The 49ers have spent the first month looking every bit like the league’s measuring stick, but Seattle gets the first real chance to knock them off that pedestal in a big NFC West showdown at Lumen Field.
San Francisco comes in 4-0 and has been rolling behind an average score of roughly 31-16, with wins over the Rams, Dolphins, Cardinals and Broncos. Brock Purdy has been flawless in a lot of ways: no sacks allowed, 11 touchdown passes, one interception and a 126.2 passer rating that leads all regular NFL starters. Only Seahawks backup Drew Lock, at 127.3, has a higher mark, and he’s done it in two games filling in for Sam Darnold.
But Seattle has already shown it knows how to make life miserable for Purdy. In the final two meetings last season - the regular-season finale and the divisional playoff - the Seahawks sacked him five times, intercepted two passes, forced a fumble and held San Francisco to nine total points. The most recent clash, of course, was a 41-6 Seattle demolition in the 2025 divisional playoffs.
The big question now is whether that formula holds up against a hotter, sharper 49ers offense.
A major reason Seattle has had San Francisco’s number is its pass rush. The Seahawks lead the NFL in pass rush win rate, are second in quick pressure rate and sit fifth in pressure rate without blitzing. That matters against Purdy, who does not have the freedom in Kyle Shanahan’s offense to adjust protections at the line.
As Benji Solak said on Seattle Sports Radio, “This is why the Seahawks have just absolutely taken a club to the 49ers last couple years: One of the big weaknesses in Kyle’s offense is that the quarterback cannot change protections at the line scrimmage because they are baked into the play call, they are controlled by the head coach.
“So, Mike (Macdonald) has a really good bead on how Kyle wants to pass protect Whenever you get into second-and-long, third-and-long, clear passing situations, Mike is the guy who gets to hold the pen last. And as of right now, he has a big edge on Kyle Shanahan in that particular part of the chess match.”
Seattle’s front has also held up well against the run. The Seahawks rank in the top five in yards per carry allowed at 3.6 and in EPA. Before the Chargers broke some outside runs late last week and finished with 147 rushing yards, Seattle had been giving up 87 yards per game and 3.3 per carry.
Demarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu have been major pieces of that pressure package, with both ranking among the top five edge rushers in defensive impact per rush attempt this season. Tej Seth’s list had Lawrence third at +0.56 and Nwosu fifth at +0.51.
San Francisco’s ground game has been sturdy, too. The 49ers are averaging 137 rushing yards per game and 4.8 per carry, with Purdy adding 30 rushing yards per game himself. They also own the second-lowest negative run rate in the league at 3.6%.
George Kittle knows exactly what Seattle is bringing.
“They play very safe, bend-but-don’t-break coverages,” he told Bay Area reporters. “But their DBs are incredibly aggressive and violent.
They’re not scared of hitting, they’re not scared of coming downhill. That allows their D-line to play super aggressive, too.
All around, they’re a very special defense. I don’t know what their weak link is on defense.
… This is a very, very elite defense, and their head coach knows what the heck he’s doing.”
Seattle may have an edge on the other side of the ball as well, especially if Brian Fleury keeps leaning to the right in the run game. The Seahawks have the third-highest negative run rate in the league at 12.7%, and much of that comes from forcing runs behind weaker blockers.
What has given Seattle some unexpected juice, though, is the screen game. Emanuel Wilson scored on a 23-yard screen last week and added 13 yards on another, and Fleury has also leaned on AJ Barner effectively in that part of the offense. The Seahawks lead the NFL in EPA per dropback on screen passes and rank second in yards per attempt at 10.6.
“The screen game: How about that?” Macdonald said. “I just can’t remember being on a team with a great screen game, so I’m excited to be a part of it.
“It’s another example of like, hey, we just shift our focus to where we want to get better, and guys make it come to life. The linemen have done a great job of hitting their targets out on the perimeter and in the alley, and our runners have been more decisive once they get the ball.”
That sets up a game that could come down to whether Darnold can move Seattle through the air. The 49ers have been one of the worst teams in the league at pressuring the quarterback, so he should have chances. If he takes advantage, Seattle can make it three straight over San Francisco and grab control of the NFC West.
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