Seahawks RB Lynch expects to play versus 49ers

What once was a rivalry for NFC supremacy is now a desperate meeting to keep alive faint playoff hopes – in Week 11. Avril did not participate in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury, but was a full participant Thursday.

But the team should seriously consider lessening Lynch’s load (at least a little bit) and give rookie Thomas Rawls more touches this weekend. He also ran for a touchdown, after converting a 4th and 1 on the 49ers three yard line, then scoring on a 3rd down play.

Gabbert tied as the best performer in the game with defensive end Arik Armstead with an overall grade of +2.0.

Gabbert does have a 300 yard passing game in his career – against the Green Bay Packers in 2012 he went 27/49 for 303 yards and a touchdown.

FootballPerspective.com, though, was quick to note, that a couple of other recent Super Bowl winners had similar turnover.

Cadet was signed a week and a half ago to bolster the depleted running backs corps. Against Arizona, the Seahawks only converted one of eight third downs. But what if one of those five games with the 49ers winning is the one that is played on Sunday?

Running backs Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch are among the stars who are questionable for Sunday’s games.

Shaun Draughn is expected to start in place of Hyde. The duo ran for a combined 78 yards on 23 carries against Atlanta.

In the end, Lynch will determine his own fate in Seattle based on his performance down the stretch.

Oh, and another key on defense?

The Niners managed three plays this time before punting. Linebacker Bruce Irvin was declared out earlier this week after suffering a knee injury against Arizona. Bowman ranks third in the National Football League with 88 tackles. After a last second loss, the Seahawks have not looked like themselves this season.

While things haven’t changed much for the Seahawks in terms of facing the 49ers, a lot has changed for San Francisco.

The offensive line is not too good these days because that’s the area the Seahawks aren’t spending money on.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman hasn’t picked off a pass yet this season. This game could go a long way to determining what the 49ers plan for the future at the game’s most important position.

Gabbert, 6-22 as a starter, will now try to help the 49ers beat the Seahawks at raucous CenturyLink Field for the first time since December 24, 2011.

When that happens, expect Gabbert to show moments of both brilliance and of utter confusion. It appears as if Celek and Blaine Gabbert have pretty good chemistry with the pair teaming up for two TDs against Atlanta.

Like the season’s first game between these two teams, Sunday will be a mostly lopsided affair. While at home they’ve only allowed 6.2 yards per attempt and have kept opponents to a 4:3 touchdown to interception ratio. It’s as simple as that.

Besides Miller, the only other current 49ers who played in that 2011 win at Seattle are linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks, and offensive lineman Joe Staley and Alex Boone.