BLOWOUT! Seahawks one win from Super Bowl after steamrolling 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks received the opening kickoff and proceeded to whoop the San Francisco 49ers straight out of the 2026 NFL Playoffs.

Rashid Shaheed’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone for an “all three phases” masterclass by the Seahawks in front of a raucous Lumen Field crowd. By the end of the first quarter it was 17-0 Seahawks. At halftime it was 24-6, later increased to 34-6 by the end of the third quarter. The final score was 41-6, marking the largest playoff win in Seahawks history (tied with their Super Bowl 48 triumph over the Denver Broncos), and the heaviest defeat of Kyle Shanahan’s coaching career.

Sam Darnold, questionable with an oblique injury suffered in practice, wasn’t asked to do much but he did his job well in his first playoff win. He was 12/17 for 124 yards and a touchdown before Drew Lock came in for mop-up duty. Kenneth Walker III was the star of the show on offense with 116 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first Seahawk in franchise history to rush for over 100 and three scores in a playoff game. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught his first touchdown against the 49ers, while Cooper Kupp (!!) led Seattle with 5 catches for 60 yards.

As for the defense? What more can be said? Three turnovers forced, no touchdowns allowed for the second time in a row against the Niners, no explosive rushes allowed to Christian McCaffrey, and well under 300 yards of offense once again. Ernest Jones had an interception and a fumble forced, while rookie Nick Emmanwori recovered a fumble following a DeMarcus Lawrence strip-sack.

The only concerns on the night were injuries to Zach Charbonnet and Charles Cross, with Charbonnet injuring his leg and Cross hurting his foot. Neither returned to action but neither was even needed.

Seattle is going to the NFC Championship Game! From no playoffs for two years, no playoff win since the 2019 season, to one win from heading to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60.

Seahawks-49ers 1st half recap

The 49ers won the toss and the Seahawks started on offense first. Sort of. Rashid Shaheed got the ball and ran it 95 yards for an opening kickoff touchdown! Eddy Pineiro tried to trip him in a last ditch effort and was flagged for the effort. WHAT A START! 7-0 Seahawks.

Seattle almost made it 14-0 when Brock Purdy was hit by DeMarcus Lawrence as he threw. Nick Emmanwori ran it back for the score but it was rightly ruled incomplete. On 3rd and 1 in Seattle territory, Christian McCaffrey was stuffed by Byron Murphy II. After a Seahawks timeout, the 49ers’ 4th and 1 play was an… option with Kyle Juszczyk? He pitched it to McCaffrey and it had no chance!

The Seahawks started with a couple of touches for Kenneth Walker on the ground and in the air. A Zach Charbonnet left-side toss out of the I-formation gained 15. A.J. Barner converted on a 3rd and 1 “Barnyard” sneak to put Seattle in the red zone. Zach Charbonnet was stuffed on 3rd and 1 by the returning Dee Winters, resulting in a 31-yard Jason Myers field goal. 10-0 Seahawks.

BALL! Jake Tonges had the catch for a first down, but George Kittle’s replacement had it ripped out by Ernest Jones! Julian Love on the recovery at the 49ers’ 42-yard line! This is still the first quarter, by the way.

The Seahawks capitalized off of that short field despite a disastrous start. Sam Darnold was sacked on 1st and 10 by Malik Mustapha on the blitz, but he fired a 20-yard out route to Cooper Kupp for a first down on the next throw. Rashid Shaheed got tackled by rookie Marques Sigle at the 7-yard line, setting up a goal-to-go. On 2nd and goal, it was a Darnold rollout to his left looking for someone… and he found Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the touchdown! 17-0 Seahawks.

Brock Purdy made an impressive play to help get the 49ers on the scoreboard. With DeMarcus Lawrence chasing him down for a sack, Purdy threw it back across the field to an open Jake Tonges for a critical third-down conversion. One more first-down by Christian McCaffrey made the field goal range more comfortable, and Eddy Pineiro booted it through the uprights from 40. 17-3 Seahawks.

Seattle responded to San Francisco’s first score with its first three-and-out. Sam Darnold went deep on 3rd and 2 to a covered Rashid Shaheed and it was overthrown. Michael Dickson’s elite punt pinned the 49ers at their own 5.

Despite being pinned, it was the McCaffrey and Tonges show for the 49ers. Most of the yards came from those two players, and once again the 49ers moved into field goal range. A would-be third-down conversion on a diving catch by Ricky Pearsall was rightfully called back as incomplete. Eddy Pineiro still drilled one straight from 56 to cut into the deficit some more. 17-6 Seahawks.

It looked like another three-and-out was coming for the Seahawks after Zach Charbonnet was stopped on 3rd and 2 (and injured along the way). A critical defensive hold by Jordan Elliott on Jalen Sundell resulted in a new set of downs, followed by an explosive 30-yard run by Rashid Shaheed. Faced with 3rd and 10, Sam Darnold went to ol’ reliable… JAKE BOBO?! YES! MORE BOBO!

Kenneth Walker wrapped up the drive with a 7-yard touchdown to make it 24-6 Seahawks!

Seahawks-49ers 2nd half recap

It was a virtual must for the 49ers to score to start the second half. Leonard Williams sacked Purdy to force yet another turnover on downs!

The Seahawks once again reached the red zone but this time they were unable to overcome a Sam Darnold sack. Jason Myers chipped one through from 24 to add to the lead. 27-6 Seahawks.

PICK! Have a day, Ernest Jones IV! There was no pass rush on Purdy but no open receivers. Jones forced the fumble earlier on Tonges and then picked this pass intended for Luke Farrell.

Get another short field? Get another touchdown. Kenneth Walker made a great grab on third-down for 14 yards and was rewarded with his second touchdown of the night.

Following another turnover on downs, the Seahawks once again turned to Kenneth Walker, whose career night was completed with a hat-trick touchdown! 41-6 Seahawks.

Another turnover! DeMarcus Lawrence with the sack on Brock Purdy, Nick Emmanwori with the fumble recovery. Game. Blouses. Drew Lock came in for garbage time duties, with Velus Jones carrying the ball to run the clock out. Mac Jones came in and did nothing. 41-6 Seahawks FINAL.

Full Seahawks-49ers Box Score

Next week’s opponent

The NFC Championship will be decided at Lumen Field. It’ll be the Seahawks hosting the winner of the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears matchup. Kickoff date and time is Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3:30 pm PT on FOX.