San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Game Day Open Thread

The San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle today for a date with Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks for a game that doesn’t quite have the shine and luster it once had.

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It wasn’t all that long ago when the 49ers vs. Seahawks was one of the NFL’s marquee matchups. Both had high flying offenses, solid defenses, and were winning a lot of games. But that was then and this is now.

Both teams are scuffling through 2015, neither able to find or recapture the magic they once had. Seattle sits at 4-5 and the 49ers are 3-6 and both are on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in. Of the two, Seattle has the more realistic shot at the postseason, but they still have quite a hill to climb to get there. San Francisco’s shot at the playoffs pretty well evaporated weeks ago.

Of course, the big news this week is that the 49ers appear to be readying for life without Colin Kaepernick. San Francisco pulled a surprise move and put Kaepernick on the IR, ending his season and very likely ending his time in the Bay Area.

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It was news that caught a lot of people off guard but the divorce was one that has been building for some time. Putting Kaepernick on the IR only seemed to make that divorce official. Rather than trying to showcase Kaepernick to drum up a little interest on the trade market, it seems that the 49ers are content just to cut him prior to the April 1st deadline in which his $16 million dollar salary becomes guaranteed.

Whatever the case may be, Blaine Gabbert will be starting against Seattle today, with Dylan Thompson being signed to the active roster to take Kaepernick’s place. Gabbert had a surprisingly solid game against the Falcons two weeks ago. But can he continue that surprisingly effective play against the Seahawks?

The 49ers will also be without Carlos Hyde, still inactive due to injury, but the Seahawks will be without Marshawn Lynch. The 49er offense should get a boost with the return of Anquan Boldin though.

The 49ers have struggled to protect their quarterbacks as well as open things up in the run game. They’re averaging a league low 14 points per game which is a bad omen coming into a game against the second stingiest team in terms of points allowed per game.

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Will the 49ers be able to find a way to come together to win a game against one of their biggest rivals? Or will the Seahawks take out their frustrations on a team that’s been bad on both sides of the ball all season long?

There are plenty of intriguing storylines and food for thought heading into the game. This is your place to discuss the game and talk all things 49ers. Let’s hear what you think. So step on up and sound off!