Alex Smith
Alex Smith was knocked out of a game against the St. Louis Rams and, subsequently, lost his starting job. Reuters

After a stunning loss last Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers take the field, standing in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC West.

The 49ers were blown out at home by the Giants, 26-3. Before the game, they were considered by many to be the best team in the NFL.

In Week 7, San Francisco is set to take on another one of the teams that has a share of the division lead. The Seattle Seahawks head to Candlestick Park on Thursday Night Football, to open up the week of games.

While the 49ers have had a few disappointing losses, the Seahawks have had some of the more surprising victories on the season. They defeated the Packers in Week 3, and came from behind to beat the Patriots on Sunday.

Russell Wilson had the best game of his young career. He threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns, compared to no interceptions against New England.

If Seattle wants to have a chance of winning, Wilson may have to turn in a similar performance. The 49ers have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. Opponents only average 92.7 yards per game on the ground.

Luckily for the Seahawks, they have one of the best rushers in the league. Marshawn Lynch is third with 549 yards on the year.

The Seahawks run defense has been even better, allowing 70 yards on the ground per game.

Alex Smith has been one of the best quarterbacks in 2012, but struggled against New York in Week 6. He threw three picks, compared to just one in the previous five games.

The quarterback has managed games well, but hasn’t been able to make big plays with his team trailing. He failed to help San Francisco make any type of comeback in the team’s two losses.

Despite last week’s results, the 49ers are heavy favorites. The consensus betting line has them giving the Seahawks nine points at home.

Under Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco has been unbeatable, following a loss. The four games after the team has been defeated, the 49ers have allowed just 11 total points.

The contest it set to kickoff at 8:20 on the NFL Network. If you can’t get to a TV, you can watch a free live stream online. NFL.com will provide live look-ins, throughout the whole game.

Prediction: The 49ers have looked dominant at times, shutting down opposing offenses and moving the ball at will. Following a tough loss, expect a similar performance from San Francisco.

Predicted Score: San Francisco 30, Seattle 17

National Football League