The NFC Divisional Round features a classic rivalry with high stakes as the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
These division foes met twice during the 2025 regular season, splitting the series with each team earning a road win. Now, only one can move on to the doorstep of Super Bowl LX. Seattle enters as the NFC’s top seed after a 17-week campaign that saw them lose just three times, while San Francisco survived a wild Wild Card weekend victory in Philadelphia despite an injury-riddled roster. Both teams know each other well, but playoff intensity raises the question: who will rise under the brightest lights?
San Francisco has a clear challenge: avoid repeating the Week 18 nightmare when their offense was stifled by Seattle. The 49ers must overcome a depleted roster while maintaining the high-scoring style that carried them through much of the season.
Brock Purdy will rely on tight end Jake Tonges to fill in for George Kittle, and wide receivers Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Demarcus Robinson will need to sustain elite-level production. Defensively, Robert Saleh has kept the 49ers competitive despite injuries, but Saturday’s matchup will test the limits of a unit missing its key pass rushers. Success may hinge on San Francisco generating pressure, forcing turnovers, and sustaining explosive plays downfield.
Seattle, meanwhile, boasts one of the league’s most effective pass-rushing units. Five players have 40-plus pressures, and the Seahawks excel both with and without blitzes, a dangerous combination for Purdy and the 49ers. San Francisco ranked 24th in passing efficiency against the blitz this season, and Seattle’s ability to consistently pressure the quarterback will likely determine the tone of the game. The Seahawks’ offense is versatile, capable of leaning on Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in the run game or relying on Sam Darnold, if healthy, to lead passing attacks. Darnold is questionable with an oblique injury, making the ground game a safer bet, especially against a 49ers defense that allowed 140 rushing yards to Philadelphia in the Wild Card round.
The matchup ultimately pits Seattle’s top-seed dominance against San Francisco’s resilience and adaptability. Can the 49ers repeat the heroics of their Wild Card win, or will the Seahawks’ combination of offensive balance and defensive pressure extend their reign in the NFC?
Injury Report
49ers
Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Fred Warner (ankle) are out. Jacob Cowing (hamstring), Luke Gifford (quadricep), Ricky Pearsall (knee), and Dee Winters (ankle) are questionable. Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), Dominicki Puni (ankle), Keion White (groin/hamstring), and Trent Williams (hamstring) have participated in limited or partial practice this week.
Seahawks
Elijah Arroyo (knee), Josh Jones (knee), and Chazz Surratt (ankle) are out, while Sam Darnold (oblique) is questionable. A.J. Barner (hip), Coby Bryant (knee), Charles Cross (hamstring/knee), Tyrice Knight (shoulder), Demarcus Lawrence (Achilles), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (rest), Leonard Williams (rest), and Tariq Woolen (oblique) have all participated in at least some practice this week, with varying levels of limitation.
