The Seattle Seahawks made a statement on Saturday night, rolling over the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers 41-6 to punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Seattle controlled all three phases of the game, leaving the Niners scrambling for scraps.
Seattle’s defense, led by coordinator Mike Macdonald, was the star of the show. The secondary blanketed San Francisco’s receivers, forcing quarterback Brock Purdy to hold the ball, while the front collapsed the pocket and shut down the run game. Linebacker Ernest Jones forced a fumble and added an interception, with Demarcus Lawrence contributing two forced fumbles along with a sack and multiple tackles for loss. Devon Witherspoon tallied seven tackles and a pass defensed, and Leonard Williams finished the night with a key fourth-down sack. Overall, the Seahawks generated three turnovers and three turnovers on downs, holding the 49ers without a touchdown for eight straight quarters.
Injuries played a significant role for San Francisco, which was missing George Kittle and saw Christian McCaffrey limited by a stinger. Jake Tonges, the team’s leading receiver on the night, also battled an injury. Purdy struggled to find rhythm, going 15 of 27 for 140 yards with an interception and taking two sacks as the offense failed to sustain drives.
Seattle’s ground game, however, was unstoppable. Kenneth Walker III plowed through San Francisco’s defense, rushing 19 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns, while adding three catches for 29 yards. Walker’s three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a playoff game in franchise history. The offensive line opened gaping holes, allowing Walker to maintain a 63.2% success rate and generate +34 rushing yards over expectation.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, recovering from a minor oblique injury, was efficient when called upon, going 12 of 17 for 124 yards and a touchdown. He completed three of four third-down passes for 42 yards, posting a 108.3 passer rating, but Seattle leaned heavily on the rushing attack and a comfortable double-digit lead.
Rashid Shaheed sparked the Seahawks early, returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and adding a 30-yard end-around that set up another score. His big plays accounted for 21 points, giving Seattle early momentum that never wavered.
With the win, Seattle not only advances to the NFC Championship Game but also ties its largest playoff margin of victory in franchise history, matching the 35-point blowout over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII. The Seahawks’ balance, speed, and defensive dominance make them a formidable contender as they march toward the Super Bowl.
