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The decision to part with Richard Sherman 鈥?along with several other impact veterans 鈥?was supposed to be part of the cumulative reason the Seattle Seahawks would finally take a step back. This was going to be the rebuild season Germain Ifedi Jersey , even if no one with the Seahawks ever wanted to use that word.Sherman will see his former team up close Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers face the Seahawks. He will find a Seattle team that's not backsliding. Instead, Seattle (6-5) has won two straight and has a direct path to an NFC playoff berth in a season no one really expected the Seahawks to be in the conversation at the beginning of December.The players who stepped in for the likes of Sherman and other veterans who departed after last season have brought a youthful exuberance. That has created a fun environment in Seattle only amplified by the Seahawks' success."This game is too crazy to not have fun and it's definitely a point of emphasis for me, just for the guys that came in and were stepping into a lot of key positions, to not worry about who they were replacing or who you were coming behind, " Seattle star linebacker Bobby Wagner said, "but just to have the fun you've been having all your life and everything else will figure out itself."Fun has come around sparingly in San Francisco this season. The 49ers (2-9) were supposed to be in Seattle's position of competing for a playoff spot. But injuries 鈥?namely the loss of QB Jimmy Garoppolo 鈥?derailed those hopes early in the season. They looked great in thumping Oakland on Nov. 1, only to turn around and drop their next two against the weak Giants and Buccaneers."I do think we're going through this for a reason. I do think it can make us better," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "A lot of guys have gotten to play a lot that normally wouldn't be able to play, and I hope that helps us find some things out about people this year and helps us build this team better next year."Welcoming Sherman back to Seattle starts a stretch of four of the final five games at home for the Seahawks. They've been a notoriously good team in the final month of the calendar, and getting to play at home is adding to the belief this season could end in an unexpected playoff berth.Here's what else to watch as the Seahawks and 49ers meet for the first of two games in 14 days:RISING RUSSELLSeattle QB Russell Wilson is coming off his best performance of the season against Carolina. With Seattle's running game shut down by the Panthers, Wilson threw for a season-high 339 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 30-27 win David Moore Jersey , showing that Seattle's offense can function just fine when its ground game is stymied. The Seahawks have been the best run team in the NFL for most of the season, but Wilson's performance was a reminder he can be an elite passer when needed.MAN IN THE MIDDLEThe 49ers handed Fred Warner big responsibility when they inserted him at middle linebacker and made him the defensive play caller as a rookie. Warner's role will only get bigger after San Francisco released second-year linebacker Reuben Foster following his arrest last weekend on domestic violence charges. Warner has been one of the bright spots with his ability to get the defense in the right calls and thrive against both the run and pass. He will have a tough test this week against Wilson."He's a mobile quarterback, so being able to escape the pocket and make big plays with his legs, that's what he's known for," Warner said. "We have to be aware of that."TURNOVER TIMESeattle got its first turnover in three-plus games last week when Bradley McDougald made an acrobatic end zone interception of Cam Newton. The Seahawks also forced five fumbles against the Panthers, but failed to recover any. It was a long drought that saw Seattle drop to 11th in the league with 17 turnovers forced.That's nothing compared to the 49ers. San Francisco is last in the NFL with just five takeaways. The Niners have just two interceptions and haven't forced a turnover in the last three games.HOUSE OF HORRORSPlaying in Seattle has led only to disappointment for the 49ers in recent years. The Niners have lost their last seven trips, including the 2013 NFC title game, getting outscored by more than 15 points per game. San Francisco's last win here came in 2011 with Alex Smith at quarterback. Since then, Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert and Brian Hoyer have combined for 10 turnovers, 16 sacks http://www.seahawkslockerroom.com/authentic-tyler-lockett-jersey , three TD passes and a 61.4 passer rating in Seattle.First-year QB Nick Mullens will try to reverse that trend and bounce back from two rough starts following a sterling debut. Mullens has thrown four interceptions the past two games in losses to the Giants and Tampa Bay and faces a much tougher defense this week. K.J. Wright Is Back; But Several Seahawks Starters Questionable For Sunday’s Game vs ChiefsInjury updates from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Tedric Thompson out, 2 more Seahawks DBs questionable for KC | The News TribuneFree safety Tedric Thompson is out. Fellow starting defensive backs Shaquill Griffin and Bradley McDougald are questionable, as are the right side of the offensive line and other starters. Sunday night’s task against the soaring Chiefs is getting even tougher.Seahawks have the perfect offense to beat the Chiefs. But......the big question for the Seahawks this week is if their defense can hold up. If the version that faced the Vikings plays, the answer is a definite yes.Sunday Night Football: Seahawks host Chiefs as underdogsTied for the AFC West lead, the Chiefs are 2.5-point road favorites on the NFL odds against the Seahawks with a 54.5-point total in their Sunday Night Football matchup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.Keys to the Game: Can the Seahawks slow down Patrick Mahomes at all? Can the Seattle offense keep up? | The Seattle TimesSeattle's defense will have a big challenge in slowing down Mahomes, who leads the NFL with 45 touchdown passe --- 11 more than anyone else in the league.Baldwin still showing up for Seahawks in injury-filled season | Q13 FOX NewsDoug Baldwin knows he's fortunate to have spent eight years in the NFL and to have established himself as one of the better players on several elite teams. He also knows he's fortunate to have gotten this far without having a season defined by obvious injuries affecting his play — until this year.Three Key Matchups: Seahawks vs ChiefsTaking a look at three matchups that could make the difference in Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Seahawks Host 2018 CenturyLink High School Athletes of the WeekThe Seahawks, CenturyLink, and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM partnered to host this year’s standout student-athletes for a leadership summitCliff Avril Hosts Holiday Shopping Surprise With Jacob Martin And Poona FordAlongside Jacob Martin and Poona Ford, Cliff Avril surprised unsuspecting shoppers at Target and Fred Meyer, covering their shopping expenses and spreading holiday cheer.Rams RB Todd Gurley game-time decision vs. Cards - NFL.comLos Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is a game-time decision ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Sean McVay told reporters.Matt Barkley signs 2-year contract extension with Bills - NFL.comSigned off of his couch by the Bills earlier this season http://www.seahawkslockerroom.com/authentic-rashaad-penny-jersey , Matt Barkley can now move the rest of his furniture to Orchard Park. Buffalo handed Barkley a two-year contract extension through 2020 on Friday.Falcons' Julio Jones 'game-time decision' vs. Panthers - NFL.comJulio Jones' availability for Sunday is up in the air. Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters that the wide receiver will be a game-time decision against the Panthers.Frank Gore intends to return for 15th NFL season - NFL.comFrank Gore's season might be over, but his career is not. The Dolphins running back will not need surgery on his injured foot and intends to play a 15th season in 2019.Injuries: Lamar Miller 'has a chance to play' vs. Eagles - NFL.comTexans running back Lamar Miller (ankle) has a chance to play Sunday against the Eagles. Miller was limited in practice the past two days. Plus, other injuries we're tracking on Friday.Sean Payton wants to increase game-day rosters - NFL.comNew Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton recently advocated for the 46-man roster on game day to increase. The Saints had two offensive lineman exit with injuries in last week's Week 15 matchup.Leonard Fournette admits he 'could be in better shape' - NFL.comA hamstring sidelined Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette for six weeks. Ahead of Sunday's Week 16 game, Fournette indicated he could be in better shape at this point in the 2018 season.Washington’s Montae Nicholson had previously unreported DUI – ProFootballTalkWashington safety Montae Nicholson, who was arrested in Virginia this week for assault and battery and public intoxication, had a previously unreported drunk driving arrest. FOX 5 in D.C. reports that Nicholson was arrested for driving under the influence in Pennsylvania in 2017.Seahawks won’t back off if they can’t clinch with a win on Sunday night – ProFootballTalkThe Seahawks will be playing to win on Sunday night, no matter what. As if there was ever any doubt about that. A reporter asked coach Pete Carroll on Friday whether the Seahawks would rest starters on Sunday night against the Chiefs if other results earlier in the day would prevent Seattle from ...Geoff Swaim headed to IR – ProFootballTalkThe Cowboys apparently have given up on Geoff Swaim returning this season. The team is expected to place its starting tight end on injured reserve Saturday, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Running back Darius Jackson will get the call-up from the practice squad.