NFLbets Pick of the Week: How can the 49ers stop Seattle from running up the score?

16 December 2018

Again, NFLbets is stumped by the thinking here.

Seattle Seahawks -3½ at San Francisco 49ers

We suppose common wisdom expects Pete Carroll to have the foot off the pedal and use this game as an exercise to keep sharp; after all, the Seahawks could very well throw this game away, with the NFC West out of reach and the Minnesota Vikings 1½ games back for the no. 5 seed.

Nevertheless, we don’t see how Seattle can avoid scoring points. Ten times this season, the 49ers’ opposition has put up 24 points, regardless of whether the offense in question is top-flight like the Chiefs’ and Chargers’ (38 and 29 scored against the Niners) or unimpressive such as the Cardinals’ and Buccaneers’ (28 and 27 scored against).

Last week’s dismal performance by Russell Wilson and the Seahawks we’re willing to write off to anomaly and/or statistical regression/correction: In the prior six games, they’d averaged just under 29.5 per game. After all, two weeks ago at Carolina, Wilson went for 322 yards passing to go with 2 TDs against zero interceptions. Seattle’s primary weak area, the OL, won’t be very hard pressed by a bottom-10 pass rush allowing 235+ ypg passing and an average QB rating of 102.7 – that’s 18 points better than league-leading Drew Brees, folks.

And just two weeks ago, in a game just about as meaningless for the Seahawks with the Vikings coming up the Monday after next, Seattle beat these same 49ers by *27 freaking points*. What has changed? Come on, now. Take the Seattle Seahawks -3½ at San Francisco Santa Clara.

NFLbets Pick of the Week record in 2018: 7-4-1.