By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Mike Macdonald conviced Saturdays Playoff game will be different from previous two constests between Niners and Seahawks

Coaches and players returned to the building on Monday, knowing who they would play but not when.  Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald looked the part of a coach who had a few days off from work.  Courtesy of their NFC No. 1 seed, the Seahawks have the luxury of watching the rest of the NFL playoff teams battle to fight another game. The Denver Broncos were in a similar position as they earned the AFC No. 1 seed.

“A couple of us, yeah, one-off type things to watch them just to hang out. It wasn’t anything like super organized. I told the team today, it’s weird watching full games all the way through. You find yourself rooting for teams and you’re like, why am I rooting for this team, “ said Macdonald when asked what it was like sitting around and watching a whole football game.   “It’s the dumbest thing ever. And then five minutes later, you’re rooting for the other team. So I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad we’re back to regular scheduled programming here.”

BACK TO WORK AGAINST A FAMILIAR OPPONENT

Saturday’s Divisional playoff game will be the third time the Seahawks and Niners have faced each other this season. The Niners won the season opener in Lumen  Field, and the Seahawks beat the season finale in Levi Stadium.

“ I think it’s what you make it. In classic Seahawks fashion, maybe we probably overthink some things. Try not to, you know. But I think it’s maybe an accelerated time frame than you normally would from another divisional game that you play twice with not quite enough sample in between to see where they’re going,” said Macdonald .” So you’re really going off how you felt like you played the game, things you did well, maybe where you think they might take things. That’s probably about it.”

99.9% IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT GAME

 Both contests between the two teams have been close. Week One was a 17-13 Niners victory, and  Week 18th was a 13-3 Seahawks victory. How the third game will unfold and come to life no one knows, though many believe they know.  For the practical, methodical, and process-driven McDonald, the only thing he is sure of is that Saturday’s contest will be different from the first two games between the teams.

“There are things in the game plan that we didn’t get to. I’m sure there are things in their game plan they didn’t get to. To use the whole game declaring itself type thing, you don’t know how these games are going to go. So this game is going to play out about a 99.999 percent chance it’s going to play out way different than the last one, and you got to do a great job recognizing it and making the adjustments and doing all that type of stuff,” said Macdonald.

FUNDEMENTALS WILL RULE THE DAY

While the outcome is uncertain, the factors that will determine it will be how players perform during the fundamental phases of the game. While football is a complicated game, playoff games are won and lost by players’ ability to adapt to the contest.

“ I think the games against the 49ers really all three phases, like the things that determine games, it’s kind of magnified in these games. Situational football; how you take care of the ball; how you finish in the red zone; third down is a big time; two minute,”  said Macdonald .”

“ That’s a cliche answer, but really the teams that have kind of won those situations I felt like has really had the nod in terms of outcome of the game. So but like I told the team today, these are the things we been working on for all of our opponents, so really nothing changes in terms of our process and the things we’re trying to do.”

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