49ers and Seahawks Locked in an Arms Race

Oct 18, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (left) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh after the game at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers and Seahawks split their matchups in 2012; the 49ers beat the Seahawks in San Francisco and the Seahawks returned the favor in Seattle. These two teams are becoming very bitter rivals.

The NFC West Divisional championship came down to the final game of the regular season in order to be decided. Both of these teams went deep into the playoffs last year. They understand how close they are to being a Super Bowl champion. This offseason has shown that neither team is afraid to make a move if they believe it will get them over the hump.

Scot Mccloughan is the former General Manager of the 49ers, and is now with the Seahawks. Paired with GM John Schneider, these guys have teamed up to form a very stacked roster. The 49ers current GM is Trent Baalke, and there has been somewhat of an, “Anything you can do, I can do better” kind of thing going on between these teams.

Recently the Seahawks traded for Percy Harvin. Soon after the Harvin trade came the announcement that the 49ers had acquired Anquan Boldin. Thus, both teams strengthened their wide receiver corps.

Jim Harbaugh against Pete Carroll is a matchup that dates back to their days as college coaches. It almost seems like these teams are waging war against each other this off season. The rivalry has surely carried on into the off season. Both of these teams have had talks with some big name free agents. John Abraham and Cullen Jenkins both visited the 49ers after they spoke with Seahawks.

These two teams are making moves with each other and the Super Bowl in sight. Getting to see the on field rivalry transfer into the offseason is exciting. It excites the fans that are a bit more hardcore because it shows that the team is ready to win now.

Over the past few years, it seems like the Seahawks have drafted players to keep pace with the 49ers. Look at two of their linebacker selections. KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner where both selected to allow the Seahawks to get younger and faster. They needed players to check Vernon Davis.

This year the Seahawks grabbed Percy Harvin, a player that is a matchup problem. Reuuniting Harvin with Darelle Bevelle will be a major coup for the Seahawks. He gave the 49ers fits in the Vikings game in 2012.

The 49ers are the division champs, but it can not be guaranteed that they will be champs in 2013. The last time that two teams consistently made moves to beat each other was during the Cowboys vs 49ers rivalries. The NFC West is a divison that got good very quickly, and the 49ers and Seahawks will definitely be a great matchup.