NFC Championship Preview: A 49ers Fan’s Dilemma and a Glimpse at the Road Ahead
If you're a 49ers fan, this Sunday might feel like a gut punch. The NFC Championship Game is set - and it’s a matchup between your two biggest rivals: the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.
To make matters worse? The winner gets to play in the Super Bowl… at Levi’s Stadium.
Yeah, that stings.
After a 2025 season filled with injuries and heartbreak, the Niners still managed to overachieve. They clawed their way to the divisional round and were within striking distance of their third Super Bowl appearance under Kyle Shanahan. But that dream ended with a lopsided loss in Seattle, and now the Faithful are left watching two familiar foes battle for the right to lift the Lombardi - on your home turf.
So no one’s going to judge you if you decide to spend Sunday far away from the TV. Whether you're hitting the slopes, catching up on chores, or diving into early NFL Draft scouting mode (hello, pick No. 27), it’s understandable if you’d rather not watch either of these teams win anything.
But if you do tune in - and there are plenty of reasons to - you’re in for one of the most high-level chess matches we’ve seen in years.
Clash of the NFC West Titans
The NFC West was the NFL's toughest division in 2025, and it’s no coincidence that two of its teams are still standing. What’s driven that success?
Coaching. And a whole lot of it.
On one sideline, you’ve got Mike Macdonald, the rising star in Seattle. In just two seasons as head coach, he’s turned the Seahawks into a juggernaut.
They’ve gone 21-5 over their last 26 games and set franchise records this season in wins (14), points scored (483), and point differential (+191). That’s not just good - that’s historic.
Macdonald’s defensive pedigree is well known. His units have ranked top-three in scoring defense in three of the last four seasons, including his time as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. And now, with a balanced, high-scoring offense to match, Seattle is playing like a team built to win now - and for years to come.
On the other sideline? Sean McVay.
The offensive mastermind who brought a Super Bowl to L.A. in 2021 and continues to evolve his scheme with surgical precision. With Matthew Stafford still slinging it and the Rams leading the league in both yards and scoring, McVay’s offense is humming at full throttle.
He’s not just calling plays - he’s orchestrating symphonies.
The advanced metrics back it up. The combined DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) of these two teams is the highest ever in postseason history. Translation: this isn’t just a rivalry game - it’s one of the most efficient, well-coached matchups the playoffs have ever seen.
Even if you’re a 49ers fan who wishes both teams could somehow lose, this is must-watch football.
What the 49ers Can Learn From This
While the Niners came up short this season, their path forward is clear - and it runs through Seattle and L.A.
Start with the offense. The 49ers were held to just nine points combined in their final two games - both losses to the Seahawks.
That’s not going to cut it in a division this competitive. The front office knows they need more speed and explosiveness at wide receiver to stretch the field and take some of the pressure off Christian McCaffrey.
Right now, the offense is leaning too heavily on him to be both the engine and the spark.
On defense, it’s all about the pass rush. When the Rams rolled into Levi’s Stadium in November and dropped 42 points, Stafford had all day to throw.
He tossed four touchdowns and was sacked just once. That can’t happen again - not if the 49ers want to reclaim the top spot in the NFC West.
Getting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back healthy is a big step. But they’ll need help.
Whether it’s through the draft or free agency, bolstering the defensive line is a top priority this offseason. The rest of the division isn’t slowing down, and if the 49ers want to keep pace, they need to reload - not rebuild.
Who Do You Want Roaming Levi’s Stadium in February?
Let’s be honest - neither fan base is exactly welcome in Santa Clara. But if you’re a 49ers fan, there’s a clear pecking order when it comes to tolerability.
The Rams? You’ve had their number.
San Francisco is 11-8 against McVay since 2017, and 49ers fans have routinely taken over SoFi Stadium like it’s a second home. Rams fans, for the most part, don’t bring the same venom.
Seattle fans? That’s a different story.
The “12s” pride themselves on being loud, loyal, and - let’s face it - deeply annoying to 49ers fans. The rivalry is real, and the hostility is mutual.
Seahawks fans have created one of the toughest road environments in the league, and when the Niners come to town, it’s personal. We’ve even seen 49ers players rip up signs in Seattle - it’s that intense.
So if you’re thinking about which fan base you’d rather not see flooding the Bay Area for Super Bowl week, the answer is pretty clear. The Rams might be rivals, but the Seahawks are the ones who stir up the most animosity. A Rams win might not feel great - but it’ll make for a quieter February in Levi’s Stadium.
The AFC Picture: A New Era?
Over in the AFC, things are just as unpredictable - but for very different reasons.
For the first time since 2018, Patrick Mahomes won’t be in the AFC Championship. Neither will Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow.
Instead, we’ve got the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots. Not exactly what anyone had penciled in back in August.
Denver is turning to backup Jarrett Stidham after starter Bo Nix went down with a fractured ankle last week. Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2018, but here he is - leading a team into the AFC title game against the franchise that drafted him.
On the other side, Drake Maye has quickly emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars. In just his second season, he’s helped bring the Patriots back from the post-Brady wilderness under head coach Mike Vrabel. Maye’s poise, arm talent, and leadership have made him an MVP candidate and New England’s best hope at a new dynasty.
It’s not the star-studded AFC Championship we’re used to, but it’s compelling in its own way. A journeyman backup facing his old team.
A young phenom trying to carve out his own legacy. And two franchises with rich histories - the Patriots (six Super Bowls) and Broncos (three) - looking to get back on top.
Final Thought
All four teams left in the playoff picture - the Rams, Seahawks, Patriots, and Broncos - have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at least once since the 49ers last did it in 1995. That’s the reality San Francisco faces heading into the offseason.
The good news? The foundation is still strong.
The core is still elite. And with the right moves, the 49ers can be right back in the mix next season.
But for now? Sunday’s a reminder of how close - and how far - they are.