This weekend will be the 49ers Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks. The two teams have met each other twice already this year and the 49ers swept them in the regular season. San Francisco has already proven they can play hard against any team, but will this game come down to more than just the physical side of the game? Here is a preview as to how this 49ers Wild Card playoff matchup may be more about the team’s mentality over their physicality.
The 49ers Wild Card Cannot be a Repeat of the NFC Championship
Beating a team three times in one season may seem easy, but the 49ers have experienced this in their recent history. Last season, the 49ers made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game which was played against the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers swept the Rams in the regular season but lost in the Championship game. While many factors led to the San Francisco loss, this makes it much more important for the team to not underestimate Seattle just because they already beat them twice this year.
Knowing that San Francisco has already beaten Seattle twice this season, there is a chance that the 49ers may underestimate them, which can result in a loss. The Seattle Seahawks clinched a spot in the playoffs with their win over the Los Angeles Rams, where they won 19-16 in overtime. That was a game that Seattle should have won by more, which infers that the 49ers should dominate in their game. This does bring on the idea that San Francisco may doubt the strengths of Seattle.
San Francisco has a physical team, and if everyone plays their best, it should be a win for the 49ers. The team has proven that they can beat Seattle, but this game means so much more. They need to keep their mentality strong and the team will require every player to come out fighting during the 49ers Wild Card game.
49ers Wild Card with a Rookie QB
Quarterback Brock Purdy has won in his first five starts, and even beat the Miami Dolphins when he initially had to come in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy has played very well for coming into a team with Super Bowl aspirations, but now the games start meaning a lot more. The mentality of the young quarterback during the 49ers Wild Card playoff match can make or break this team.
As of now, it is looking like it will be a rainy game in Santa Clara, California. Both teams will most likely rely on their run game if that is the case, but in a close game, Purdy will need to step up and make plays. The team has now seen that Purdy can come back from being behind in an NFL game. The 49ers matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders demonstrated to the team that they can trust their young quarterback, but now it is a win-or-go-home scenario.
It is great for the 49ers that they are getting healthy at the right time. With Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle all healthy, Purdy just needs to stay focused and get the ball to one of the team’s many playmakers’ hands.
Why the Mentality During the 49ers Wild Card Game is a Factor
San Francisco has won their last ten games, and now they really cannot afford to lose. Recently, the team has had to see the consequences of underestimating a team. In the week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers almost lost the game. This was the first game that Raiders quarterback, Jarrett Stidham started. It was a much closer game than it should have been, and that was due to the 49ers underestimating the Raiders. The 49ers ended up winning the game in overtime, 37-34.
The rough game against the Raiders can potentially be a good thing for the team, as now they see what happens when they underestimate their opponents. Now they can use that as a motivational factor during the 49ers Wild Card game.
49ers head Coach Kyle Shanahan has already spoken about how the team is mentally preparing for this matchup, explaining that he does not see it as trying to beat the Seahawks for the third time. Shanahan explains he sees this as getting ready to play them one time.
Defensive end Nick Bosa also made statements about playing Seattle a third time for the 49ers Wild Card round, explaining that it is difficult, according to a tweet by Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area writer. Bosa admits that the teams know each other better, making it more difficult to win.
As for Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Caroll understands that the 49ers Wild Card game will be a rough one. The quote from Caroll can be found below.
Pete Carroll: “Unfortunately we’re playing the Niners.” #49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/oxphDvBgHn
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) January 10, 2023
More on Carroll’s statements can be read here. Pete Carroll is no stranger to playing the 49ers in the playoffs, and this particular quote can be part of the mind games, but the 49ers seem to be blocking out the outside noise. It may be the third time these teams face each other, but it is the first playoff game and that is what they will be focusing on.
The 49ers Wild Card Game will be played this Saturday at 4:30 Eastern Time in Santa Clara, California. It will be the first NFL playoff game of the year, and San Francisco will have to make sure they do not underestimate their opponent if they want to move forward in their playoff run.
For More 49ers Content:
Check out my article on the top 49ers players against the Cardinals. Check out this article on where defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will coach in the 2023 season. Also, check out my article on the last 49ers game. Be sure to check out why the 49ers’ close game is not a bad thing.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
