For the second time in just three weeks, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are set to square off again-this time with even higher stakes. Their last meeting, a gritty 13-3 Seahawks win in Santa Clara, decided the NFC West and handed Seattle a first-round playoff bye. Now, with everything on the line once more, they’ll meet in Seattle for a postseason rematch that promises to be as physical and intense as the first.
The 49ers didn’t fold after that Week 18 loss. Instead, they went on the road and knocked off the Eagles 23-19 in the Wild Card round-an impressive feat considering the injuries that have piled up for San Francisco all season long.
But if their underdog run is going to continue, they’ll need to do it without one of their most important offensive weapons. Tight end Greg Kittle is done for the year after suffering an Achilles injury in that win over Philly.
That’s a brutal blow, especially against a Seahawks defense that already held this offense to just three points two weeks ago.
Seattle, meanwhile, is looking to notch its first playoff win under head coach Mike McDonald. And they’re not about to overlook a 49ers team that’s made a habit of defying expectations. If the Seahawks are going to keep their season alive and end San Francisco’s improbable run, here’s what needs to happen.
Sam Darnold Has to Step Up-Carefully
Let’s be clear: the Seahawks didn’t ask Sam Darnold to win the game the last time these two teams played. They just needed him not to lose it-and he delivered.
Darnold threw for 198 yards, didn’t find the end zone, but more importantly, didn’t turn the ball over either. Seattle leaned heavily on its ground game, with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet combining for over 170 rushing yards and a touchdown.
That formula worked.
But now the stakes are higher, and the 49ers’ defense knows what’s coming. If San Francisco sells out to stop the run-and they likely will-Darnold’s going to have to make plays through the air.
The weapons are there: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The question is whether Darnold can deliver without making the kind of mistakes that have haunted him in big moments before.
His last high-leverage playoff outing came with the Vikings last year, and it ended with a divisional-round loss. The last time he was asked to do more than manage a game was back in mid-December against the Rams.
He threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns-but also tossed two picks. That kind of volatility is exactly what a wounded 49ers team is hoping for.
If Darnold can walk the tightrope-aggressive but not reckless-Seattle’s offense becomes a lot harder to defend.
The Defense Just Needs to Keep Being That Defense
Seattle’s defense didn’t just beat the 49ers in Week 18. They smothered them.
San Francisco managed just 175 total yards. Brock Purdy was under siege all game, finishing with just 127 passing yards and a pick.
Christian McCaffrey? Held to 23 yards on the ground.
The 49ers’ longest run of the night was an 11-yard scramble by Purdy. They had only one drive longer than 30 yards, and it ended with an interception at the Seattle 4-yard line.
That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by accident. The Seahawks defense has been one of the league’s most consistent units all season, especially in the trenches. They’ve got the personnel to generate pressure without blitzing, and their secondary has been opportunistic when quarterbacks are forced into rushed decisions.
San Francisco will have to get creative to move the ball. Against Philly, they pulled off a trick play with wide receiver Jauan Jennings throwing a 29-yard touchdown to McCaffrey.
That kind of ingenuity might be their best shot again. But Seattle’s defense knows the playbook-and they’ll be ready to punish any desperation.
Jason Myers Has to Be Automatic
Seattle’s game plan against the 49ers has been conservative by design. They’re not trying to win shootouts-they’re trying to control the clock, avoid turnovers, and cash in on scoring opportunities when they get them. That puts a lot of pressure on kicker Jason Myers, and for most of the season, he’s delivered.
But in the regular-season finale, Myers had a rough outing, missing two field goals and sending a kickoff out of bounds. The Seahawks managed to win anyway, but in a playoff game where points will be at a premium, they can’t afford a repeat. A missed field goal is nearly as damaging as a turnover-it flips field position and gives a short-handed 49ers offense a chance to work with a short field.
The good news for Seattle? Myers has been rock solid at home.
He’s hit 20 of 22 field goals at Lumen Field this year-91%. If the game comes down to a final possession, the Seahawks need to be able to count on him.
Bottom Line: The 49ers aren’t going away quietly. Even without Kittle and with a patchwork offensive line, they’ve shown they can hang around and make things interesting.
But Seattle knows this team. They’ve seen the tricks, they’ve seen the tendencies, and they’ve already proven they can shut them down.
If the Seahawks stick to the script-run the ball, play suffocating defense, and avoid mistakes-they’re in a strong position to move on. Expect another low-scoring, hard-hitting battle. And if Jason Myers finds his rhythm again, he just might be the difference.