Rivalry week is here for the San Francisco 49ers.
Sure, every game in the National Football League brings back fond memories of back-and-forth battles between two respective clubs, but this week has a little more oomph to it.
The 49ers will host the Seattle Seahawks in a nationally-televised game on Thanksgiving night, no less.
Definitely different.
But for Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco's quarterback who is coming off his 18th consecutive game with a touchdown pass in a 17-13 home win over Washington, Thursday night is just like the other 15 games on the regular season schedule.
"Just another game we need to win to get into the playoffs," Kaepernick said with an expression-less face on Monday.
Thursday's Thanksgiving feast for the football-viewing world will be the first of two NFC West clashes between San Francisco and Seattle in a three-week span.
Kaepernick maintained that his focus is purely on Thursday's game. It's an acclerated week for the 49ers. On the positive side of things, the team has a well-documented recent history with the Seahawks, including three matchups last season.
Seattle won both of its home games, with the NFC title game victory propelling the franchise to its first Super Bowl win.
The 49ers and Seahawks have a long history, going back to 1976. Here are photos from their 38 meetings.
1984 -- 49ers running back Wendell Tyler.
1985 -- 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.
1986 -- Seahawks wideout Steve Largent and 49ers safety Ronnie Lott.
1989 -- 49ers wideout Jerry Rice.
1990 -- 49ers running back Roger Craig.
1991 -- 49ers quarterback Steve Young.
1993 -- 49ers wideout Jerry Rice.
Ricky Watters
1995 -- 49ers pass-catcher Brent Jones.
1997 -- 49ers line of scrimmage.
1997 -- 49ers running back Terry Kirby.
1997 -- 49ers quarterback Steve Young.
1999 -- 49ers center Jeremy Newberry.
2001 -- 49ers running back Garrison Hearst.
2001 -- 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay.
2001 -- Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.
2002 -- Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and 49ers pass-rusher John Engleberger.
2002 -- 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia.
2002 -- 49ers running back Garrison Hearst.
2002 -- 49ers running back Garrison Hearst.
2002 -- 49ers cornerback Jimmy Williams.
2002 -- 49ers wideout Terrell Owens.
2003 -- 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich.
2004 -- Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and 49ers pass-rushers John Engleberger and Julian Peterson.
2005 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2005 -- 49ers quarterback Ken Dorsey.
2005 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2005 -- 49ers running back Kevan Barlow.
2005 -- 49ers linebacker Derek Smith.
2005 -- 49ers wideout Brandon Lloyd.
2005 -- 49ers running back Maurice Hicks.
2006 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2006 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2006 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2007 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2007 -- 49ers tackle Bryant Young and Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.
2007 -- 49ers pass-rusher Bryant Young and Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace.
2007 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2007 -- 49ers linebacker Derek Smith.
2007 -- 49ers long snapper Brian Jennings.
2007 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2007 -- 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich.
2007 -- 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
2008 -- 49ers tight end Delanie Walker.
2008 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2008 -- 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson.
2008 -- 49ers safety Michael Lewis.
2008 -- Line of scrimmage.
2008 -- 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill.
2008 -- 49ers left tackle Joe Staley.
2008 -- 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
2008 -- 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
2009 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2009 -- 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree.
2009 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2009 -- 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith.
2009 -- 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith.
2009 -- 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith.
2009 -- 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes.
2010 -- 49ers cornerback Nate Clements.
2011 -- 49ers cornerback Nate Clements and Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.
2011 -- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
2011 -- 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
2011 -- 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.
2011 -- 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith.
2011 -- 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
2012 -- 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree.
2012 -- 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.
2012 -- 49ers tight end Delanie Walker.
2012 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2012 -- 49ers running back LaMichael James.
2012 -- 49ers running back LaMichael James.
2012 -- 49ers wideout Mario Manningham.
2012 -- 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
2013 -- 49ers wideout Anquan Boldin.
2013 -- 49ers left tackle Joe Staley.
2013 -- 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
2013 -- 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
2013 -- 49ers running back Frank Gore.
2013 -- 49ers special teamer Kassim Osgood.
2014 -- 49ers running back Carlos Hyde
2015 -- 49ers LB Eli Harold
2015 -- 49ers defensive back Dontae Johnson
2015 -- LB Aaron Lynch
2015 -- 49ers Safety Antoine Bethea
2015 -- 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead
2015 -- 49ers tight end Garrett Celek
2015 -- 49ers safety Eric Reid
2015 -- 49ers defensive backs Eric Reid and Jimmie Ward
2016 -- DL DeForest Buckner
2016 -- RB Carlos Hyde
2016 -- RB Carlos Hyde
2016 -- RB Carlos Hyde
2016 -- DL Tank Carradine
2016 -- T Joe Staley
2016 -- TE Garrett Celek
2017 -- LB Aaron Lynch
2017 -- DL DeForest Buckner
2017 -- RB Carlos Hyde
2017 -- DL Tank Carradine
2017 -- LB Brock Coyle
Kaepernick said he's moved on from last season's January road loss in the Pacific Northwest. The 49ers quarterback didn't care to relive his final pass of the 2013 season, a red-zone go route to Michael Crabtree that was tipped by All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman and intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith.
"Obviously you want to win that game," Kaepernick said, "but it's in the past."
San Francisco's coaching staff worked late Sunday night to game plan for the anticipated matchup with Seattle. Players are just starting to review film and what schemes the coaches have devised for Thursday night.
The 49ers will look to build on their clutch finish to Week 12. Kaepernick led the first-team offense to its first fourth-quarter scoring drive against Washington. The comeback experience should benefit San Francisco's offense heading into a rivalry game against a stout Seattle defense, ranked third in pass defense and sixth in stopping the run.
"We've had some tough games that we've come out with wins," Kaepernick said of his team's three-game winning streak. "You have to do that to get into the playoffs and play well."
With San Francisco and Seattle sharing a 7-4 record, they're currently outside of the NFC Wild Card race (Detroit Lions at 7-4 has a tie-breaker edge). Both NFC West clubs are also two games back of the division-leading Arizona Cardinals. That means Thursday's matchup is as close to a playoff game as you'll see in late November.
Throw in the reminders of how last year's pivotal NFC Championship game ended and you can understand the sizzle of this upcoming encounter.
But when Kaepernick was asked to share his thoughts on Sherman, the 49ers quarterback didn't feel the need to speak on the subject. "I don't have any," Kaepernick said. "I'm worried about what we're doing."
So does Kaepernick plan to throw towards Sherman's side of the field?
"I'll throw to whoever's open."
