NFL

3 things to watch for in 49ers-Seahawks: Kyle Shanahan vs. Mike MacDonald is the main event

October 8, 2026

The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will square off in a high-stakes NFC West showdown, with both teams bringing strong records into the matchup. The 49ers, undefeated at 4-0, face off against the Seahawks, who sit at 3-1.

The Seahawks have dominated recent meetings, winning two of the last three encounters, including the season finale at Levi’s Stadium and a divisional-round victory over the Patriots. The 49ers will need to overcome Seattle’s top-ranked pass rush, which ranks first in pass rush win rate and has a low blitz rate, forcing the offense to rely on quick, precise throws.

Brock Purdy’s ability to keep the ball in the hands of standout receivers like Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans will be critical, as Seattle’s defense struggles most on throws under 2.5 seconds and short passes. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ offense will face a tough test against Mike MacDonald’s defense, which has tightened its hold on Brock Purdy in recent meetings, holding him to just the 5th-percentile EPA/dropback in the last two games.

The 49ers have excelled against base defenses but will need to adapt to Seattle’s aggressive schemes, particularly in nickel and light-box formations, where they’ve shown league-leading efficiency but have yet to score a touchdown in their last eight quarters against the Seahawks.