This former power struggle for NFC dominance is barely a slap fight in the NFC West. Are the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers still rivals?

As the 2017 NFL season approaches, it’s time for another look at the famous rivalries around the league. Some rivalries are thriving heading into the new season, expected to be better than ever. Others, however, are almost a memory as they’ve become one-sided — which isn’t a rivalry at all.

One of the best NFL rivalries this decade features two powerhouses in the NFC West. At least it used to. The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers battled for NFC supremacy and division dominance not long ago, but where does this rivalry stand today?

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss NFL Rivalries 2017 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

It wasn’t too long ago that these two teams were the cream of the NFC crop, battling it out for an appearance in the Super Bowl. That is no longer the case, but from 2012-14, one of these two teams represented their conference in the biggest game each season. NFL rivalries sure do change fast.

Let’s hit up the rivalry questionnaire.

1. Is this still a rivalry?

Todd Salem: Not in the least. San Francisco has fallen off the contending map and took this rivalry with it. The 49ers aren’t competing for titles anymore, but they also aren’t competing with Seattle anymore. The Seahawks have won seven consecutive contests and nine of the last 10 in this matchup.

Dan Salem: San Francisco and Seattle are no longer rivals. Their bad blood quickly boiled over and fizzled out. Come to think of it, I don’t believe the 49ers have a single NFL rivalry going at this juncture. They used to call the Cowboys rivals. Now San Francisco is left with no one. They might be the only team in the league without a true NFL rival.

Because this particular rivalry is dead, I’m not sure the Seahawks have a strong one remaining either. No one else in the division is good enough to warrant rivalry status. Seattle stands alone in the Pacific Northwest, perched atop a mountain, ready to swoop down on its prey. Did I take that Seahawks analogy too far?

2. Which side of this pairing would you rather be on?

Todd Salem: As evidenced by the decline of the rivalry, we have seen the decline of the 49ers franchise from top to bottom. Seattle is the easy answer. It has a coach everyone seems to like, a young and tremendous quarterback, and an elite defense. Perhaps this decision would be closer if Seattle was on the precipice of the end of an era, but it’s not.

Dan Salem: It pains me to say this, but I can’t justify rooting for the 49ers any longer. I was once a big fan of Jerry Rice, as many people were. Steve Young was fun to root for and the new age 49ers with Colin Kaepernick and Jim Harbaugh were down right interesting and exciting. Nothing is left. I must side with Seattle and their annoying, yet dominant team.

3. What should we expect from this matchup in 2017?

Todd Salem: It has been a while since San Francisco has defeated Seattle in any capacity. The two teams face off in Week 2 and then not again until Week 12, with the 49ers coming off a bye in the rematch. If the second game was later, maybe I could be talked into Seattle losing during a rest week. As it stands, I expect a Seahawks sweep for the fourth consecutive season.

Dan Salem: San Francisco is unofficially tanking this season, so I’d be shocked if they win either matchup with the Seahawks. The 49ers likely win a game or two, but not against Seattle. The best team in the NFC West sweeps this season series yet again.