The Seattle Seahawks are two home wins from returning to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX. It would be fitting because on that field Saturday night the Seahawks looked like a Super Bowl-worthy team, at least on defense.
The 49ers’ offense averaged 42.3 points and 455.3 yards per game in December, helping San Francisco force a huge game Saturday in which the winner would be NFC West champs and clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and the loser would be a wild-card team. The Seahawks clamped down on the 49ers’ red-hot offense in one of the most impressive defensive performances of the season, leading a 13-3 win that gave Seattle the first seed in the NFC and the division title.
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The 49ers had 173 yards. That is the fewest in any regular-season game under Kyle Shanahan, who became the 49ers’ head coach in 2017. The previous low was 191 in a 2024 game against the Los Angeles Rams, via NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno.
Brock Purdy didn’t surpass 100 passing yards until the first few minutes of the fourth quarter and threw a critical interception in the red zone in the fourth quarter. When he was hit on a fourth-down incompletion that effectively ended the game in the final two minutes, he stayed down in some pain. Purdy was under pressure most of the night from a fierce Seahawks defense.
The win means the Seahawks get a bye week and will host a divisional-round game and potentially an NFC championship game.
Facing Seattle defense’s on the road in a playoff game seems like a tough assignment for anyone. The 49ers were the NFL’s hottest offense, and they got almost nothing against the Seahawks in a massive regular-season matchup. Now the 49ers have to go on the road next week while the Seahawks rest up.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III came up with a critical first down on third-and-17 in Seattle’s victory on Saturday night against San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)Seahawks’ dominance started early but they couldn’t take bigger advantage
The 49ers’ offense was one of the talking points of the NFL through December. Nobody could slow it down. Perhaps Seattle’s defense should have gotten a little more attention.
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The 49ers couldn’t get much going early Saturday. Through the first quarter, San Francisco had 15 yards and no first downs. Seattle was controlling the game but having a hard time building a big lead. The Seahawks had an inexplicable sequence on fourth-and-goal on their first drive, passing from the 1-yard line and taking an 11-yard sack, then running two straight times before going for it on fourth down and throwing incomplete. Seattle did hit a 27-yard touchdown run from Zach Charbonnet but also had a missed field goal. They had outgained the 49ers 150-15 by the time of that missed field goal and had just a 7-0 lead.
The 49ers and Seahawks traded field goals after that. Seattle was swarming San Francisco on defense and moving the ball well with 196 yards at halftime. For the 49ers to trail just 10-3 after the first half seemed like a big win for them, given how they had been dominated on both sides of the ball. But Seattle’s defense made sure it wasn’t a problem.
Seahawks’ defense never really let up
The Seahawks weren’t blowing anyone away on offense but had one key drive that helped them get a two-score lead. Kenneth Walker III picked up 19 yards on a pitchout on third-and-17, a huge play to keep the drive going. The Seahawks settled for a field goal, but the 11-play, 55-yard drive resulted in a 13-3 lead early in the fourth quarter.
After that the 49ers made one huge mistake inside the red zone that cost them dearly. Purdy’s pass to Christian McCaffrey was tipped slightly at the line, causing it to be behind McCaffrey a bit. It bounced off McCaffrey’s hands and linebacker Drake Thomas made an excellent play to react to the ball in the air and snagged an interception at the 3-yard line. The Seahawks had all the answers for the 49ers’ offense.
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Seattle played a turnover-free game on offense, which was a concern coming in because of Sam Darnold’s history of throwing key interceptions in big games. Seattle dictated the flow of the game by rushing it with impressive efficiency against a subpar 49ers defense.
The 49ers will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. If the Rams win Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, they’ll be the No. 5 seed and San Francisco will slide down to No. 6. That seems unfair — especially since it would mean a trip to either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Chicago Bears — given how good the 49ers have been this season through a spate of injuries. It was just unlucky that the 49ers happened to play in the same division as the best team in the NFL this regular season.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Seahawks and 49ers clash in a quest to win the No. 1 seed in the NFC in Week 18.
Live coverage is over37 updates
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
SEAHAWKS
Darnold: 20/26, 198 yards
Walker III: 16 rush, 97 yards; 4 rec, 36 yards
Charbonnet: 17 rush, 74 yards, TD
Smith-Njigba: 6 rec, 84 yards
Thomas: 5 total tackles, 2 PD, 1 INT
3rd Down: 6/13
Total yards: 361
Rushing yards: 180
Time of possession: 37:48
49ERS
Purdy: 19/27, 127 yards, 1 INT
McCaffrey: 8 rush, 23 yards; 6 rec, 34 yards
Jennings: 4 rec, 35 yards
Bethune: 7 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD
3rd Down: 2/9
Total yards: 173
Rushing yards: 53
Time of possession: 22:12
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Seattle Seahawks have won the NFC West and earned the top seed in the conference, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
They outgained the San Francisco 49ers 361-173.
Seattle had 23 first downs, whereas San Francisco mustered only nine.
Brock Purdy was under duress all night, and the 49ers’ run game was bottled up. The Seahawks missed some opportunities for points — they turned it over on downs on a drive where they had first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and they missed two field goal attempts — but they moved the ball up and down the field.
Seattle’s in the driver’s seat heading into the postseason.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:49 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The 49ers’ last-ditch effort to chip away at the Seahawks’ lead ended prematurely. San Francisco turned it over on downs on its own 24-yard line.
Purdy was hit from his blind side as he was throwing to tight end George Kittle.
Backup left tackle Austen Pleasants, replacing Trent Williams, let linebacker Derick Hall through, and Hall slammed Purdy, who was on the ground for a few moments before ultimately getting up and jogging off the field.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Jason Myers has now missed two field goals tonight, this one doinking from only 26 yards out. The wind could be a factor. He also had a kickoff sail out of bounds.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Third-and-long conversions have been the name of the game for the Seahawks. They pulled off another one late in the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold bought some time, extended the play and located wide receiver Cooper Kupp downfield, as the two veterans hooked up for a 24-yard connection.
Darnold has completed 20-of-26 passes for 198 yards.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:31 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
It’s been a roller coaster night for Bethune, who has been in and out of San Francisco’s lineup. He also recorded a sack earlier.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:27 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Just when it looked like the 49ers were going to make it one-score game again, the Seahawks came up with a takeaway in the red zone.
On a pass that Seattle’s Boye Mafe appeared to slightly alter, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey failed to make a difficult catch.
The ball ended up behind him, and he bobbled it. Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas was there to collect the deflection for an interception.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:21 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Rolling right, Brock Purdy dialed up a 20-yard pass to tight end George Kittle. Then he picked up a first down with his legs on the next play.
With another first down, courtesy of a 10-yard Purdy completion to wideout Demarcus Robinson, San Francisco is inside the Seattle 30-yard line for the first time tonight.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:16 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Seahawks are up two scores again, thanks to a 31-yard Jason Myers field goal. Myers is now 2-of-3 on the night.
His kick wouldn’t have been possible without running back Kenneth Walker III scurrying for 19 yards on third-and-17 at the beginning of the drive.
Seattle has 17 first downs but just 13 points.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:09 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
San Francisco is severely depleted in the second level. Dee Winters already went out earlier tonight, and Tatum Bethune was sidelined for a few plays on the current Seahawks series.
Bethune did return, however. With Bethune out, potential defensive options were bleak:
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:06 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III took a toss to the right and then weaved back toward the left before swinging his hips as he was brought to the ground to lengthen a 19-yard gain on third-and-17.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:04 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Seahawks’ starting blind-side protector has returned to the lineup.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 7:02 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
So much for any potential momentum — following cornerback Deommodore Lenoir’s head-turning tackle for loss that forced a Seahawks punt, the 49ers went three-and-out.
Brock Purdy completed a third-down pass to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, however, Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon was right there for the tackle to stop him short of the first down marker.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:56 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
San Francisco needed a stop, and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir delivered one. He brought down Seattle running back Zach Charbonnet in the open field for a loss of five yards on third-and-2.
That TFL forced the Seahawks to punt.
Here’s a closer look (and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s reaction):
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:53 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Seattle is now down to its third option at left tackle. Josh Jones was hit from behind by running back Kenneth Walker III on a third-quarter run.
In comes rookie Amari Knight, who has recorded only two offensive snaps this season. Knight went undrafted out of UCF.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:47 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
San Francisco moved the chains with a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and a four-yard pass to tight end George Kittle.
But then, just as the 49ers were approaching midfield, Brock Purdy was sacked by Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed for a loss of six yards.
Purdy’s subsequent third-and-13 pass fell incomplete, and the Niners punted again.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:36 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
SEAHAWKS
Darnold: 10/13, 98 yards
Charbonnet: 9 rush, 60 yards, TD
Walker III: 9 rush, 50 yards; 2 rec, 21 yards
Smith-Njigba: 4 rec, 52 yards
49ERS
Purdy: 10/13, 47 yards
McCaffrey: 3 rush, 7 yards; 3 rec, 18 yards
Jennings: 3 rec, 19 yards
Green: 7 tackles, 1 PD
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:31 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
San Francisco is fortunate it’s only down seven points to Seattle at the break. The Seahawks are outgaining the 49ers 196-69 through two quarters of play.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:27 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
49ers linebacker Dee Winters got stepped on by Seahawks left tackle Josh Jones, according to the broadcast. He is now questionable to return with an ankle injury.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:25 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
It looked like Kyle Shanahan was going to leave the 49ers’ offense on the field for a fourth-and-3. But after a Seattle timeout, San Francisco opted for three points.
Eddy Piñeiro trotted out and drilled a 48-yard field goal to make it a one-score game.