Seahawks Demolish 49ers in Playoff Blowout

The Seattle Seahawks delivered one of their most complete playoff performances in years, dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 on Saturday night to advance to the NFC Championship game. The top-seeded Seahawks took control from the first play, with Rashid Shaheed returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds into the game. From that moment on, San Francisco never recovered.

Background

The Seahawks entered the divisional round as the number one seed in the NFC with a 14-3 record, while the 49ers came in as the sixth seed at 12-5. Both teams are division rivals in the NFC West, making this matchup particularly meaningful. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was years ago, but Saturday's game was never competitive. Seattle had won the regular season meeting against San Francisco convincingly, and the playoff rematch proved to be even more lopsided.

The Seahawks have not played in an NFC Championship game since 2014, when they defended their Super Bowl title at home before losing to the New England Patriots in the championship game. For a franchise that dominated the NFC West for much of the 2010s, getting back to this stage represents a significant milestone.

Sam Darnold, the Seahawks' quarterback, was listed as questionable before the game due to an oblique injury but was cleared to play. For Darnold, this marked his first playoff game with Seattle after joining the team this season. He had experienced playoff disappointment with the Minnesota Vikings late last year, making this opportunity for redemption significant.

Key Details

The Seahawks' dominance was evident across all three phases of the game. Offensively, they controlled the tempo and forced the 49ers into reactive football from the start. Defensively, they held San Francisco to just 236 total yards and forced three turnovers. On special teams, Shaheed's opening kickoff return set the tone immediately.

Offensive Dominance

Running back Kenneth Walker III was the offensive star, rushing for 116 yards on 19 carries and scoring three touchdowns. His three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a single playoff game in franchise history. Darnold managed the game efficiently, throwing for 124 yards and one touchdown pass to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks' offense was mistake-free, allowing their defense to operate freely throughout the game.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled to find any rhythm, completing passes for 140 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. San Francisco's only points came from two field goals, never reaching the end zone. The 49ers' star running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a stinger injury in the second quarter and returned briefly before exiting the game for good. This loss appeared to disrupt whatever offensive momentum San Francisco might have built.

Defensive Control

Seattle's defense was relentless, forcing three turnovers and three turnovers on downs. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams noted that Shaheed's opening kickoff return set the emotional tone for the entire game. Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II expressed confidence early, saying he knew the game was over after Shaheed's touchdown.

The Seahawks forced the 49ers into predictable football, and San Francisco never adjusted. With Seattle's lead growing throughout the game, the 49ers were forced to abandon their running game and rely on passing, which only made them more predictable for the Seattle defense.

The Opening Moment

"I was so hyped. I wasn't expecting that, but when he did it, I knew the game was over then. I already knew." – Byron Murphy II, Seahawks defensive lineman

Shaheed's kickoff return was the longest postseason kick return in franchise history and the fourth time since 2000 that a team opened a playoff game with a kickoff return for a touchdown. It immediately shifted the psychological momentum of the game.

Seattle scored 10 points on their first two possessions, with the second drive ending in Darnold's touchdown pass. By halftime, the Seahawks led 24-6, and the game was effectively decided.

What This Means

The Seahawks will host the winner of Sunday's divisional round game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game next Sunday. A victory would send them to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2014 season.

Darnold's performance in his first playoff game with Seattle was solid, managing the offense without mistakes and taking advantage of his team's strong defense and running game. For a quarterback who has faced criticism throughout his career, a dominant playoff win provides momentum heading into the championship round.

The 49ers, meanwhile, must evaluate what went wrong in such a lopsided defeat. Christian McCaffrey's injury complications and the team's inability to establish any offensive rhythm proved costly. San Francisco's season ends without advancing past the divisional round despite winning 12 games in the regular season.