Seahawks Dominate 49ers in Divisional Round Blowout, Punch Ticket to NFC Championship
Seattle didn’t just win on Saturday night - they made a statement. In a performance that conjured memories of the Legion of Boom days, the Seahawks steamrolled the San Francisco 49ers, 41-6, in the NFC Divisional Round at Lumen Field. The 35-point margin ties the largest playoff victory in franchise history, matching their iconic 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
With the win, Seattle advances to its first NFC Championship Game since 2014. They'll host the winner of Sunday’s matchup between the Rams and Bears, and for the third straight season, they’ll do so as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
A Start That Set the Tone
Seattle wasted no time grabbing control. On the opening kickoff, Pro Bowl returner Rashid Shaheed took it 95 yards to the house - the first kickoff return touchdown in an NFL playoff game since Dion Lewis in 2016. It was the kind of play that instantly flipped the switch at Lumen Field, igniting a crowd that’s been waiting for a moment like this.
The Seahawks’ defense followed suit. After a well-timed timeout by head coach Mike Macdonald wiped out a successful fourth-down conversion by the 49ers, the re-do saw San Francisco lose three yards on an option run. Seattle capitalized with a field goal, then turned up the pressure.
Linebacker Ernest Jones ripped the ball away from tight end Jake Tonges, and safety Julian Love recovered the fumble to give Seattle a short field. Just five plays later, quarterback Sam Darnold rolled out and zipped a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the back corner of the end zone. Just like that, it was 17-0 - and we weren’t even out of the first quarter.
That 17-point lead was more than just a cushion - it was historic. Teams trailing by 17 or more after the first quarter in playoff history are now just 2-16. It was also the Seahawks’ largest first-quarter playoff lead ever and the 49ers’ biggest first-quarter deficit in their postseason history.
Walker Runs Wild, Seattle Keeps Foot on the Gas
San Francisco tried to claw back in the second quarter with a pair of field goals from Eddie Pineiro - one from 40 yards, another from 56. But Seattle answered with a methodical 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 7-yard cutback touchdown run from Kenneth Walker III.
Walker wasn’t done. He added two more scores in the second half - one from 15 yards out, another from six - finishing the night with 116 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 carries.
That’s 6.1 yards a pop. He joins Shaun Alexander as the only Seahawks to post three rushing touchdowns in a playoff game.
Seattle shut the door with authority in the second half, outscoring the 49ers 17-0. San Francisco’s offense completely unraveled: two turnovers on downs, an interception, and a strip-sack on four second-half possessions.
Brock Purdy never found a rhythm, finishing 15-of-27 for 140 yards, an interception, and a lost fumble. He spent most of the night under siege, and by the time both teams began subbing in backups with over nine minutes left, the result was long decided.
Takeaways
Seahawks Own the 49ers in 2025
Seattle didn’t just beat San Francisco this season - they dominated them. Across three matchups, the 49ers managed just 26 total points. That ties the fewest points scored in a three-game head-to-head matchup in a single season during the Super Bowl era, matching the 1994 Browns’ output against the Steelers.
Saturday’s win was a complete team effort. Shaheed’s special teams touchdown.
Ernest Jones forcing two turnovers - a fumble and a pick. Leonard Williams blowing up the 49ers’ offensive line for a 14-yard sack on a critical fourth down.
DeMarcus Lawrence strip-sacking Purdy, with safety Nick Emmanwori pouncing on the ball. Every phase clicked, and the Seahawks looked like a team on a mission.
Sam Darnold Steady Despite Injury
Darnold showed up on the injury report late in the week with an oblique issue, but you wouldn’t have known it watching him play. He was efficient, poised, and unbothered in the pocket, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what Seattle needed - mistake-free football and timely throws. With an extra day of rest before the NFC title game, Darnold should be ready to go as Seattle eyes a return to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers Ran Out of Gas
San Francisco entered the game leading all playoff teams in games missed due to injury - 287 in total. Combine that with a cross-country flight and a short week after a physical win in Philadelphia, and the 49ers looked like a team running on fumes.
Kyle Shanahan has worked magic all year despite the injuries, but there was only so much left in the tank. Seattle’s speed, physicality, and freshness were too much to overcome.
What’s Next?
The Seahawks now wait to see who comes to town next - the Rams or the Bears. Either way, Lumen Field is back to being one of the most intimidating venues in football, and this Seattle team looks every bit like a Super Bowl contender.
They’re fast, physical, and balanced across all three phases. And if Saturday night was any indication, they’ve got their swagger back.