49ers vs. Seahawks: A prospector's guide

The San Francisco 49ers are back from their bye this week, set to face the Seattle Seahawks up at CenturyLink Field. The game kicks off at 1:25 p.m. PT, and will air on FOX. The announcer crew consists of Chris Myers and Ronde Barber, with Jennifer Hale on the sideline. Good times!

Over the last three years, this was arguably the best rivalry in football. Last season it started to decline with the 49ers struggles, and this year it has taken another step back with both teams' struggles. The Seahawks struggles are a bit more surprising than those of the 49ers. The 49ers are 3-6, with roster and coaching turnover causing all sorts of problems. It is not particularly shocking.

On the other hand, the Seahawks are 4-5 thanks to a combination of factors, some surprising, some a little less so. The Seahawks offensive line is awful, which is not surprising. They traded their center, and the rest of the line has struggled to do much of anything. But the line has struggled previously. Behind that line, Russell Wilson is just not that great a quarterback. He can still make some impressive plays, but there is a lot more inconsistency there. Marshawn Lynch remains a beast, but Wilson has struggled a bit this year.

On the other side of the ball, the Legion of Boom defense is not what it once was. They still have a lot of talented players, but the slow churn of that side of the ball is finally having a notable effect. They gave up 39 points to the Arizona Cardinals, which is as many points as they gave up over the final six games of the 2014 regular season.

One area where the Seahawks defense remains strong is the pass rush. They rank fifth in Football Outsiders' adjusted sack rate. This will likely be the key area of the Seahawks defense to watch against Blaine Gabbert. The Atlanta Falcons got some pressure, but it was not the kind of duress that can cause problems. If the Seahawks get Gabbert under duress, this game could get ugly in a hurry.

The 49ers are back for their normal media schedule this week. The 49ers have a mostly normal Wednesday routine, with Jim Tomsula meeting the media at 10:30 a.m., and special teams coach Thomas McGaughey speaking at 11:45. There is no word yet on Blaine Gabbert speaking, but I imagine that happens with McGaughey. The locker room will be open from 12 to 12:45, and the team will practice at 2 p.m. Richard Sherman and Pete Carroll are the Seahawks player and coach speaking with Bay Area media.

On Thursday, Eric Mangini and Geep Chryst will meet with the media at 11:45 a.m. The locker room will be open from 12:00 to 12:45, and that will be followed by practice at 2:40 p.m. The 49ers wrap up the practice week on Friday with Jim Tomsula's final press conference of the week, scheduled for noon PT. The team will practice at 12:40 p.m., and then have locker room availability after practice.

Matchups: 34
Series Record: Seahawks lead series 19-15
49ers Away Record vs. Seahawks: Seahawks lead series 11-7
First Meeting: 9/26/76, 49ers win 37-21, at Sea.
Last Meeting: 10/22/15, Seahawks win 20-3, at SF
Current Streak: Lost 4
Longest 49ers Win Streak: 4 (12/12/10 - 10/18/12)
Longest Seahawks Win Streak: 6 (10/12/03 - 12/11/05)
Most 49ers Points: 40 (12/12/10): 49ers win 40-21, at SF
Most Seahawks Points: 42 - 2 times, (Last 12/23/12): Seahawks win 42-13, at Sea.
49ers Shutouts: None
Seahawks Shutouts: 2 (Last 11/12/07), Seahawks win 24-0, at Sea.

CB Kenneth Acker

• Intercepted Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. Sea. (10/22/15) for his 3rd career INT.

WR Anquan Boldin

• In 17 career games against Sea., including the postseason, he has totaled 94 receptions for 1,171 yards and 3 TDs.

• Had 5 receptions for 53 yards, including a 26-yard TD at Sea. (1/19/14) (NFC-C).

• Registered team-highs in receptions (6) and rec. yards (93) vs. Sea. (12/8/13).

• Caught 8 passes for a team-high 105 yards vs. Sea. (11/15/09) as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

• As a member of the Arizona Cardinals, he hauled in 13 passes for a career-best 186 yards at Sea. (11/16/08).

• Hauled in 7 passes for a game-high 107 yards and 1 TD at Sea. (12/26/04) as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. It marked his first TD of the season and 9th of his career..

• Hauled in 10 passes for a game-high 122 yards and 1 TD at Sea. (12/21/03) as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

LB NaVorro Bowman

• Recorded a team-high 15 tackles, 1.0 sack and 1 FF at Sea. (1/19/14) (NFC-C).
• Registered a team-high 13 tackles and had 1.0 sack, which forced a fumble by Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. Sea. (12/8/13).
• Made a career-high 19 tackles at Sea. (12/23/12).
• Recorded his first career sack at Sea. (12/24/11), dropping QB Tarvaris Jackson for a 4-yard loss.

CB Tramaine Brock

• Intercepted Seahawks QB Russell Wilson in the end zone for his 10th INT of his career vs. Sea. (10/22/15).

• Registered his first career INT, picking o QB Tarvaris Jackson to end the first half vs. Sea. (9/11/11).

LB Ahmad Brooks

• Brought down Seahawks QB Russell Wilson twice vs. Sea. (10/22/15).
• Registered 4 tackles and 1 sack at Sea. (12/14/14).
• Recorded 6 tackles, 1 sack and 1 PD vs. Sea. (11/27/14).

DT Tank Carradine

• Picked up 5 tackles and registered the first two sacks of his NFL career, bring down Seahawks QB Russell Wilson twice at Sea. (12/14/14).

DT Quinton Dial

• Registered 1.0 sack on the night vs. Sea. (10/22/15)
• Notched double-digit tackles for the second time in his career with 10 at Sea. (12/14/14).
• Registered a career-high 12 tackles vs. Sea. (11/27/14).

LB Aaron Lynch

• Registered his 2nd multi-sack game of his career with 2.0 sacks vs. Sea. (10/22/15).
• Registered 4 tackles and added 1.0 sack of Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. Sea. (11/27/14).

S Eric Reid

• Recorded 3 tackles and a career-long 73-yard INT return at Sea. (12/14/14).

2015 Statistics