An acquaintance who once went to overboard annoying lengths with their Seahawks fandom said it best yesterday: “I’m just not into football anymore. I’m over it.”

This was someone who routinely blasted me during 49ers games, posted on my Facebook after they lost the 2013 NFC Championship Game and mocked me with a post saying “We gonna wiiiiiiin” during the 49ers Thanksgiving debacle. That final post was the last straw and I unfriended them until about a week ago. It wasn’t a punishment, I just never got around to re-adding them.

I don’t know if her statements echo the sentiments of the 12th Man, but Seattle has made it very difficult to get excited for their team in 2018. Their roster has been gutted, their coaching staff has been reorganized, and their once devastating secondary has been dismantled.

And yet, they might yet finish above .500. The Seahawks still have Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, and Earl Thomas, and while that patchwork offensive line grows worse, not better, Wilson’s mobility keeps it as a problem and not a serious one. One thing is certain, the Seahawks are entering a rebuild, and their window for a championship may have already been shut. The Los Angeles Rams are on the rise and the 49ers managed to go toe-to-toe with the Seahawks on their home turf — with Brian Hoyer as their quarterback. And while I don’t want to speak about the blowout handed to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, it ushered in the era of Jimmy Garoppolo. When he hit the field, the Seahawks had no answer for him. Too bad he was on the field for only four or so plays before the game ended.

But it’s the principle of the thing. When Garoppolo was on the field, the 49ers scored a touchdown in just over a minute.

Draft picks

Round 1: Rashaad Penny (RB)

Round 3: Rasheem Green (DE)

Round 4: Will Dissly (TE)

Round 5: Shaquem Griffin (LB)

Round 5: Tre Flowers (DB)

Round 5: Michael Dickson (P)

Round 5: Jamarco Jones (OT)

Round 6: Jacob Martin (DE)

Round 7: Alex McGough (QB)

Notable free agents

Brandon Marshall (WR)

Sebastian Janikowski (K)

Dontae Johnson (CB)

Jaron Brown (WR)

Maurice Alexander (S)

Notable Departures

Richard Sherman (CB)

Michael Bennett (DE)

Jimmy Graham (TE)

Luke Wilson (TE)

Paul Richardson (WR)

Thomas Rawls (RB)

The Seahawks glaring problem has been their offensive line and lack of running game since Marshawn Lynch departed. Both could be linked together. Rather than address the line as-is the Seahawks decided to draft a running back in the 1st round and put them behind the same line that helped Rawls to 157 yards in 58 carries. Penny isn’t getting any favors done with that line. Beyond that, the drafting of Shaquem Griffin should help the linebacker group. The secondary is fractured with the release of Richard Sherman and the defense lost a playmaker in Bennett. On the other side of the ball, all of Wilsons weapon’s not named Bobby Wagner Doug Baldwin are gone. Graham, RIchardson, and Wilson all did something in 2017 and it will be interesting to see how the replacements work.

Way too early gambling line

49ers at Seahawks: Seahawks (-1)

Seahawks at 49ers: 49ers (-3.5)

The matchups

The 49ers rival during the Jim Harbaugh era was the Seattle Seahawks. This was brought mostly due to the relationship between Harbaugh and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. When Harbaugh left, the difference in ability grew and the 49ers sank into mediocrity while the Seahawks continued to stay atop the NFC West.

But now the scales are tipping the other way. The Seahawks have suffered a talent exit not unlike the 49ers talent purge of 2015. Brian Schottenheimer will helm the Seahawks offense for a fired Darrell Bevell which will bring all sorts of questions for Wilson and company with a new offense. Beyond the questions, Wilson doesn’t have much to rely on anymore either, besides Doug Baldwin. While I laughed about Brandon Marshall being signed, it’s actually very smart, especially with how cheap they got him for. Marshall has something left in the tank, but it’s going to take a lot more than him to turn this offense around. On the other side of the ball, the defense has some of it’s glue, but the loss of Sherman and Bennett will hurt—make no mistake about it.

While not outside the realm of possibility to see the Seahawks go over .500, especially with that stadium they play in, I don’t see it. My 2018 predictions are having an awful, awful year, but I predicted the 49ers would beat the Seahawks in Seattle by two touchdowns, and I stand by that one. In San Francisco, I see a win coming as well. That game will get ugly and I don’t see the Seahawks hanging on. The 49ers have the Rams to worry about in the NFC West, the Seahawks are just an annoying insect.

But one that can definitely sting hard with lingering effects if given the chance.