San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks players probably don\u2019t need much external motivation to get them going every time the teams meet.<\/p>\n
But if the 49ers need any, there is a lot they can dip in to:<\/p>\n
The memory of Seattle\u2019s 13-3 victory<\/a> over the 49ers at Levi\u2019s Stadium on Jan. 3 \u2014 which gave the Seahawks the NFC West division title, the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs and led to a raucous, cigar-smoke-filled celebration afterward in the visitor\u2019s locker room.The sight of Seattle\u2019s 29-13 Super Bowl victory<\/a> over the Patriots on Feb. 8 that led to another Seahawks cigar-smoke, champagne-filled celebration, but this time in the 49ers\u2019 locker room at Levi’s Stadium.<\/p>\n Seahawks players say they know those things may be on the collective mind of the 49ers when the teams meet Sunday at Lumen Field<\/a>. But they say the intensity of the rivalry and the stakes of the game \u2014 early control of the NFC West \u2014 mean more.<\/p>\n \u201cThey might feel a certain way,” Seahawks safety Julian Love said. \u201cRegardless of what happened last year, we don\u2019t like them, they don\u2019t like us, straight up. They might not like is a little bit more because of what happened at the end of last season. But it is what it is.<\/p>\n “We know it\u2019s going to be a fist fight against a division opponent. That\u2019s all of them. We don\u2019t like anybody in our division, so that\u2019s understood. It doesn\u2019t have to be explained. You can throw fuel to the fire, [but] the fire should be burning pretty high already.”<\/p>\n Indeed, this is a game that seems to have enough on its own.<\/p>\n The healthy-again 49ers are 4-0 and boast a statistical profile backing up the claim that they may be the best team in the NFL. They are averaging 6.8 yards per play (best in the NFL), allowing 4.8 (third-best) and have outscored opponents 122-64 (an NFL-best point differential of plus-58).<\/p>\n The Seahawks are in second place in the West at 3-1. They were upset two weeks ago at Washington and are coming off a sloppy, 30-23 victory over the Chargers<\/a> last Sunday in which they were assessed 150 penalty yards, most in team history.<\/p>\n Another similar effort by the Seahawks could have them running uphill the rest of the season.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s preview the matchup.<\/p>\n 49er at Seahawks\u00a0<\/p>\n When, where:\u00a01:25 p.m. Sunday, Lumen Field.<\/p>\n TV:\u00a0FOX (Channel 13 in Seattle) Kevin Burkhardt (play by play), Tom Brady (analyst), Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi (sidelines).<\/p>\n Most recent game in series:\u00a0As noted above, the\u00a0Seahawks are riding a two-game overall winning streak. But the 49ers have won four consecutive regular-season games at Lumen.<\/p>\n Point spread:\u00a0Seahawks favored by 3.<\/p>\n Key injuries: Every Seahawk listed as a starter on the two-deep is set to play. That includes safety Ty Okada, who is set to make his season debut after sitting out the first four games because of a hamstring injury and defensive lineman Leonard Williams<\/a>, shaking off an ankle injury suffered against the Chargers. Backup running back George Holani (rib, knee) is questionable.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 49ers will be without several key players, notably defensive end Nick Bosa (knee\/calf), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee) and safety Marcus Sigle (ankle).\u00a0<\/p>\n The big story<\/p>\n Can top-ranked Seahawks defense slow top-ranked 49ers offense?<\/p>\n The Seahawks have allowed the fewest yards in the NFL (246.8), and the 49ers have scored the second-most points (30.5 average).<\/p>\n Seahawks defenders were peeved enough after giving up 17 second-half points to the Chargers last week to call a players-only meeting Monday<\/a>. The 49ers, meanwhile, surely spent the offseason coming up with new wrinkles for Seattle after scoring just nine points in the final two games against the Seahawks.<\/p>\n Something will have to give.<\/p>\n Key matchup<\/p>\n New-look 49ers receiving corps vs. Seahawks secondary\u00a0<\/p>\n With his receiving corps again healthy, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is again playing like an MVP candidate.<\/p>\n Four players \u2014 Mike Evans (17), Christian McCaffrey (16), George Kittle (16) and Deebo Samuel (14) \u2014 have combined for 63 of the 49ers\u2019 79 receptions this season.<\/p>\n Of those four, only McCaffrey played in the divisional playoff game.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of what happened last year matters,” said Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV. \u201cIt\u2019s a new year, new season. They\u2019ve got a hell of a group.”<\/p>\n Key players<\/p>\n Seahawks offensive line<\/p>\n