49ers have advantage over Seahawks in playoffs thanks to NFL officiating crew

Matt Sullivan

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49ers have advantage over Seahawks in playoffs thanks to NFL officiating crew image

The San Francisco 49ers continued to overcome nearly insurmountable odds, beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round without George Kittle due to a brutal Achilles injury.

Now set to travel back West to face the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers have to contend with the NFC's top seed. But, fortunately, they have one distinct advantage.

According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, the 49ers have the advantage when it comes to the officiating crew for this Divisional round game. This officiating crew, led by John Hussey, bodes well for the 49ers

49ers have NFL officiating crew advantage over Seahawks for Divisional round

"John Hussey officiated two 49ers games and one Seahawks game this season," Maiocco notes, "49ers wins Week 3 vs. Arizona and 9 at NY Giants; and Seahawks Week 11 loss at Rams."

The 49ers are 2-0 with Hussey as the head official, while the Seahawks are 0-1 in games with Hussey in charge.

Of course, there's a difference in competition that's impossible to ignore. The 49ers got to face the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, two teams picking inside the top 10 of the NFL Draft this upcoming offseason.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, had to face the Los Angeles Rams, one of the better teams in the league this season, for their lone Hussey-officiated game this season.

More: 49ers vs. Eagles final score, results: San Francisco advance behind Christian McCaffrey's two touchdowns

But, strictly looking at this matchup on the surface from the officiating crew, the 49ers have the clear advantage.

It won't be an easy matchup, especially since Kittle will be out, Ricky Pearsall might not be bad, and Fred Warner doesn't look likely to play.

The 49ers won't actually get a significant advantage from this officiating crew, but it's worth noting coming into this Seahawks matchup that, based on the three games these two teams have had with Hussey, the 49ers are 2-0 while the Seahawks are 0-1.

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Editorial Team