Seahawks vs. 49ers: Round 3 - A Heavyweight NFC West Showdown with a Trip to the Title Game on the Line
It’s all come down to this. For the third and final time this season, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are set to clash-this time with everything on the line.
The NFC Championship Game awaits the winner. The loser?
They’ll be packing up for the offseason.
Seattle enters this Divisional Round matchup riding high after a franchise-best 14-win regular season, capped by a gritty Week 18 win over these same 49ers in Santa Clara. It was a full-circle moment for the Seahawks, who opened the year with a Week 1 loss at home to San Francisco. Now, they get the rubber match back at Lumen Field, with a chance to punch their first ticket to the Super Bowl since the 2014 season.
For the 49ers, it’s been a season of resilience. Despite a roster that's taken its share of hits, they’ve weathered the storm to finish 12-5 and pull off a gutsy upset of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. It’s not the cleanest path, but they’ve made it to the final eight-and they’re not here to just make up the numbers.
Injury Report: Key Players In, Key Players Out
This isn’t the same matchup we saw in Week 18, and both teams are rolling into Saturday night with notable changes on the depth chart.
San Francisco will be without one of its emotional and physical leaders, tight end George Kittle, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. That’s a massive loss-not just in the passing game, but in the run game where Kittle’s blocking has long been a difference-maker. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown is also out with a hamstring issue, thinning the 49ers’ secondary at a critical time.
However, there is good news for the Niners: All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams is back in the lineup, which is huge for keeping their quarterback upright and giving the offense a fighting chance. Rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall could also return, adding some juice to a receiving corps that’s been stretched thin.
Seattle, meanwhile, gets a boost with left tackle Charles Cross and defensive back Coby Bryant returning to action. That’s big on both sides of the ball-Cross stabilizes the line, while Bryant adds versatility to a secondary that’s going to be tested.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is listed as questionable with a left oblique issue, but all signs point to him suiting up. He’ll likely be under close watch, but availability is half the battle in January football.
The Series So Far: Road Teams Rule
The season series is tied 1-1, with both teams stealing wins on the road. San Francisco took the opener in Seattle, while the Seahawks returned the favor in Week 18 with a 13-3 win in Santa Clara that clinched the division. That game was a defensive slugfest, and if recent history is any indication, we could be in for another tight, physical battle.
This rivalry has always had a little extra juice, and now the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Seahawks are looking to ride their momentum all the way to the NFC title game, while the 49ers are trying to prove they’re still a force, even with a banged-up roster.
What’s at Stake
It’s simple: Win, and you’re one step away from the Super Bowl. Lose, and the season’s over.
For Seattle, this is a chance to turn a record-setting regular season into something even more meaningful. It’s been over a decade since their last Super Bowl appearance, and this group has the mix of youth, experience, and balance on both sides of the ball to make a real run.
For San Francisco, it’s about grit and legacy. Injuries have tested their depth and resolve, but they’ve answered the bell. A win in Seattle would be a statement that this team isn’t done yet, no matter who’s missing from the lineup.
Kickoff Info
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026
- Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
- Location: Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington
- TV: FOX
- Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady
- Sideline Reporters: Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews
- Radio: Seahawks Broadcast: Steve Raible and Dave Wyman (Reporter: Jen Mueller) National Broadcast: Kevin Kugler and Derek Rackley (Westwood One Sports)
The Road to the Divisional Round: Seahawks’ 2025 Regular Season Recap
Seattle’s journey to this point has been nothing short of impressive. After a narrow Week 1 loss to the Niners, the Seahawks found their rhythm. They rattled off wins against playoff-caliber teams like the Steelers, Saints, and Texans, and closed the year on a tear-winning their final six games, including a thrilling overtime victory over the Rams and a dominant shutout of the Vikings.
Here’s a quick look at their regular season results:
- Week 1: vs. 49ers - L 17-13
- Week 2: at Steelers - W 31-17
- Week 3: vs. Saints - W 44-13
- Week 4: at Cardinals - W 23-20
- Week 5: vs.
Buccaneers - L 38-35
- Week 6: at Jaguars - W 20-12
- Week 7: vs. Texans - W 27-19
- Week 8: BYE
- Week 9: at Commanders - W 38-14
- Week 10: vs. Cardinals - W 44-22
- Week 11: at Rams - L 21-19
- Week 12: at Titans - W 30-24
- Week 13: vs. Vikings - W 26-0
- Week 14: at Falcons - W 37-9
- Week 15: vs.
Colts - W 18-16
- Week 16: vs.
Rams - W 38-37 (OT)
- Week 17: at Panthers - W 27-10
- Week 18: at 49ers - W 13-3
Seattle’s defense has been quietly dominant, and the offense has found ways to win in different styles-blowouts, nail-biters, shootouts, and slugfests. That kind of versatility is what makes this team dangerous in the postseason.
Final Word
This is what playoff football is all about-two familiar foes, one high-stakes matchup, and a ticket to the NFC Championship on the line. The Seahawks have the home crowd, the momentum, and a healthy roster. The 49ers have the experience, the toughness, and nothing to lose.
Round three is set. Let’s see who lands the final punch.