The Seahawks and 49ers meet in Week 5 with both teams carrying strong starts into a division matchup that should tell us plenty about where each side stands. Seattle is 1-0 in the NFC West after taking down the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, while San Francisco arrives unbeaten at 4-0 and 2-0 in the division.
Some members of the Seattle Seahawks On SI staff saw the game playing out in different ways, but the common thread was a tight contest. One prediction had Seattle’s defense doing enough to slow Christian McCaffrey and pressure Brock Purdy, with the 49ers’ unbeaten run ending in a game where San Francisco still avoids a sack. That same forecast had the Seahawks settling for five field goals and one touchdown.
Another take leaned the other way, with Seattle’s run game struggling and the offense forced into a more pass-heavy approach after falling behind early, much like the Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders. In that view, Jaxon Smith-Njigba helps keep Seattle in it, but San Francisco’s playmakers are enough to pull out the win.
There was also confidence that home field could matter in a game that figures to be close. Both teams are top 10 in points scored on offense and points surrendered on defense, which only adds to the sense that this one should be far tighter than Seattle’s playoff win over the Niners last year.
One prediction gave Seattle its toughest test of the season and San Francisco its toughest test too. In that scenario, the 49ers would allow their first sack of the year, with Seattle finishing with three total sacks led by DeMarcus Lawrence and Nick Emmanwori. Sam Darnold was tabbed as a potential difference-maker, with the expectation that he could get the ball to JSN for a big performance.
The final outlook in the group also pointed to Mike Macdonald’s defense having a handle on San Francisco’s offense, especially without a speed threat to stretch the field. That setup would let Seattle keep the 49ers closer to the line of scrimmage, even if the Seahawks still struggle to run the ball. In that prediction, Darnold does enough to lead Seattle to the win.
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Seahawks Offense Has A Clear Weak Spot They Need To Fix
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The trouble comes when Seattle gets lighter and spreads the field with three or more receivers, where the offense has not been nearly as efficient and the third-down work has lagged. Fixing that split is the next step, and one obvious way to do it is to get cleaner answers against the blitz, since more reliable pressure-beating execution could keep the Seahawks from getting pushed into the same predictable passing situations that have slowed them down. [Read more 🡒]
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For Seattle, the concern is especially pointed because the defensive front has been tracking a few key statuses all week. Leonard Williams was unable to practice after opening the week in a limited role, and Chazz Surratt was one of the Seahawks two DNPs while several others either remained limited or were getting rest. The final injury report should bring some clarity, but for now the Seahawks are waiting to see how much of their defense will actually be available. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Defense Is About To Face Its Biggest Test Yet
Brock Purdy has opened the 2026 season in elite form, pushing the 49ers to a 4-0 start while sitting near the top of the league in passer rating, passing success rate and expected points added per dropback. Through four games, he has also been among the most efficient quarterbacks the NFL has seen in the 21st century, and he heads into Week 5 tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns as San Francisco prepares for a divisional trip to Seattle.
The challenge waiting for him is a Seahawks defense that has spent the first month of the season looking like one of the leagues most disruptive units. Seattle leads the NFL in several defensive categories and has been especially effective at generating pressure on early downs without leaning heavily on the blitz, a formula that has made this matchup one of the more interesting tests on the schedule. For the Seahawks, the next step is simple enough to define and much harder to pull off: make Purdy play from inside the pocket under real heat and see whether his start can keep rolling. [Read more 🡒]