So, just how much do the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks hate each other?
Well, “hate” is such a strong word.
“Strongly dislike,” “bitter enemies,” um… “want to push the other one off the top of the stadium.” Would all of those be better descriptions?
There were people in Seattle that burned their beloved Richard Sherman jerseys when the cornerback crossed lines and went to their NFC West rival. Ken Norton Jr. was once a valued member of the 49ers, a part of the Niners’ last Super Bowl team in the 1994 season – some 49ers fans didn’t want to acknowledge that, when Norton served recently as Seattle coach Pete Carroll’s defensive coordinator with the Seahawks.
To say the rivalry is a little intense is like saying the sun is a bit hot.
They renew it tonight, maybe fittingly on Thanksgiving, on NBC, roughly a 7:20 p.m. kickoff. The 49ers lead the NFC West with a 7-3 record, finally breaking that three-game losing skid last Sunday with a home win over Tampa Bay. Seattle stumbled at the Los Angeles Rams and dropped its fourth game of the season – they’re 6-4, a game behind the Niners in the NFC West.
Both teams have difficult stretches coming up. San Francisco visits Philadelphia next Sunday, then hosts Seattle, and the Seahawks go to Dallas, then obviously go to see the Niners.
Here’s the preview of tonight’s game by the Associated Press: 49ers can take control of NFC West with a Thanksgiving night win over Seahawks.
San Francisco has won three straight in the series, including last year’s playoff game.
By the end of the game tonight, of course, three games will already be in the books: Green Bay and Detroit have played the first game of the day on Thanksgiving; Washington and Dallas are to play in the afternoon game, and then San Fran-Seattle.
Here’s the rest of the NFL’s week 12 schedule (wow, it’s already WEEK 12?!!), with kickoff times, Central Standard time, and a preview of each game alongside, followed by our TFB staff picks.
Friday’s game
Miami (7-3) at New York Jets (4-6), 2 p.m., Amazon Prime (Dolphins look to cushion their AFC East lead when they face the division-rival Jets on Friday)
Sunday’s games
New Orleans (5-5) at Atlanta (4-6), noon, FOX (Falcons’ Smith reinstates Ridder as starting QB for key NFC South game against Saints)
Pittsburgh (6-4) at Cincinnati (5-5), noon, CBS (Steelers look to continue playoff push against Burrow-less Bengals)
Carolina (1-9) at Tennessee (3-7), noon, FOX (Titans look to shake off issues in clash vs. lowly Panthers)
Tampa Bay (4-6) at Indianapolis (5-5), noon, CBS (Struggling Buccaneers feel sense of urgency to pull out of tailspin and salvage season)
New England (2-8) at New York Giants 3-8), noon, FOX (Patriots QB Mac Jones on whether he will start against the Giants: ‘Hope so’)
Jacksonville (7-3) at Houston (6-4), noon, CBS (Texans prepare for Jaguars after extending win streak to 3 games with victory over Cards)
Cleveland (7-3) at Denver (5-5), 3:05 p.m., FOX (Surging Broncos face Browns without suspended safety Kareem Jackson)
Los Angeles Rams (4-6) at Arizona (2-9), 3:05 p.m., FOX (Rams try to continue their road dominance of NFC West-rival Cardinals)
Kansas City (7-3) at Las Vegas (5-6), 3:25 p.m., CBS (Chiefs visit Las Vegas striving for new streak)
Buffalo (6-5) at Philadelphia (9-1), 3:25 p.m., CBS (Eagles looking for more from A.J. Brown in clash vs. Bills)
Baltimore (8-3) at Los Angeles Chargers(4-6), 7:20 p.m., NBC (Ravens cruising, out to add to Chargers’ bruising)
Monday’s game
Chicago (3-8) at Minnesota (6-5), 7:15 p.m., ABC (Bears, Fields aim for more solid play in closing minutes vs. Vikings)
Staff picks
As you may – or may not, actually, if you’re new to the site – know, some of our TFB staff try to pick the outcomes of every single freaking NFL game each week. We also attempt to pick the outcomes of 15 (or so) college games each week, too, but that’s a different story, for a different article.
At any rate, those trying to do so at their own peril are myself, my wife and correspondent Jenna Lucas, photographer Alex Nabor, my son and videographer Jacob Lucas, correspondent Mitchell Molandes, his wife and also a correspondent for us, Shelby Thompson Molandes, associate editor Clayton Fletcher, and my daughter Ashtyn, a college student who loves to do this – and she loves to do it because she’s good at it. You can see the standings and you’ll know why.
We’ll talk about the college standings over there, but Ashtyn actually leads in BOTH categories.
For the purpose of the NFL, let’s stick to that.
She went 10-4 last week, and has an overall record of 104-60. Alex is second, with an overall record of 100-64. Jacob and myself are tied for third, each with records of 98-66. Fletch is fourth, all by his lonesome, with a record of 96-68. Mitchell and Jenna are tied for fifth (94-70 each), and Shelby is in the back (92-70).
Green Bay at Detroit (Thursday): The pick: For the record, even though it’s waaaaay underway as this is being written, we had all picked Detroit in the early Thanksgiving game.
Washington at Dallas (Thursday): They don’t play on Thanksgiving every year; Dallas just does. It only seems like this matchup is every year. The pick: unanimous (8-0), in favor of the Cowboys. Did you know Sam Howell leads the NFL in passing yardage?
San Francisco at Seattle (Thursday): The 49ers already lead the NFC West by a game over the Seahawks and they’re trying to extend that lead to two games with a win tonight in what is sure to be an intense, rough game. If you believe Seattle coach Pete Carroll (and I normally don’t; I call him Slippery Pete), quarterback Geno Smith is banged up. The pick: 7-1 in favor of San Fran.
Miami at New York Jets (Friday): Nobody really buys that the Jets are going to do this, at least on this panel, which probably means Jets by 30. The pick: Miami, unanimously (8-0).
New Orleans at Atlanta: Desmond Ridder has been put back in as the starter for the Falcons. Do you get the feeling there’s a bit of uncertainty at quarterback within the Atlanta coaching staff? The pick: 6-2 in favor of the Saints, with myself and Alex taking the home-team Falcons, and everyone else on the Saints.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: When Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow went down, so did the Bengals’ hopes of winning the AFC North. The pick: And so did the Bengals’ hopes of winning this pick, according to our staff (unanimous 8-0 Steelers).
Carolina at Tennessee: Bryce Young was fantastic, phenomenal, at Alabama, and might one day be great at Carolina. But he doesn’t have a cast around him right now, and that’s going to be up to the franchise to put a great cast around him. Can Tennessee take advantage of that on Sunday? Debatable. The pick: Fletch took Carolina, and everyone else took the Titans. Officially, 7-1 in favor of the Titans.
Tampa Bay at Indianapolis: This one just feels like one of those “who’s at home” picks to the panel, apparently. The pick: The Colts, 7-1, with Fletcher taking the visiting Bucs.
New England at New York Giants: I almost feel bad for the people who have to get this one as their regional game. Talk about bowling-shoe ugly, to quote Jim Ross. The pick: this one is an even split, four of us on each side (4-4).
Jacksonville at Houston: Who in the world (outside of the Houston locker room) would’ve thought the Texans would compete for the AFC South title THIS YEAR? Not me, I’ll tell you that. And the panel favors them in this game, 5-3. The pick: Jenna, Shelby and Ashtyn took J’ville.
Cleveland at Denver: I feel guilty that I left Denver for dead earlier this season. Not too guilty, but moderately guilty, we’ll call it. I’ll make up for that by picking them here. Myself and Fletcher outright picked them to win this game. If the defense gets to quarterback Russell Wilson, though, it’s all over and the Browns win. The pick: Cleveland 6-2, with me and Fletch in the minority.
L.A. Rams at Arizona: Now that Kyler Murray is back in the lineup as the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, I expect them to win a few games. This might be one of those. The rest of the panel really didn’t agree (only Jacob did). The pick: 6-2 Rams.
Kansas City at Las Vegas: The pick, getting down to the nitty-gritty: Unanimous (8-0) in favor of the Chiefs.
Buffalo at Philadelphia: Tough stretch for the Eagles: at Kansas City, Buffalo at home, San Fran at home. Yuck. The pick: I took Philadelphia, as did the bulk of the panel. I noticed Alex did take the Bills, so the pick is 7-1 Eagles.
Baltimore at L.A. Chargers: I have a hunch that next season, someone else will be coaching the Chargers. I’m not trying to count their chickens before they hatch, but coach Brandon Staley might better hatch some – that is, win a few games – if he wants to keep his job. Might better start right here. The pick: I’m the only one who picked the Chargers to win here.
Chicago at Minnesota (Monday): Can the Vikings keep on winning without Kirk Cousins, lost for the season with a torn Achilles? Maybe. Will this be an ugly game? Probably. The pick, will it be unanimously Chicago? NO WAY. Unanimously Minnesota (8-0).
