NFL Week 14: Showdown at Hunters Point

Week 13 concluded with the Seahawks 34-7 Monday night pummeling of the Saints at CenturyLink Field. A message was broadcast to the rest of the National Football League: Seattle is a team to fear.

Now the action shifts to the sunny Bay Area where the 49ers and Seahawks will renew their heated rivalry. Top spot of the NFC West is not at stake because Seattle at 11-1 has a comfortable cushion on 8-4 San Francisco, not to mention one head-to-head victory already tallied, the 29-3 Week 2 Sunday night drubbing the '9ers received at CenturyLink

San Francisco's defense looked in fine form against St. Louis last Sunday, completely shutting down rookie standout running back Zac Stacy. Kellen Clemens was made totally ineffectual at quarterback.

Last year the 49ers ran well out of the pistol formation in the second half; Gore tore off long gains right up the gut of the Seahawks defense. San Francisco held on to win. Alex Smith was still the quarterback then. Kaepernick has never beat the Seahawks as a starter.

This should be a tough game. San Francisco's pass rushers and defensive backs are of higher quality than what Russell Wilson saw from New Orleans; those touch passes he connected on to Doug Baldwin and Zach Miller will be difficult to repeat against the 49ers. Wilson is going to have to run more out of the shotgun.

I think Oakland native Marshawn Lynch has a big game coming home to the December sunshine of the Bay Area. I think Kaepernick continues to underperfom. Take Seattle.