'We Don't Like Them!' 49ers at Seahawks: 5 Keys & Prediction In NFC West Showdown

The Seattle Seahawks' late-season path to a Super Bowl win in 2025 included a pair of memorable wins over their arch-rivals from San Francisco.

And here come the 49ers again.

The Seahawks got it done twice when it counted last winter, winning in Week 18 and then again in the playoffs over 49ers team that now wants revenge.

“I think it’s unspoken,” 49ers safety Malik Mustapha said via the AP. “Everyone knows what it is. Everyone knows the mindset going into it. We don’t like them ...''

In other words, familiarity breeds contempt.

San Francisco (4-0) visits Seattle (3-1) on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field, and we've got 5 Key Questions for the Seahawks making San Francisco suffer for a third straight time.

KEY QUESTION 1: WHAT'S THE TOP 'WORRISOME' STORYLINE?

The Seahawks are yet to hit their stride this season, yet still sit at 3-1, and now face the 4-0 49ers at Lumen Field.

Seattle took care of the Patriots in Week 1, but how the club fares against this Christian McCaffrey-led 49ers juggernaut will tell us a lot about Mike Macdonald’s team this season.

In other words, maybe Seattle needs to hurry up and become a "juggernaut'' as well.

KEY QUESTION 2.⁠ ⁠WHAT'S THE BIGGEST MATCHUP?

It has to be Jaxon Smith-Njigba against the 49ers’ secondary. We know that Smith-Njigba right now IS Seattle’s offense, and if the 'Hawks are going to hand the 49ers their first loss of the year, it will be because of No. 11.

So the 49ers are going to have to try and take away Seattle’s best player, and force Sam Darnold to beat them with his other weapons.

KEY QUESTION 3. WHO COULD BE SEATTLE'S 'QUIET HERO'?

For me, there are two underrecognized guys ... Emanuel Wilson and Rashid Shaheed.

Wilson has developed into an RB1 in the wake of rookie Jadarian Price’s injury, and the two outings during which he’s been the bell cow, he’s produced (81 and 92 yards), so getting him rolling could be huge for the offense and it’s ability to still be multiple and keep the 49ers defense from crowding Smith-Njigba.

As for Rasheed, he was used out of the backfield last week and produced, having 33 yards and a touchdown on just two carries, so getting Seattle’s speed merchant rolling could help keep the 49ers’ defense off balance.

KEY QUESTION 4.⁠ ⁠WHAT'S SEATTLE'S CONCERNING WEAKNESS?

The overreliance on Smith-Njigba. Granted, he is a star and an All-Pro, but he has 367 more yards and 23 more receptions than the next best weapon (Cooper Kupp).

So if the 49ers can take No. 11 away, what will the offense look like? You never apologize for feeding your No. 1 weapon, but the fact that no one else has really done anything in the passing game through the first month is "concerning.''

KEY QUESTION 5.⁠ ⁠WHAT'S THE 'FISH PREDICTS' PREDICTION?

The 49ers are rolling, and Seattle has been a little up-and-down so far, but at home in front of The 12th Man, it is hard to pick against Macdonald’s team.

I think the Seahawks get the win, but … as you can see, "Fish Predicts'' comes with some “buts.”

Give me Seahawks 24-21.