“Conquer Every Yard Against the Formidable Seahawks Defense”
The upcoming game will be a significant challenge for the San Francisco 49ers as they face the Seattle Seahawks. This matchup marks the fifth encounter of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy with the Seahawks defense led by coach Mike Macdonald. Their previous meetings highlight a trend of struggles for Purdy against this formidable defense.
Historical Context of the Matchup
Purdy’s first clash with Macdonald’s defense took place on Christmas night in 2023. In that game, Purdy threw four interceptions, which resulted in a 33-19 defeat for the 49ers. Since Macdonald took the helm of the Seahawks in 2024, Purdy has faced this defense four times. In those games, Shanahan’s offense has averaged only 18.3 points per game, marking the lowest average against any coach Shanahan has faced three or more times.
Defensive Dominance
The last encounter between the teams proved particularly challenging for the 49ers. Seattle restricted San Francisco to a mere three points, the lowest output for Shanahan since September 2017, along with a franchise-low 173 total yards. This defensive performance was marked by effective strategies, including two-deep safeties aimed at neutralizing deep passes.
Insights from the 49ers
- Klay Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the 49ers, acknowledged the difficulties posed by the Seahawks’ defense.
- Kubiak emphasized the need for improved rushing performance and third-down efficiency.
- The goal is to stay on the field longer to effectively call running plays.
Since returning from injury, Purdy has guided the 49ers to a 7-1 record, with the only loss coming in Week 18 against Seattle. He posted an impressive 111.5 passer rating from Week 11 to Week 17. However, his recent performances against Seattle and another formidable defense, Philadelphia, have seen a drop in effectiveness, with a passer rating of just 73.1 in those outings.
Purdy’s Road Success Against Seahawks
Despite the recent challenges, Purdy boasts a perfect record of 4-0 on the road against the Seahawks. This achievement ties him with Hall of Famer Dan Fouts for the longest winning streak by a quarterback at Seattle in history. With high stakes in this matchup, Purdy and the 49ers are determined to conquer every yard against the formidable Seahawks defense.
