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Today, the Seattle Seahawks come to town in a game that they, the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL really want to make personal. Maybe it is for the players, and maybe the rivalry is real to them. To me, they're just another team, with little historical significance that would make me hate them to the same extent that I hate the Dallas Cowboys of the New York Giants.
What matters today is that they're a very, very good team. Perhaps the best team in the NFL, at that. The Seahawks are not perfect, but they've beaten some very good teams thus far, including the 49ers in Week 2. That 49ers team might just be different than this one, and I'm not even going to talk about the home-field advantage at this point. If teams can't beat the Seahawks in Seattle then they're going to the Super Bowl. Oh well.
What we have to worry about right now is this game. The 49ers are looking to be one of the scariest No. 6 seeds in a very long time, but actually making it into the playoffs is not guaranteed by any means. We're not fighting for the NFC West, we're fighting for a spot in the playoffs, regardless of opponent. Let's get it done today. Go 49ers.
Injury report: Staley ready to play; Iupati likely to miss 3rd straight game (Branch)
49ers notes: Crabtree trying to stay calm before battle with Seattle (Barrows)
Lattimore: 'I know I still got it' (Maiocco)
Crabtree excited to face a Seahawks team that 'is supposed to be top team in NFL. We'll see Sunday' (Inman)
Williams, union chief plan to seek rule change on blocks (Maiocco0
49ers Q&A: What's the future at WR? How will Marcus Lattimore fit? (Barrows)
The Playbook : Previewing Panthers-Saints, Seahawks-49ers, more Week 14 games (SI)
Experts: Keeping 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick in pocket key to limiting effectiveness (USA Today)
49ers have home field and motivation -- will it be enough? (Cohn)
How the 49ers have been successful running the ball vs. the Seahawks at Candlestick (Cohn)