Seattle Seahawks Have Opportunity to 'Prove Themselves' vs. San Francisco 49ers, Says Geno Smith

The Seattle Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers for the second time this season, and quarterback Geno Smith says it's a chance for the team to prove themselves against a contender.

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in a game in which the offense finally clicked into gear. Geno Smith and Co. had 406 total yards of offense in the loss, but now attention turns to replicating that.

Up next are the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, a team that Seattle barely competed with in a 31-13 loss on Thanksgiving. The Seahawks could only muster 220 total yards of offense in a game that was more lopsided than the final score suggests.

But now gearing up to face the 49ers for the second time in three weeks, Smith, who is coming off a superb game against Dallas, knows the challenges Steve Wilks' defense presents.

“It starts up front," Smith said. "With them, there’s first-rounders across the board. They have really stout guys on the interior. They’ve got great edge rushers. Their front seven is one of the best in the league. You talk about their linebacker core; you talk about just the way that they fly and make plays all around the ball. 

"They’re a great team, great defense, and what we can expect is for them to be who they are, but we’re another great offense. I feel like we’ve got an opportunity to really prove ourselves, to showcase what we knew all along about ourselves. This is a great test for us. They’re a great team, and we look forward to the opportunity.”

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith says his team has another chance to prove themselves against the 49ers / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

With Seattle now on a three-game losing streak and sitting at 6-6, it's gut-check time for the Seahawks. After the 49ers, Seattle hosts the Philadelphia Eagles at Lumen Field. In three consecutive weeks, the Seahawks would have faced the best three teams in the NFC.

After the beatdown at the hands of the 49ers in Week 12, Pete Carroll got the response he wanted against the Cowboys despite his team falling short. But a lot of things were clicking offensively.

Armed with the confidence that they matched the Cowboys stride for stride, the Seahawks must do the same in Santa Clara - easier said than done, however.

 Seattle is in a crucial part of its season. Sitting precariously at .500, the season is about to go one of two ways: win and the playoff picture looks decidedly better, or lose, and with the Eagles up next, Seattle could find itself on the business end of a five-game losing streak.

For many, December is when the "real" football starts, and for Smith and the Seahawks, these next two weeks feel like make-or-break if they intend to return to the playoffs.

Sharing Seattle? Geno Praises 'Really Special' Washington QB Penix