The San Francisco 49ers have won so many games this season through special teams and field position. On Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, they almost lost a game due to both of those things. For one, it was an Andy Lee punt that was blocked to set up the initial Marshawn Lynch touchdown run that gave Seattle the lead late. Lynch scampered outside and became the first player to score a rushing touchdown against the 49ers, virtually gifted the touchdown with the great field position.
On top of that, the Seahawks largely dominated the first half, and that's due to the nature of the field position battle. Once you get pinned inside your own ten-yard line, if you don't get out and your defense holds, you're likely to get pinned again. And eventually, the other team is starting right about inside field goal range.
Early on in the game, the Seahawks started at their own 43-yard line. The 49ers forced a punt, but ended up starting at their own nine-yard line. After Seattle got the ball again and punted, the 49ers got the ball at the five-yard line, and Seattle would then go on to take over at San Francisco's 43-yard line.
But in the second half, the 49ers did certainly benefit from better field position. And because of that, they were able to score, with David Akers connecting on multiple field goals to give them the eventual lead. The field position battle has been the most important thing for the 49ers this season and when it didn't go there way, they almost lost the game. It will continue to be a key factor going forward.