The Seattle Seahawks wasted no time turning Saturday night into a one-sided statement.
Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Seahawks never looked back, steamrolling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs to punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game.
Seattle led just 13 seconds into the game, thanks to Shaheed’s electrifying return — the longest postseason kickoff return in franchise history and just the fourth opening-kick touchdown in an NFL playoff game since 2000. From there, the Seahawks controlled every phase.
Kenneth Walker III powered the offense with three rushing touchdowns, tying Shaun Alexander for the most rushing scores in a single playoff game in Seahawks history. Walker consistently gashed a depleted San Francisco defense, setting the tone for a night that quickly spiraled away from the 49ers.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, listed as questionable all week with an oblique injury, delivered a steady and efficient performance in his first postseason win. Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a score in the star receiver’s playoff debut. After a rough playoff showing a year ago in Minnesota, Darnold looked composed and in control, guiding Seattle to multiple early scoring drives.
Seattle entered halftime firmly in command, while San Francisco struggled to generate any momentum. The 49ers’ only points came on two field goals, and they were never competitive in what became the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. The only worse defeat came in 1986, when San Francisco fell 49-3 to the New York Giants.
The injuries were glaring for the 49ers, who were without All-Pros George Kittle, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. Brock Purdy faced relentless pressure from Seattle’s aggressive “Dark Side” defense and finished 15 of 27 for 140 yards, with an interception and a lost fumble. Seattle also forced and recovered a fumble by tight end Jake Tonges, repeatedly flipping the field and suffocating any chance of a comeback.
By the fourth quarter, the result was long decided, and the Seahawks were already looking ahead. Seattle improved to 15-3 on the season and will host either the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
From the opening kick to the final whistle, this was dominance — a night where Seattle announced itself as a legitimate Super Bowl threat and left its longtime rival watching from the sideline.
