National Football League

Boldin says 49ers have something to play for

Published Dec. 12, 2014 8:55 p.m. ET

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) San Francisco wide receiver Anquan Boldin said he's mystified by the 49ers' 7-6 record heading into their game at Seattle on Sunday.

''No one expected this,'' Boldin said Friday. ''If you asked us at the beginning of the season, we would have said 14-2 or something like that. Things don't always work out like you plan.''

The 49ers' playoff hopes are still alive, through a loss to the Seahawks would virtually knock them out though.

''We had a pretty good week and guys look ready,'' Boldin said. ''The feeling in the locker room is we still have a lot to play for.''

Boldin, on the verge of his second straight 1,000-yard season, knows that playing in Seattle presents its own set of problems.

The 49ers have lost four of their last five meetings at CenturyLink Field and have scored a combined 58 points (11.6 per game) in that span.

The Seahawks are 6-1 at home this season and own the second-best home mark since joining the NFC 12 years ago.

''It's always been at the highest level defensively; number one defense,'' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''That's not a new level for them. People talk about the noise, the crowd noise. That's at the highest level as well, but it's the football team that's the highest level and the biggest challenge.''

The Seahawks (9-4) have won three in a row and six of their last seven to draw close to division-leading Arizona (11-3). Seattle controls its own destiny. If the Seahawks win out, they are the division champions. They play at the Cardinals next week.

The 49ers, on a two-game slide, need help. In addition to winning out, the 49ers need two of three teams among the Seahawks, the loser of the Dallas-Philadelphia game this week, and the Detroit Lions to lose at least two of their last three games.

Seattle smothered the 49ers less than three weeks ago in Santa Clara.

''I've been involved in a lot of rivalry games since high school,'' Boldin said. ''This is right up there at the top. This rivalry has always been tough.''

Tackle Jonathan Martin, who starts in place of Anthony Davis, has never played in Seattle but the Stanford grad has had experience playing in Eugene during his Pac-12 days.

''It's like you're off by yourself,'' he said of Autzen Stadium. ''You can barely hear yourself think. It comes down to being focused. There are a variety of things we can do.''

NOTES: Harbaugh and Seattle coach Pete Carroll exchanged pleasantries through the media during the week. Carroll called Harbaugh a stud and said he enjoys their teams' confrontations. Harbaugh returned the compliment, saying he feels the same way about Carroll. ''He's a great competitor. He's a great football coach. Been in a lot of big games. Very much look forward to playing against their team because they're such a good football team; always well prepared. At the highest level every time you play against them,'' Harbaugh said. ... The 49ers were unable to practice outside Thursday because of the storm that hit the area. ''We weren't able to run full speed, so, it physically impacted us quite a bit,'' Harbaugh said. ''But, still got some good things out of it. Felt we were full speed mentally and had good work in that regard. But it does impact you, yes.'' ... Davis continues to show concussion-like symptoms. LB NaVorro Bowman (knee), DT Glenn Dorsey (forearm) and WR Stevie Johnson (knee) were also declared out. ... DB Chris Culliver (knee), C Marcus Martin (knee) and S Raymond Ventrone (groin) are listed as questionable while G Mike Iupati (elbow), DE Ray McDonald (finger) and DE Justin Smith (back) are probable.

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