Seahawks - 49ers
an 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball as he is pressured by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the first half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Thanksgiving matchup of the day comes to us courtesy of Santa Clara, CA where the NFL’s fiercest rivalry over the past four seasons collide in what is sure to be an instant classic. The Seattle Seahawks travel to the brand new Levi’s stadium to face NFC West division rival the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of last years NFC Championship game.

Both teams find themselves with an identical 7-4 record and chasing the first place Arizona Cardinals who stand at 9-2. Emotions will be on high alert after the way the game ended the last time these two teams met. 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, threw an interception to Malcom Smith in the end zone with thirty seconds left in the game. The pass was intended for Niners receiver, Michael Crabtree, and was tipped by cornerback Richard Sherman who immediately starting taunting Sherman after the play and then ripped him to Erin Andrews after the game.

“It’s in the past,” Kaepernick said.

Both teams will indeed have to let the past be the past when they meet on Thanksgiving in order to focus on the present task at hand: making the playoffs. Similar to the Eagles and Cowboys who play right before them, this is the first of two meetings between the rivals over the next weeks.

“A Thanksgiving game where everybody will be watching,” said Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson. “Do you hype that up? Do you downgrade it? I don’t know. It’s going to kind of elevate the game in general and it’s the 49ers. It’s one of those things you’re gonna get pumped for”

The 49ers have won six straight against their rivals from the Pacific Northwest at home and will need to make it seven straight on Thursday if they want the opportunity to win the division. The rivalry between the two teams has become the NFL’s most intense over the past two seasons and will be prefect for the bright lights of Thanksgiving Day.

“We’re going to have to play great football. Play the lights out, that’s it,” said Wilson.

Both teams have split the last four division titles in the NFC West and are currently tied for the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Both teams are coming off of victories last week as well. The Seahawks beat division leader Arizona 19-3 at home, while the Niners defeated the Redskins 17-13. In that game, San Francisco defensive-end, Aldon Smith, dislocated his finger and popped it back into place.

“That’s a good battle scar to have,” said 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. “Make a deposit into the toughness account. We’ll be able to make withdrawals from that later down the road.”

The matchup showcases two of the NFL’s top defenses. The Seahawks lead the NFL with league-low 296.8 yards per game. The 49ers are right behind them however, surrendering a meager 300.1 yards per game themselves.

“We feel like it’s the playoffs,” said 49ers safety Antoine Bethea. “Win at all costs.”

The game will kick off at 8:30PM EST in Santa Clara, CA and will air live on NBC.

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