If you turned off the TV thinking the Divisional Round would be a predictable slog, honestly, you missed a total shift in the league's power dynamic. Yesterday was one of those days where the "paper favorites" got a reality check. We saw a legendary blowout in the Pacific Northwest and an overtime heart-stopper in the Rockies that probably shaved five years off every Denver fan's life.
Basically, the "old guard" of the NFC and AFC just got a very loud wake-up call.
NFL game scores yesterday: The Seahawks just sent a message
The final score in Seattle—41-6—doesn't even begin to describe the absolute physical tax the Seahawks levied on the San Francisco 49ers. Usually, these NFC West matchups are gritty, three-point affairs decided by a late field goal. Not this time. Seattle looked like they were playing a different sport.
It took exactly 13 seconds for the tone to be set. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, and the 49ers never really caught their breath after that. It was the longest postseason kick return in Seahawks history. It was also a sign that San Francisco's depleted roster finally hit a wall.
Missing George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa is a death sentence against a team as balanced as this Seattle squad. Kenneth Walker III was the engine, turning 19 carries into 116 yards and three touchdowns. He was dancing through gaps that shouldn't have existed. When he wasn't running, Sam Darnold—playing through a painful oblique injury—was surgical enough to keep the chains moving.
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- Final Score: Seattle Seahawks 41, San Francisco 49ers 6
- Key Stat: Kenneth Walker III tied Shaun Alexander’s franchise record for playoff rushing TDs in a single game (3).
- The Damage: Brock Purdy was under siege all night, finishing with just 140 yards, one pick, and a lost fumble.
Seeing the Seahawks "Dark Side" defense dismantle Kyle Shanahan’s offense for the second time in a row feels like a changing of the guard. They didn't allow a single touchdown. Not one. If you're a fan of the Bears or Rams—who play today—you've gotta be looking at that Lumen Field crowd and that defense with a bit of genuine concern.
Denver survives an overtime thriller
The early game was the complete opposite of the Seattle blowout. If the Seahawks game was a demolition, the Broncos-Bills game was a high-speed car chase that ended in a photo finish.
Denver 33, Buffalo 30 (OT). Josh Allen did Josh Allen things, but it wasn't enough to overcome three fumbles and a Denver defense that seemingly plays better the more pressure you put on them. Bo Nix, the rookie who has officially silenced the "he's just a game manager" crowd, went 26 of 46 for 279 yards and three scores. He didn't look like a first-year player; he looked like a guy who’s been in this situation a dozen times.
The game swung wildly in the fourth quarter. Buffalo managed to claw back and force overtime, making it feel like we were headed for another classic Josh Allen miracle. But the Broncos forced a massive interception in the extra period. That paved the way for Will Lutz, who stepped up and iced a 23-yard field goal to send Denver to its first AFC Championship Game since the Peyton Manning era.
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The Bills are going to be haunted by this one. They outgained Denver at several points, but you can't fumble the ball three times in the Divisional Round and expect to fly home with a win. It just doesn't happen.
What this means for the rest of the playoffs
Looking at the nfl game scores yesterday, we have our first two conference finalists. Seattle is hosting the NFC Championship, and Denver is moving on to face either the Texans or the Patriots.
Kinda crazy to think that Sam Darnold and Bo Nix are the first two quarterbacks to punch their tickets. Before the season, most experts would have laughed at that. But football doesn't care about your preseason predictions.
The biggest takeaways for your bracket:
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- Seattle's Home Field is Terrifying: They haven't hosted a playoff game in front of the 12th Man in years, and the energy yesterday was clearly a factor in the 49ers' collapse.
- Denver's Defense is Legit: They thrive on turnovers. If they can get to the quarterback, they can win ugly or win high-scoring shootouts.
- Injuries finally caught the 49ers: You can't play "next man up" forever when the guys going down are All-Pros.
Next Steps for Fans
If you're tracking the path to the Super Bowl, keep an eye on the injury reports for Sam Darnold (oblique) and Christian McCaffrey (stinger). While McCaffrey's season is over, Darnold’s ability to "let it rip" as Cooper Kupp put it will be the deciding factor in whether Seattle can actually finish this run.
For the AFC side, watch how Denver handles the travel if they have to go to Foxborough, or how they prepare for the Texans' explosive offense. The betting lines for the Championship games will likely open tonight after the final whistles. Get your updates early, because the lines for Seattle are likely to shift fast after that 35-point win.
Actionable Insights:
- Check the status of Charles Cross: The Seahawks' LT left with a foot injury. If he's out for the NFC Championship, the blindside protection for Darnold becomes a major narrative.
- Review the AFC match-ups: The winner of Texans/Patriots will host Denver. Denver has struggled on the road historically in the playoffs, so the location matters immensely.
- Monitor the 12th Man: Ticket prices for next Sunday in Seattle are already projected to break records. If you're planning to go, buy now before the winner of Rams/Bears is decided.