The Seahawks will have the emotional edge over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night when the two teams battle it out at CenturyLink Field to see who wins the NFC West division of the National Football League.
After losing three running backs to injuries this month, the Seahawks have signed two former teammates to free-agent contracts. One of them is a fan favorite known as Beast Mode - Marshawn Lynch. The other is Robert Turbin. It's the topic of this week's conversation between KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.
Thiel said the crowd at CenturyLink Field will be more electrified than usual with Lynch's return to Seattle. He praised coach Pete Carroll for putting aside tensions he had with Lynch when he played for the team from 2010-2015.
"One of the biggest things about this particular transaction that is remarkable is that Pete Carroll had to get rid of all that and say, 'Let's bring Marshawn back,'" he said.
But Thiel doesn't think it will be enough to beat the 49ers.
"The realist in me says that this is a very important emotional gesture but it's not a pragmatic one because there are younger and faster running backs out there that could have probably done a technically better job. But this is all about stirring his teammates and electrifying CenturyLink Field."
Thiel predicts the 49ers will win 27-20. Both teams are going to the playoffs regardless. Sunday night's game will determine who wins the NFC West and has more of an advantage in the postseason.
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