The San Francisco 49ers are no strangers to high-stakes January football. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, they’ve built a reputation as one of the most consistently dangerous teams in the NFC - and they’ll need every ounce of that postseason pedigree when they take the field this Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round.
Sure, the 49ers dropped their Week 18 matchup to Seattle, a 13-3 loss that ultimately cost them the NFC’s top seed. But this isn’t the regular season anymore.
This is the playoffs, where experience, resilience, and execution matter more than seeding or momentum. And if there’s one thing this San Francisco team has shown over the years, it’s that they know how to rise to the occasion.
Brady Weighs In: “The Niners Can Do It”
Even Tom Brady - a man who knows a thing or two about playoff football - sees potential in this 49ers squad. Appearing on The Herd earlier this week, the seven-time Super Bowl champion offered a measured but optimistic take on San Francisco’s chances.
"The Niners can do it," Brady said. "They've been there before.
They play the Seahawks a lot. It's not like there's going to be some intimidation."
Brady pointed to the 49ers’ physical defense and their ability to play complementary football as key ingredients to success. He highlighted their performance last week as a prime example of what this team is capable of when it clicks on all cylinders.
"I thought defensively last week they were just awesome. They play so hard.
They have such a great play style," he added. "If they can play that way again and buy it enough time, the 49ers have shown a little magic late in the season that they can figure out how to come back and win a lot of these games, even if it's really close."
Seattle Holds the Top Seed, But San Francisco Has Momentum
Seattle earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed with that Week 18 win over the Niners, securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage. That’s no small thing - especially when you consider how tough Lumen Field can be in January. But while the Seahawks were resting, the 49ers were sharpening their edge.
San Francisco stepped up in the wild-card round, knocking off the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in a tight 23-19 battle. That win didn’t just punch their ticket to the next round - it sent a message. The Niners are here, they’re battle-tested, and they’re not backing down from anyone.
Shanahan’s Quest for Redemption
Kyle Shanahan’s postseason résumé is already impressive. Since taking over in 2017, he’s led the 49ers to two Super Bowl appearances - in 2020 and 2024 - both times falling just short against the Kansas City Chiefs.
That kind of heartbreak can break a coach. But in Shanahan’s case, it seems to have only sharpened his focus.
Now, he’s back in the mix with a team that knows what it takes to make a deep run. And while Shanahan won’t be looking past Seattle - not with how tough this rivalry has been - there’s no doubt that the end goal is clear: get back to the Super Bowl, and this time, finish the job.
Saturday Night Lights in Seattle
It all comes down to Saturday at Lumen Field. Two NFC West rivals.
One ticket to the conference championship. And a whole lot of history between them.
For San Francisco, it’s a chance to avenge a costly regular-season loss and continue their march toward another Super Bowl appearance. For Seattle, it’s an opportunity to prove that the No. 1 seed wasn’t just a regular-season accolade - it’s a springboard to something bigger.
Whichever way this one goes, buckle up. The 49ers and Seahawks are about to write another chapter in one of the league’s most compelling rivalries.