Young Guns

The two opponents in this Sundays NFC Title match between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers know each other well.  Each competes in the NFC Western Division.  They split the two games they played against one another during the season, with each winning on their home field.  Last season the 49ers were division champs, this season it was the Seahawks.  And even their coaches have a long history and some “bad blood” between them dating back to their college coaching days.

However it is the two quarterbacks who will have the greater impact on who wins, walks away with the NFC Crown and gets the opportunity to play for the Lombardi Trophy.  Each Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick are a part of a new wave of young quarterbacks infiltrating the league.  Each can beat you with their arm but both are more likely to beat you with their legs. 

Wilson, a third round draft pick in 2012, became the Seahawk starter in his very first game.  He is 24 – 8 in his two years of running the offense.  At home, in CenturyLink Field, he has only lost one time.  His ability to extend plays with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield on his targets has been the major key to his success.  Watching him play is reminiscent of Fran Tarkington scrambling around during the 60’s and 70’s.   

Kaepernick has been with the niners since 2011.  He became the starter last season after an injury sidelined Alex Smith and he never relinquished the job.  He led the team to the Super Bowl where their season ended on the short end of the 34 -31 score.  He has the ability to take off and run when pass plays break down as well as on designated plays.  In this year’s Wildcard victory over the Packers he ran wild gaining 98 yards on only 7 attempts. 

There is little that either team does not know about the other.  And with two young and talented quarterbacks running the offense the game might just come down to the team that played the best defense …