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Seahawks vs. 49ers: 3 things you need to know

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty

Thursday night's game features two NFC West heavyweights both fighting to stay in the playoff race, as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks.

Both teams sport identical 7-4 records and are chasing the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals for top spot in the division. The Seahawks-49ers rivalry has emerged as one of the league's best over the last few years and the final game of the Thanksgiving trio ought to be one of the best of the season.

Here's what you need to know:

Running game could dictate the result

Both the 49ers and Seahawks operate run-oriented offenses and the ground game has been imperative to both team's success this season.

Marshawn Lynch has been the Seahawks' offensive MVP to date, running behind an offensive line that has been depleted by injuries and regression alike. Lynch's powerful style of running could overmatch a 49ers defense that is without star inside linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

San Francisco has used a two-pronged approach to running the ball, with Frank Gore as the primary back. Gore's 684 rushing yards rank 10th in the league this season, signaling that reports of his demise were premature. Carlos Hyde's bruising style of play is perfectly suited for the 49ers offense and could be featured heavily near the goal line.

Stopping the run will be the key to the game. Seattle is without run-stopping specialist Brandon Mebane due to injury, while San Francisco's Glenn Dorsey has yet to recover from injury. Whichever team has a better day running the football likely will win the game.

Containing the quarterback is vital

Quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson are built differently but share many traits, including a nearly unparalleled ability to escape the pocket.

Kaepernick has torched the Seahawks on the ground in years past, most notably during last season's NFC Championship Game, running for 130 yards on 11 carries. The Seahawks will likely need to use outside linebacker Bruce Irvin to spy on Kaepernick to ensure he doesn't pick up big chunks of yardage.

Through 11 games, Wilson has already rushed for a career-best 644 yards on an outstanding 7.7 yards per carry. It can be argued strongly that Wilson has been more effective rushing the ball than passing it.

49ers star outside linebacker Aldon Smith has been excellent in his return from suspension and has given Wilson trouble before when scrambling, while rookie Aaron Lynch has excelled against the run this year. With both teams' passing games not operating at full strength, stopping quarterback runs may be vital.

Who will the 49ers deploy against Richard Sherman?

By now, most fans are aware of Richard Sherman's well-documented history with the 49ers and their receivers. It'll be interesting to see whether the 49ers opt to use Michael Crabtree or Anquan Boldin against the All-Pro cornerback.

Last season, in a 29-3 victory in Week 2, Sherman completely shut down Boldin. Then, in last season's NFC Championship Game, Sherman neutralized Michael Crabtree, coming up with a pass deflection that sealed the victory for the Seahawks.

Although Sherman hasn't been as dominant as he was last season, he can still isolate one side of the field better than anyone. Pro Football Focus rates Sherman as the second-best corner in coverage and he's still a force to be reckoned with. At 6-foot-3, he has the size, speed and instincts to take away the 49ers top targets and San Francisco will have to be creative in its playcalling.

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