NFL Week 13 Thanksgiving Day Game Preview: San Francisco 49ers versus Seattle Seahawks

November 25, 2014

Parity is the hallmark of the NFL, and entering Week 13, there are 16 teams with at least seven wins, the most ever through 11 games.  The standings remain close throughout the league, with no better example than the AFC North -- the first division in NFL history to have every team at least three games over .500 at any point in a season.

With only five weeks left to play, nothing has been settled and every game is crucial.  In fact, there are 21 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot, including 10 in the NFC.

The NFL's Week 13 Thanksgiving tripleheader will conclude with an important NFC West showdown between last year’s NFC Championship Game participants. Both the Seahawks and 49ers are 7-4, two games behind Arizona in the division and right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

“We feel like we are in the playoffs,” said San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea about playing games at this time of year. “Win at all costs.”

Seattle will play in its first game on Thanksgiving since 2008, while Thursday marks the first time that San Francisco hosts a game on Thanksgiving Day.

The Seahawks are coming off a 19-3 win over the Cardinals in which the Seattle defense limited Arizona to 204 total net yards.

“Our team played really well in the win,” said Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. “We have to turn around in a hurry. Hopefully we can put together another good performance this week against a very tough divisional opponent.”

Quarterback Russell Wilson has won three of his past four starts against the 49ers, including the NFC Championship Game, and he has won his past two Thursday games while posting a 116.6 passer rating.

In his third year, the Seattle quarterback has won 20 of his first 22 career starts at home in the regular season. That is tied for the fewest starts (22) needed to reach 20 regular-season wins at home among quarterbacks who began their careers in the Super Bowl era. The other three quarterbacks to accomplish the feat are Matt Ryan, Marc Bulger, and Danny White.

The Seattle Seahawks have the toughest remaining schedule among NFC clubs, facing opponents with a combined 35-20 (.636) mark.

San Francisco has yet to play up to its potential, but has won three games in a row, including last week’s 17-13 win over Washington.

“I think this is something to continue to build off of,” said Bethea. “This string of victories has been great and will pay big dividends for us. Now we have a short week against a great team coming into our house on Thanksgiving.”

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin had nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in Week 12.  In his past two Thursday games, he has 14 catches for 221 yards (110.5 per game) and a touchdown.

San Francisco dual threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick heads into Thursday’s divisional matchup with a 7-5 career regular-season record as a starter against the NFC West. Kaepernick has passed for 16 touchdowns and has posted a passer rating of at least 90 in eight of his 12 starts against the NFC West.

WEEK 13 INJURY REPORT – SEATTLE at SAN FRANCISCO

Seattle Seahawks

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
TE Cooper Helfet (ankle), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (shoulder), C Max Unger (knee, ankle)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
CB Marcus Burley (hamstring), G James Carpenter (ankle), DE Demarcus Dobbs (knee), WR Jermaine Kearse (ankle), CB Jeremy Lane (glute), RB Marshawn Lynch (back)


San Francisco 

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring), TE Derek Carrier (foot), T Anthony Davis (concussion), DT Glenn Dorsey (forearm), WR Bruce Ellington (ankle), DE Justin Smith (back)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
RB Frank Gore (knee), TE Vance McDonald (back)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
WR Brandon Lloyd (quadricep), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), S Eric Reid (ankle), S Raymond Ventrone (groin)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com

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