Over the first two weeks of the season, the Seattle Seahawks have looked nothing like the team that has held firm atop the NFC West in recent years. They have managed just 15 total points in two games, narrowly beating the Miami Dolphins by a score of 12-10 in Week 1 and falling to the lowly Los Angeles Rams by a score of 9-3 in Week 2.
49ers vs. Seahawks 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Both teams are 1-1, but the Seahawks are favored by a significant margin.
On Sunday, the Seahawks will face another NFC West rival in the San Francisco 49ers, who hold the same 1-1 record as them. The game will be broadcast on television via FOX, with a stream available online at Fox Sports GO for those that are getting the game served to their local market. Kickoff is scheduled for the afternoon, at 4:05 p.m. ET.
San Francisco, despite being favorites to sit at the bottom of the division this season, easily handled the Rams in Week 1 and looked competitive against the Carolina Panthers for one half in Week 2. Eventually, the defending NFC champions proved to be too much for the 49ers and they lost by 19 points, but the 49ers showed more than the Seahawks have this year.
Comparing the two teams’ games against the Rams is surprising to say the least.
Russell Wilson completed 22 of 35 passes for 254 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and the Seahawks had just 67 yards on the ground. They did not score a touchdown and the only points they managed came from a single field goal from Steven Hauschka. They did not create a single turnover, though defensively they held the Rams only to field goals.
It just so happens that field goals were all the Rams needed to win.
On the other hand, the 49ers beat the Rams by four touchdowns, three of which came on the ground. 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw for 170 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions and was not sacked. The 49ers put up 150 yards on the ground and clearly won the battle for field position. Crucially, the 49ers created turnovers, snagging two interceptions off of Case Keenum.
In two games as San Francisco’s starter this season, Gabbert has been anything but excellent. He’s completed just 54.9 percent of his passes for 413 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He played well against the Rams and he looked like he was leading an offense that actually had a game plan for the first half against the Panthers until Ron Rivera’s team eventually caught up and picked him off twice.
At some point this season, the 49ers will probably switch to Colin Kaepernick if Gabbert doesn't pick up his level of play. The Seahawks, despite their slow start to the season, have the best secondary in the league and they'll be looking to feast against Gabbert on Sunday.
What Wilson and the Seahawks' offense really need is for that secondary to create some turnovers and give them good field position. The Seahawks haven't had a steady running game due to Thomas Rawls being injured, and Wilson hasn't quite looked as good after spraining his ankle in Week 1. Both teams need this win badly with the Arizona Cardinals looking like the favorites in the division.
Below is all you need to know to watch Sunday’s game.
How to Watch 49ers vs. Seahawks on Sunday
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle
TV: FOX
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, Fox Sports GO
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