The San Francisco 49ers head into their primetime Thanksgiving clash with the Seattle Seahawks in a familiar position. 

They have all the expectation on their shoulders as the heavy favorites for a game in Seattle that will be critical in deciding the destination of the NFC West title. The 7-3 Niners are a game ahead of the 6-4 Seahawks ahead of this latest renewal of their rivalry.

San Francisco won the NFC West in Seattle last season with victory in Brock Purdy's first road start, in which he thrived despite a broken rib.

Purdy has no such issues this year, leading the NFL in almost every conceivable quarterback metric and posting a perfect passer rating in last Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the 49ers' offense leading the NFL in DVOA and Expected Points Added per play and its defense rounding back into form after a recent slump, all signs point to San Francisco justifying its status as 7.5-point favorites. These seven players will be key to ensuring the 49ers do just that and improve to 8-3.

QB Brock Purdy

The 49ers’ quarterback has already proven he can win in Seattle with the division on the line in primetime, and the reality is he played no worse, despite the turnovers, during the three-game losing streak than he has done as the 49ers have got back on track in the last two weeks.

But, rightly or wrongly, this stretch of the season will for many serve as a referendum on Purdy, and he’ll have fewer people picking holes in his success if he can dispatch the Seahawks again in their own building on the national stage.

WR Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk is coming off a game against the Bucs in which he posted a career-high 156 receiving yards, including a 76-yard touchdown, his rapport with Purdy continuing to produce devastating results in a season that is tracking to be the finest of the 2020 first-round pick’s career.

Tremendous at the line of scrimmage with an ability to consistently defeat press, and similarly impressive at the top of the route and after the catch, Aiyuk has blossomed into a true number one receiver, yet he perhaps still does not get the same level of recognition as many of his peers.

That may change with a performance in which he takes the spotlight in front of a national audience. 

Replicating what he did against the Bucs will be no easy feat against a group of young Seattle cornerbacks that are physical and play technically sound coverage. Yet Aiyuk has proven he can inflict significant damage every week regardless of the opponent, and the 49ers will likely be in an excellent spot to take full control of the division if he gets the better of Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Co.

TE George Kittle

Kittle scored twice for San Francisco in the Niners’ division-clinching win over the Seahawks last year and recent performances suggest another huge night is on the horizon.

On pace for his first 1,000-yard season since 2019, Kittle is playing like the best tight end in football and he matches up extremely well against Seattle.

The Seahawks have improved against the run this season, but their aggressive style of rush defense makes them vulnerable to the bootlegs on which Kittle has shredded defenses of late going back across the formation and into the open field. A repeat of his 2022 performance in Seattle would be no surprise.

G Aaron Banks

It’s still unclear whether the 49ers’ starting left guard will be available after missing two games with turf toe, and the 49ers could really do with him being out there given starting right guard Spencer Burford is looking likely to miss out with a knee injury.

Banks returning would allow veteran Jon Feliciano to flip from the left to the right. If Banks is not available, the 49ers face the prospect of fielding a patchwork interior offensive line with Feliciano attempting to hold the fort alongside center Jake Brendel and either Ben Bartch or Matt Pryor. Guard Bartch was only signed this week, Pryor is a veteran backup tackle with limited starting experience at right guard.

The 49ers need Banks back on the field, and they need him to immediately perform. The Seahawks’ interior defensive line did not generate much pressure last week against the Los Angeles Rams, but Seattle has the talent in that area to take advantage of the 49ers’ injuries in the middle. Leonard Williams has 29 pressures, while Jarran Reed has 28, but the odds of them getting to Purdy will be decreased if Banks is out there.

DE Chase Young

Young has wasted zero time in demonstrating why the 49ers made the blockbuster move for him at the trade deadline. While he is still playing in a rotation with Clelin Ferrell at the defensive end spot opposite Defensive Player of the Nick Bosa, Young has to this point provided the 49ers with everything they were missing at that spot prior to his arrival.

The former second overall pick was outstanding in the victory over the Bucs, consistently getting pressure against an excellent left tackle in Tristan Wirfs, who was dealing with an injury. 

Both Young and Bosa continually made quick inroads into the Tampa Bay backfield to speed up Baker Mayfield, and Young’s success as an edge-setter in the run game allowed the Niners to hold the Bucs’ rushing attack to just 66 yards on the ground.

Seattle will be without running back Kenneth Walker Jr. and right tackle Abe Lucas through injury, and both those absences point to the 49ers having more success defensively this week. The Seahawks will hope rookie Zach Charbonnet can excel in Walker’s stead, but if Young can produce a display akin to his efforts against the Bucs, it will set the 49ers up well to slow down both aspects of the Seattle offense.

CB Ambry Thomas

The 49ers have been thrilled with Thomas’ performances since he was promoted back to the role of starting outside corner when the 49ers line up in nickel.

He has given up only five receptions for 30 yards over the last two weeks, Thomas successfully standing up to the challenge provided by Tampa Bay duo Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Week 11.

Thomas will face another stern test in the form of the Seattle receiving corps. For all the discussion around rookie slot receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s lack of impact, the Seahawks have played 11 personnel 61 percent of the time this season, meaning Thomas will be on the field a lot with Deommodore Lenoir kicking into the nickel role from the outside.

As such, Thomas will be faced with the fearsome presence of D.K. Metcalf and the route-running savvy of Tyler Lockett in primetime. It is essential he proves he can handle both well enough to prevent the Seahawks keeping pace with the 49ers’ league-leading attack.

S Ji'Ayir Brown

Though there is pressure on Thomas to continue his fine recent run of performances, the player Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will likely be looking to pick on is rookie safety Brown.

San Francisco’s top pick in the draft, albeit in the third round, will start the rest of the way alongside veteran Tashaun Gipson after Talanoa Hufanga was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

After giving up a 41-yard reception on the Bucs’ second scoring drive, Brown played a pivotal role in helping the 49ers close out Tampa Bay, recording a pair of endzone pass breakups and picking off Baker Mayfield in the endzone to essentially clinch the game.

Save for the explosive play he surrendered, Brown did not look out of place after entering the game for Hufanga, playing fast while displaying an awareness of his responsibilities in coverage and flying to the ball-carrier from depth. He must be similarly sound against the Seahawks to avoid giving Seattle a potential equalizer in a game most expect the Niners to win comfortably.

Seahawks’ Geno Smith expected to play vs. 49ers

It’s a calculated risk.