Programming note: Watch 49ers Pregame Live at 4:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and 49ers Postgame Live immediately following Seahawks-49ers.
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman vs. 49ers WR Michael Crabtree
Tale of the tape
Sherman (25): 6 foot 3, 195 pounds, fourth season, Stanford
Crabtree (15): 6 foot 1, 214 pounds, sixth season, Texas Tech
Sherman got the last word – and then some – with his play to bat away the potential game-winning pass in the corner of the end zone.
Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith recorded the interception in the closing seconds to clinch the victory in the NFC Championship game last season.
[REWIND: Sherman takes aim at Crabtree, Kaepernick in postgame comments]
Crabtree was in his eighth game after missing the first 11 regular-season games due to Achilles surgery he underwent in May. He still managed to put up very good stats after returning to the lineup late last season.
“I think he’s moving better now than he has since the injury,” 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “By now, I mean today, even more so than earlier in the year when had some other things going on. Yeah, I think he’s moving as good now as I’ve seen him since the injury.”
As he nears the end of his original six-year contract with the 49ers, Crabtree’s production has inexplicably fallen off. He has 48 receptions for 567 yards and four touchdowns this year.
Sherman lines up at left cornerback, so the 49ers can dictate who will be matched up against him. Crabtree will be on that side regularly.
Sherman remains one of the top cornerbacks in the game. The opposing quarterback has a 70.3 passer rating when targeting him with one touchdown and one interception.
