The NFL’s Mr. Irrelevant made a name for himself in Week 14 as Brock Purdy accounted for three 49ers touchdowns in San Francisco’s 35-7 drubbing of Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. With the win, the Niners improved to 9-4 overall and 8-5 against the spread as they covered 3.5 points with ease.

Two Geno Smith interceptions proved costly in the Seahawks 30-24 loss to the visiting Panthers Sunday afternoon in Seattle. Pete Carroll’s squad has now lost 3 of its last four to fall to 7-6 overall and 6-7 ATS after failing to cover as 4-point home favorites.

Line Movement

The 49ers opened as 1.5-point road favorites, but bookmakers at the best online sportsbooks we follow have bumped the line up to as high as San Francisco -4. The Seahawks moneyline odds are anywhere between +144 and +165. The over-under point total opened at 41.5, but ticked up to a consensus total of 43.5. The OVER has hit in four of the Seahawks past five contests and five of the 49ers past seven games.

Even after losing Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to injury, the 49ers remain a top-four favorite to win Super Bowl 57 at 7-to-1 odds.

49ers News and Notes

• San Francisco beat the Seahawks 27-7 back in Week 2 in the game where Trey Lance was lost for the season, Jimmy Garoppolo came off the bench and Christian McCaffrey was still a Carolina Panther.
• The Niners defense forced three turnovers that day and held Seattle to just one red zone trip.
•  Deebo Samuel’s (high) ankle injury will likely place him on the shelf for – at least – the rest of the regular season 
• With Jeff Wilson now in Miami, Samuel is the team’s second-leading rusher and second-leader receiver.
• The NFL may need to look into rebranding the term “Mr. Irrelevant” as Brock Purdy, the 262^nd and last player select in the 2022 NFL Draft, has started his career 2-0 and looked comfortable in his new role.
• Against the Dolphins and Buccaneers, he completed 70.6% of his passes with four touchdowns, one interception and one rushing touchdown.
• During their active six-game win streak, the 49ers have won by an average margin of 18 points per game.
• Let’s hand out some flowers to the 49ers defense:
  • Ranked 1^st in yards allowed per game
  • Ranked 1^st rush yards allowed per game
  • Ranked 1^st in points allowed per game (8.0 PAPG over their past three)
  • Ranked 1^st in red zone trips allowed per game
  • Ranked 1^st in turnovers margin over their past 3 games (+2.3)
• Christian McCaffrey has played in about 50% of all 49ers games this season, but already accounts for better than 15% of their offensive production.
• The Seahawks allow the second-most rushing yards per game this season and most (225.0) over the past three weeks.
• The Panthers just rushed for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

  Seahawks News and Notes

• Since their 4-game winning streak came to an end, Seattle is 1-3 over their past four with an average margin of loss of 5.6 points.
• Geno Smith’s two turnovers were converted into 10 points by the Panthers Sunday. In a game in which Seattle lost by 6 and were favored by 3.5 at some outlets, that’s the difference between a ML and ATS win.
• Pete Carroll said after the loss to the Panthers that both running backs, Ken Walker and DeeJay Dallas, are questionable for Thursday night’s game against the 49ers.
• Walker accounts for 45% of the Seahawks rush production and 75% of their rushing touchdowns.
  
  
• Regardless of if either can play, I have some bad news for an already banged up Seahawks backfield.
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• Seattle’s offense ranks dead last in time of possession and it’s actually dipped lower over the past three weeks.
  • • Opposing offenses are converting 45% of their third downs to extend drives.
    • Over the past three weeks, 53% of opponents third down conversions have come via the rush. McCaffrey could be in line for a monster game.
      
      

• Betting Pick: 49ers -3.5, OVER 43.5

  After last Thursday’s soul-crushing cover and ML upset win by Baker Mayfield and the Rams, I’m slightly hesitant to go in uber confident on the short week. However, I believe San Francisco’s defense will cause headaches for Geno Smith and if Walker and Dallas are inactive, my bet is the 49ers dare Pete Carroll to beat them with Travis Homer as they drop back to cover D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Marquise Goodwin.