Do you hear that?
It’s been present for every offensive play throughout the 49ers’ season, looming silently every time Brock Purdy calls the play in the huddle and as he adjusts at the line.
Silence.
Despite the arrest of their owner, a car accident involving their coach, and questions about player health and age, the 49ers have surprisingly managed to tune out a lot of this noise as the season kicks off. Yet, there’s one thing they haven’t faced yet.
Actual crowd noise.
Even after traveling nearly 16,000 miles, the 49ers haven’t had to utilize a silent count on offense. They’ve played three home games and even one overseas, but all that’s about to shift this Sunday.
Kyle Shanahan needs to be wary that his players haven’t gotten too used to the welcoming crowds. It’s about to get intense.
The stark contrast between the calm environments the 49ers have enjoyed and the deafening noise that awaits them at Seattle’s Lumen Field is significant.
It’s like being pushed into the deep end of the pool.
But the 49ers are excited to demonstrate they can handle challenging conditions.
“It’s always a good test,” said running back Christian McCaffrey. “It’s a super-loud stadium with a hostile environment. It’s a division rival, so it’ll be a good test for us.”
Linebacker Fred Warner added, “Their stadium is one of those places that’s going to be really hostile.”
Seattle’s fans are infamous, and the stadium has witnessed some tough moments for the 49ers but also significant victories.
This week, Warner and John Lynch reminisced about the crucial game at the end of the 2019 season when Dre Greenlaw made a pivotal stop to clinch the NFC West title. Just last year, Jake Tonges unexpectedly scored a game-winning touchdown.
Tonges’ catch helped the 49ers achieve their fourth consecutive win at Seattle’s supposedly intimidating home field—though that unbeaten streak ended last January.
This game presents a unique challenge for Shanahan; it’s not just about strategies and tactics. It’s been two games since his offense last scored a touchdown against Mike Macdonald’s defense, and the looming crowd noise adds to the difficulty, especially with fullback Kyle Juszczyk absent.
During an appearance before the Super Bowl, Shanahan was asked how to effectively challenge Seattle’s formidable defense. He humorously noted, “I haven’t scored a touchdown on these guys the last two times we’ve played.”
“Even when you get past the front seven, it’s hard to get by those safeties,” he pointed out. “They support big plays but are aggressive, making it tough to ride a short-passing game throughout.”
This offseason, Shanahan spent additional time figuring out how to tackle challenges posed by their division rival. Now, with most of his players available except Juszczyk, he’s about to see how that preparation pays off.
That, of course, depends on whether Purdy can hear the play calls amidst all the noise.
Marquee matchup: 49ers tight ends vs. S Nick Emmanwori
Shanahan hasn’t had tight end George Kittle—who has been critical against Macdonald’s defense—available for two of their last three encounters. Equally important is Juszczyk’s absence. The last time the 49ers played without their reliable fullback was back in 2022. Kittle, along with tight ends Brayden Willis and Luke Farrell, will need to take on some of Juszczyk’s roles while he recovers from a knee injury. This includes facing Seahawks versatile player Nick Emmanwori, who can rush the passer and drop into coverage. Emmanwori’s ability to play various defensive roles makes planning a challenge, as Shanahan noted.
The score: Seahawks 24, 49ers 20
It may sound odd to say about a team dominating its opponents, but there are just too many factors working against the 49ers to keep them undefeated. If they had Juszczyk or Nick Bosa, they might have the edge. Yet, without both—facing a team designed to challenge Shanahan’s strengths—it might be too much to overcome against the reigning Super Bowl champions in their home turf advantage.
Key stat: 75.5
Brock Purdy’s passer rating in his last four games against Mike Macdonald’s defense; during the other 17 games in that period, his passer rating stands at 110.5.
