By Brian Murphy
I think the 49ers will lose to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night and it’s OK and …
PSYCH!
Gotcha!
And hello to all you new Jock Blog readers, who became newly-minted ‘Hate Readers’ of the JB after last week’s Jock Blog whiffed on my Eagles-Niners prediction.
Here’s what I meant to say above:
I actually think the 49ers might WIN on Saturday night in Seattle.
I do!
Really!
Not just pandering!
And if you think I’m just pandering after last week to make amends for my lack of faith, that’s fine, too. We’re all here to argue sports and distract ourselves from this trail of tears we call life — and that’s OK.
Last Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love, I was wildly impressed by the 49ers defense. I figured the 49ers defense, out of bodies, could not hold the line for one more week. Not on the road. Not in the noise. Not in the cold. Not when the starting linebackers headed to the injury list along with Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams — and even Ji’Ayir Brown joined them on the injured list during the game, too.
Instead, Robert Saleh’s marauders refused to take no for an answer.
Brand-new 49ers Eric Kendricks and Garrett Wallow became mini-legends with stellar linebacking play. Rookie safety Marques Sigle, banished to the bench midway through the season, seized the day. Rookie Upton Stout continued to make good on his draft day mantra — “Let’s do it!” — and did it.
And, let’s be honest here, the Philadelphia Eagles were so bad.
Sucks for them.
So Kyle Shanahan and Klay Kubiak dialed up Skyy Bang Reverse Pass, Brock Purdy overcame two second-half interceptions, the team somehow rallied after the loss of the People’s Tight End, George Kittle — and the 49ers pulled off a win that only the true Faithful believed could happen.
Raise your glass of tequila in their general direction.
So sue me, OK? Insert wink emoji here.
As I watched this gutty effort — maybe Kyle Shanahan’s best playoff victory, all things considered — come to a conclusion with a Kendricks pass defensed, I high-fived the family and came to an immediate thought:
Oh, my. I do not think the Seattle Seahawks are psyched about this draw.
A Seahawk fan may dispute that. Said Seahawks fan may tell you the Seahawks manhandled the 49ers at the line of scrimmage just two weeks ago, in Levi’s Stadium, no less. Said Seahawks fan may tell you they feared the Rams more than the 49ers. Said Seahawks fan may point out that the 49ers will be playing on a short week and the Seahawks are well-rested after sleeping in feather beds at home with the sweet pitter-patter of sleep-inducing rain on their windows.
Fine, fine. Keep telling yourselves that, said Seahawks fan.
What I saw Sunday in Philly told me the 49ers are a rollicking pack of bad mamma jammas, and conventional wisdom does not apply to their situation.
Short week, schmort week. Injuries, schminjuries. Steve Young said in our Wednesday chat that the 49ers are almost freed up by their adversity, and in some weird way have come out stronger.
So much credit goes to Kyle Shanahan’s brain. As much credit should go to the culture in the building, fostered by Shanahan, John Lynch and even owner Jed York. I’ve had my disagreements with Jed over the years, but not in the last nine years — he hired good dudes and let them do their work. And when he heard one of his injured players was thirsty, he sent him a bottle. That’s a good owner.
In reality, culture can’t block Byron Murphy and DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams and Ochenna Nwosu. In reality, culture can’t erase the many talents of safety Nick Emmanwori, or make Lumen Field less noisy and uncomfortable.
But consider this: the Seahawks only scored 13 points in each meeting against the 49ers this year. Brock Purdy has never lost in Lumen Field. And despite Mike Macdonald’s well-earned reputation as a coach who can be a thorn in the side of Kyle’s offense, the coaches are 2-2 against each other in four matchups.
That these two teams are very, very familiar NFC West foes virtually guarantees a taut tussle. Seattle has to know this, and can’t love it.
Sam Darnold has not only never won a playoff game, he also injured an oblique in practice Thursday. Purdy has led four fourth-quarter post-season comebacks.
And most of all, in terms of the Jock Blog, these 49ers earned my they’re-gonna-lose-in-Philly respect. Propers.
One touchdown and four Eddy Pineiro field goals should do it, maybe even a game-winner: 49ers 19, Seahawks 17.
Never a doubt.
