Golden Nuggets: Pessimism abound as the 49ers travel to Seattle

Good morning everyone. Tomorrow afternoon, the 49ers travel to Seattle to try and get revenge for Thanksgiving, the NFC Championship Game last season... and a couple years worth of embarrassing defeats there. Fingers crossed!

You know, it's really hard as a 49ers fan to have too much confidence against any team, let alone Seattle in Seattle. And this isn't even the mediocre looking version from about a month ago, this version looks just as good as the team that won the Superbowl last season.

I wish I could day the same about the 49ers, but... they got thoroughly outplayed by the then 1-11 Raiders last week. This team has looked like the worst offense in the league for more than a month, and the defense has its ups and downs playing without the top two middle linebackers in the league. It was really disturbing to see how pathetic the pass rush looked last week. Especially with a hall of fame talent on one end and a rookie that looks like the real deal on the other.

There is a lot of really negative stuff swirling around the 49ers right now. I think some of the turmoil does have to do with the uncertainty about Jim Harbaugh's future with the team. Some has to do with Greg Roman and some incompetence running the offense. And some of it has to do with some serious regression across the board. What is it that causes regression? Some would say that turmoil, uncertainty, and incompetence with the people in charge cause players to perform below their norm.

My approach to Sunday afternoon is to go in expecting the worst. A win will be exhilarating, and a loss, even an embarrassing blowout, hopefully won't leave me bedridden for the next few days. To the links!

49ers vs. Seahawks injury report: Stevie Johnson is out (Gin)

Stevie Johnson's knee could mean bigger role for 49ers' Patton (Maiocco)

No Anthony Davis, Stevie Johnson in 49ers’ rematch with Seahawks (Barrows)

49ers enter a potential end of the road for the season and Jim Harbaugh (Gin)

Jim Harbaugh transcript (Cohn)

Good Kap, Bad Kap: What to make of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick? (Mercury News)

Kaepernick not running less, just less successful (Maiocco)

Boldin surprised by 49ers record, likes team’s mind-set headed into Seahawks game (Corkran)

How might the 49ers sneak into the playoffs? (ESPN)

Unlike Seahawks with Richard Sherman, 49ers cornerback corps is ever-changing, often quiet (Inman)

Football savant SCOT McCLOUGHAN helped build two Super Bowl champions. Now in exile, will he get a shot to build a third? (ESPN)

Report: McCloughan's departure from 49ers was alcohol-related (Maiocco)

49ers’ Tank Carradine showing progress in his ‘rookie’ season (Barrows)

Levi’s lethargy, Part 2: The new stadium changed everything about the 49ers and how they look at each other (Kawakami)

PFF Preview: 49ers @ Seahawks, Week 15 (PFF)

Jim Harbaugh’s Final Undoing as 49ers Coach? (MMQB)

Why are Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick and 49ers falling short? (USA Today)