NFC West rivals San Francisco 49ers will meet defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Fans can watch online the 49ers vs. Seahawks game via live stream for free.
This matchup has been the most intense rivalry in the NFL this season. According to an Associated Press report, the 49ers will try to score a sixth consecutive home victory over the Seahawks, and Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson thinks it will be a Thanksgiving game worth watching.
"Do you hype that up? Do you downgrade it? I don't know," Wilson said. "It's going to kind of elevate the game in general, and it's the 49ers. It's one of those things you're gonna get pumped up for."
According to Anthony Riccobono of International Business Times, the outcome of this game will affect both teams' standings in the NFC West. Since the Arizona Cardinals have a 9-2 record this season, both the Seahawks and 49ers need a wildcard berth to enter the postseason.
"Seattle might have the better chance of winning the division, considering they beat Arizona on Sunday and have one more matchup with the Cardinals," Riccobono wrote. "However, it won't be easy for the Seahawks to get the 11 wins that might be required to make the playoffs, since they entered Week 12 with the most difficult remaining schedule."
As for San Francisco, Riccobono notes that the 49ers are at a disadvantage because they already lost to the Cardinals. However, they are favored to win the game against the Seahawks on Thanksgiving.
Due to the fact that both teams have a 7-4 record, 49ers safety Antoine Bethea thinks this game will be a very competitive one, given that a wildcard spot is on the line.
"We feel like we are in the playoffs," Bethea said. "Win at all costs."
For San Francisco defensive end Aldon Smith, winning at all costs involved popping his dislocated finger back into place during a 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins in Week 12. According to the Associated Press, San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh thought it was "a good battle scar to have" going into Thursday's game against the Seahawks.
"Make a deposit into the toughness account," Harbaugh added. "We'll be able to make withdrawals from that later down the road. We want to keep making those deposits."
As for the Seahawks, part of their game strategy will involve containing 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who tied a club record by throwing a touchdown pass in his 18th straight game Sunday. According to the Associated Press, he hasn't rushed for more than 64 yards in a game this season.
The Seahawks will also be meeting the 49ers at Levi's Stadium for the first time; last season, both teams met at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Wilson thinks they're going to face a tough Bay Area crowd at the new venue.
"We're going to have to play great football," Wilson said. "Play lights out, that's it."
The matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers will be broadcast on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. Viewers can live stream the game online via NBC Sports Live Extra, and on NFL Game Rewind after the game.
