Seahawks and 49ers clash with NFC’s top seed on the line

The final weekend of the regular season delivers a heavyweight matchup as the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) travel to San Francisco (12-4) with the NFC No 1 seed and a first-round bye at stake. Both teams arrive on six-game winning streaks. A loss would cost the loser a bye and force a wildcard road trip, raising the stakes for a tense Saturday night showdown in the Bay Area.

Seattle’s case is simple: lean on a defence that has conceded 18.1 points per game (second-fewest in the NFL) and recorded 44 sacks (eighth overall). The Seahawks are advised to keep their side intact and let a fierce pass rush challenge Brock Purdy, who could also be without left tackle Trent Williams after a hamstring injury.

On offence the Seahawks should keep things straightforward and target Jaxson Smith-Njigba, the piece most likely to produce points. The 49ers have allowed only six interceptions all season, even though Sam Darnold leads the league with 20. The 49ers’ must-do is stop the run. Seattle have thrived through Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, and San Francisco’s run defence was the key in a 17-13 win in the season opener, when Charbonnet and Walker were held to limited gains.

The 49ers’ pass rush has been weak without Nick Bosa, producing a league-worst 18 sacks, so shutting down the ground game is vital.

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