I think they're sixth in red zone. All the things that really matter, they're in the top eight at.

"Where they've been unfortunate is, their defense has been on the field too much. They have 150 more plays on defense than our guys do, which means they've played two more games defensively. Yet, they only give up five yards a play. Look at their offense. Their offense has been historically bad on third down, and that's why they're just struggling with that. But that's not going to last forever."

Hopefully, for Shanahan and his Niners, it lasts just one more game.

You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.




Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Did the 49ers get better in the first week of free agency?

By Marc Adams
Mar 16

It's been less than one week since the free agency rumors started swirling. The San Francisco 49ers have been busy, from restructuring contracts to seeing some of their own sign elsewhere to bringing aboard new players. They even pulled off a trade. But have they improved their roster this first week of NFL free agency? Let's take a look at which additions and returning players help, and which losses hurt. Additions that help The addition that helped the most is likely edge rusher Leonard Floyd. The veteran pass rusher played in all 17 games last season and hasn't missed a game since 2017. The 49ers have been searching for that edge rusher opposite of Nick Bosa since Dee Ford. Floyd very well could be that guy, finishing with at least nine sacks


placeholder image

Three Key Defensive Free Agents to Make the 49ers Better in 2024

By Wayne P. Brown
Mar 10

Although the defense finished as one of the top defenses in 2023 under Steve Wilks, the San Francisco 49ers struggled in a few areas, like stopping the run, finishing the pass rush with sacks, and surrendering explosive plays. In this editorial, we will look to find three defensive players to keep the 49ers defense among the elite. The 49ers have 22 players scheduled to become free agents, 12 being defensive players. The team must address the edge, interior, and cornerback positions. Improving these three areas will keep the 49ers on top. Three defensive ends—Chase Young, Randy Gregory, and Clelin Ferrell—are set to become free agents. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), the trio totaled 74 pressures (11 sacks, 17 hits, and 46 hurries). If the 49ers want to


placeholder image

49ers QB Brock Purdy's wife, Jenna, shares photos from their wedding

By David Bonilla
Mar 12

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tied the knot with his fiancée, Jenna Brandt, in a ceremony held in Des Moines, Iowa, this past weekend. The two met at Iowa State University, where Purdy played college football before being selected as the final overall pick by the 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Now named Jenna Purdy, the quarterback's wife shared photos of the newlyweds' joyful day via Instagram, expressing, "Best day of our lives. I get to call my best friend my HUSBAND for forever and


placeholder image

La Canfora doubles down on rumor of Ravens' interest in 49ers' Deebo Samuel

By David Bonilla
Mar 14

Jason La Canfora of 105.7 The Fan stands firm on his report that the Baltimore Ravens reached out to the San Francisco 49ers regarding wide receiver Deebo Samuel, eyeing the opportunity to potentially acquire the dynamic star player. On Thursday, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta laughed off the rumor, likening it to fiction, such as the children's story "The Lorax." RELATED: Ravens GM laughs off rumor surrounding interest in Deebo Samuel La Canfora, appearing on Bay Area radio


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone