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The Seattle Seahawks won a wild one over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, claiming the 49ers undefeated record and moving to within a half game of their lead in the NFC West. It marked the first time since 2014 that the Seahawks were an underdog against the 49ers, and they covered the spread for a fifth straight game in such situations.
The Seahawks win over the 49ers as an underdog brought up an interesting statistic about the Russell Wilson-led squad. In nine games since Wilson took over as starting quarterback, the Seahawks are unbeaten against the spread when an underdog against one of their NFC West rivals.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, the Seahawks are now 9-0 ATS (4-4-1 SU) as an underdog against NFC West teams since Russell Wilson became the starting QB in 2012.
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkesESPN) November 12, 2019
I took a look back and came up with the list of games. The 49ers show up four times, the Rams three times, and the Cardinals twice.
November 11, 2019: @ 49ers (+6.5) 27-24 win
November 11, 2018: @ Rams (+9.5) 36-31 loss
October 7, 2018: vs. Rams (+7.5) 33-31 loss
October 8, 2017: @ Rams (+2.5) 16-10 win
October 23, 2016: @ Cardinals (+1.5) 6-6 tie
January 3, 2016: @ Cardinals (+6) 36-6 win
November 27, 2014: @ 49ers (+1) 19-3 win
December 8, 2013: @ 49ers (+2.5) 19-17 loss
October 18, 2012: @ 49ers (+7.5) 13-6 loss
Wilson has chugged along as the best quarterback in the division for a while now. He has never won the league’s MVP award, and this year he finds himself in a stiff competition with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
While Jackson has had plenty of signature moments in a magical 2019 campaign, Wilson has made the most of his situation in Seattle. Jadeveon Clowney was a big reason for the Seahawks win on Monday, but Wilson once again made some big late-game plays to help get the W. It is no surprise that as of Tuesday morning, Wilson and Jackson are even in the DraftKings Sportsbook MVP odds at +225.
The Seahawks have seen the 49ers and Rams both offer challenges atop the NFC West, but year-in and year-out they remain a tough out in the division. They haven’t won the division since 2016, but as long as Wilson remains in his prime, they will regularly contend for the NFC West crown.