Seahawks Strike Early, Leave 49ers Stunned in One-Sided NFC Playoff Showdown

Seattle: The night was barely underway when the outcome began to feel inevitable.

Thirteen seconds after kickoff, Rashid Shaheed caught the ball, found a seam, and sprinted 95 yards untouched into the end zone. The roar inside the stadium said everything. From that instant on, the Seattle Seahawks never loosened their grip, dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 on Saturday night to march into the NFC Championship Game.

What followed was not a contest, but a steady unraveling.

Seattle’s offense struck with patience and precision. Sam Darnold, listed as questionable all week with an oblique injury, looked calm and in control, steering the Seahawks to score after score. He threw a touchdown pass, avoided mistakes, and quietly secured the first playoff win of his career in his debut postseason run with the franchise.

By the time San Francisco found the scoreboard with a field goal, Seattle had already seized control of the game’s tempo and emotion.

Kenneth Walker III delivered the finishing blows. Time and again, he broke through the 49ers’ defense, pounding his way to three rushing touchdowns, a performance that tied a franchise playoff record and drained any remaining hope from the visitors’ sideline.

San Francisco never recovered. Missing key stars and struggling to protect the ball, the 49ers looked overwhelmed. Brock Purdy was under constant pressure, turning the ball over twice as Seattle’s defense swarmed relentlessly. Each stop, each forced mistake, tightened the Seahawks’ hold on the night.

The gap only widened as the game wore on. Seattle’s defense smothered every attempt at momentum, while the offense continued to chip away, turning the playoff matchup into one of the most lopsided postseason losses in 49ers history.

By the final whistle, the score told a harsh story: 41-6, a night of dominance that began with a single electrifying run and ended with Seattle standing one step from the Super Bowl.

Now, the Seahawks wait at home, the NFC title game ahead, confidence surging and belief growing stronger. One more win remains. For Seattle, the path is suddenly clear.