Quarterback Russell Wilson might be the Seahawks’ biggest offensive name, but the 49ers defense doesn’t view him as their biggest challenge.

That honor goes to Marshawn Terrell Lynch.

On Sunday, safety Donte Whitner didn’t hesitate when asked what player the 49ers had to take away in the NFC Championship Game in Seattle.

“Marshawn Lynch,” Whitner said. “You have to take him away. Like he said, he doesn’t run to get tackled. He’s one of the best backs in the National Football League. Very rough style. We have to take him away and make the quarterback beat us.”

Whitner may not fear Wilson because the second-year quarterback has a middling 80.4 passer rating in four career games against the 49ers, never topping 200 yards and throwing one interception in each meeting. Wilson was sensational in a 42-13 win against the Niners in December 2012 – throwing four touchdowns – but he has a 47.8 completion percentage and 62.0 rating in their other three meetings.

Meanwhile, Lynch, who has topped 100 yards in four of eight career games against the 49ers, is a noted nemesis. The 49ers are the only team to not allow a 100-yard rusher this season, but Lynch and Houston’s Arian Foster came closest with 98 yards.

Lynch, the last running back to rush for 100 yards against the 49ers, ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,257) and tied for first in touchdowns (12). Lynch has broken an NFL-best 75 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and he appears primed for his next meeting against the 49ers.

In last week’s 23-15 divisional-playoff win against the Saints, Lynch had 140 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. As Lynch was running wild, Wilson was doing little, completing 50 percent of his passes (9 of 18) for 103 yards.

For Whitner, the strategy is obvious – take away the running back and make the quarterback beat them – but he acknowledged the execution won’t be easy.

How hard is it to stop Lynch?

“Very difficult,” Whitner said. “Everyone’s been trying to do that all year and they can’t do it. But if we want to go where we want to go, we have to do it. That’s the mindset.”

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The top rushers in each game this season against the 49ers, who haven’t allowed a running back to top 81 yards in 13 games:

Week 1 vs. Green Bay: Eddie Lacy, 14-41-TD

Week 2 vs. Seattle: Marshawn Lynch, 28-98-2 TDs

Week 3 vs. Indianapolis: Ahmad Bradshaw, 19-95-TD

Week 4 vs. St. Louis: Daryl Richardson, 12-16

Week 5 vs. Houston: Arian Foster, 21-98

Week 6 vs. Arizona: Andre Ellington, 7-56-TD

Week 7 vs. Tennessee: Chris Johnson, 9-39

Week 8 vs. Jacksonville: Maurice Jones-Drew, 19-75

Week 10 vs. Carolina: DeAngelo Williams, 8-46-TD

Week 11 vs. New Orleans: Pierre Thomas, 11-49

Week 12 vs. Washington: Alfred Morris, 14-52

Week 13 vs. St. Louis: Zac Stacy, 19-72

Week 14 vs. Seattle: Marshawn Lynch, 20-72-TD

Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay: Bobby Rainey, 11-27

Week 16 vs. Atlanta: Steven Jackson, 16-53

Week 17 vs. Arizona: Rashard Mendenhall, 10-47

Wild card vs. Green Bay: Eddie Lacy, 21-81

Divisional vs. Carolina: Cam Newton, 10-54

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Including the playoffs, the 49ers have allowed nine 100-yard rushers in their past 101 games dating to Sept. 21, 2008. Lynch, who has faced the 49ers eight times in his career, has accounted for four of those 100-yard games:

12-23-12: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), 26 carries, 111 yards

11-11-12: Steven Jackson (Rams), 29 carries, 101 yards

10-18-12: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), 19 carries, 103 yards

10-14-12: Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants), 27 carries, 116 yards

12-24-11: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), 21 carries, 107 yards

11-22-09: Ryan Grant (Packers), 21 carries, 129 yards

11-8-09: Chris Johnson (Titans), 25 carries, 135 yards

12-21-08: Steven Jackson (Rams), 32 carries, 108 yards

11-30-08: Marshawn Lynch (Bills), 16 carries, 134 yards