Seattle Seahawks might get the gift of 49ers misfortune in Week 12

The Seattle Seahawks might have completely turned around their season in Week 11. The team traveled to San Francisco to play the 49ers, a team they had not defeated since December 2021, and Seattle got the victory on a last-minute touchdown. If Seattle was still trying to believe in itself under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, the final drive and victory might have done the trick.

The 49ers, though, cannot be happy with where they are currently. The team is 5-5 but made the Super Bowl in 2023. They also made the championship game in 2020 as well. San Francisco was a Super Bowl favorite entering this year, but currently, those hopes seem to be completely dashed. The 49ers have struggled with injuries all year and Week 12 will be no different.

In fact, it might be worse for Seattle's southern neighbor. San Francisco has to play the Green Bay Packers - themselves battling for a playoff spot - at Lambeau Field. The Packers might be 7-3, but they sit in third place in the NFC North. They need a win as much as the 5-5 49ers do.

The problem for San Francisco is they will be without two extremely important players. Quarterback Brock Purdy is out with soreness in his throwing shoulder, something he has dealt with before and something that has to worry the 49ers long-term. Elite edge rusher Nick Bosa is also out with left hip and oblique injuries. Let tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury.

The 49ers will start Brandon Allen at quarterback. He has yet to throw a pass in a 49ers uniform and has played in only 16 games in his five seasons in the NFL. Of course, that does not mean San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan will not find a way to use Allen to his best abilities and make Purdy look like a product of the system if Allen performs well. In other words, San Francisco could still be a threat to beat the Packers.

Bosa could almost be the bigger loss as his absence might give more time for Packers quarterback Jordan Love to throw. The same happened for Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in the second half of Seattle's Week 11 victory.

The truth is that no matter if Seattle is playing San Francisco directly or not, the Seahawks need the 49ers (and every other NFC West team) to lose any chance they get for the rest of the season. If San Francisco loses to Green Bay in Week 12 the 49ers would fall to 5-6. A 49ers loss is ultimately a Seahawks win.