Preview for San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
The unbeaten San Francisco 49ers face their toughest challenge of the 2026 NFL season when they travel to Lumen Field to face defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 on Sunday.
San Francisco have won all four of their opening games, while Seattle are 3-1 and looking to take control of the NFC West with another victory over their divisional rivals.
San Francisco have enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign under head coach Kyle Shanahan, winning four consecutive games to establish themselves among the early Super Bowl contenders.
The 49ers have already beaten NFC West rivals Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, putting themselves in an excellent position to challenge for the division title.
Christian McCaffrey has been central to that success, recording 218 rushing yards and four touchdowns from 50 carries, while also contributing 122 receiving yards.
The running back has been used more selectively than in previous seasons, helping him remain effective without the enormous workload he carried during the 2025 campaign.
George Kittle has also enjoyed an outstanding return from his Achilles injury.
The tight end has caught 16 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns through four games, providing Purdy with a reliable option in the passing game.
Seattle have established themselves as one of the NFL’s strongest defensive teams under head coach Mike Macdonald, and the Seahawks have already demonstrated their ability to frustrate Purdy.
The defending champions defeated San Francisco twice towards the end of last season, winning 13-3 in their final regular-season meeting before recording a 41-6 victory in the playoffs.
Those results will provide Seattle with plenty of confidence as they attempt to end the 49ers’ unbeaten start.
Prediction for San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
This should be one of the most competitive games of Week 5, with San Francisco’s unbeaten record facing a significant test against the defending Super Bowl champions.
The 49ers have been impressive on both sides of the ball, but their injury concerns could become increasingly important against one of the NFL’s strongest defensive units.
Seattle have already demonstrated their ability to frustrate Purdy, holding San Francisco to just nine combined points across their final two meetings last season.
McCaffrey and Kittle should still create opportunities, although the potential absence of Evans and the confirmed loss of Juszczyk could make it harder for Shanahan to establish his usual offensive rhythm.
At the other end, Smith-Njigba presents a significant challenge for San Francisco’s secondary, while Darnold will look to exploit any gaps created by Seattle’s running game.
Home advantage and Seattle’s recent dominance in this rivalry could prove enough to hand San Francisco their first defeat of the season.
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers 20-24 Seattle Seahawks
How to watch San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks kicks off at 9:25pm BST on Sunday, October 11, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
UK viewers can watch the game live through NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which provides coverage of the NFL regular season.
In the United States, the matchup will be broadcast on FOX.
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