When people look back at the seahawks vs 49ers 2023 series, they usually talk about the scoreboard. They see a season sweep. They see San Francisco asserting dominance. But honestly, if you actually watched the games, the vibe was way more chaotic than just a simple "better team wins" narrative.
It was a year where Seattle felt like they were constantly one break away from a breakthrough, while the 49ers looked like a machine that occasionally hit a speed bump but never actually stalled.
The Thanksgiving Beatdown at Lumen Field
The first real clash of 2023 happened on Thanksgiving night. You've probably seen the clip: the 49ers eating turkey on the Seahawks' logo after the game. It was a statement.
San Francisco walked into Seattle and basically took over the building. Christian McCaffrey was a problem. A huge problem. He racked up 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Seattle’s defense looked gapped.
Geno Smith was playing with a banged-up elbow, and it showed. The Niners' pass rush, led by Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave, lived in the backfield. They sacked Smith six times. Think about that. Six times in one night.
Despite a brief spark when Jordyn Brooks returned a Brock Purdy interception for a touchdown, the Seahawks couldn't sustain anything. The final was 31-13, and it wasn't even that close.
✨ Don't miss: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
The December Rematch: Different Quarterback, Same Result?
Fast forward a couple of weeks to December 10. The setting shifted to Santa Clara.
This game was weirder. Geno Smith was out with a groin injury, so Drew Lock got the start. Most fans expected a total blowout. Surprisingly, the Seahawks hung around. Lock actually played pretty well, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
But Christian McCaffrey happened again.
On the very first play from scrimmage, McCaffrey ripped off a 72-yard run. It set the tone instantly. Even though Seattle fought back to lead 10-7 at one point, Deebo Samuel decided he wasn't losing. He finished with 149 receiving yards and a score, basically bullying the Seattle secondary.
The 49ers won 28-16. It completed the regular-season sweep and effectively slammed the door on Seattle’s hopes of catching them in the NFC West.
🔗 Read more: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
Why the Gap Felt So Wide
If you're wondering why Seattle struggled so much in the seahawks vs 49ers 2023 matchups, it comes down to two specific things: efficiency and line play.
- Brock Purdy's Accuracy: In the December game, Purdy averaged a ridiculous 11.8 yards per attempt. He wasn't just dinking and dunking; he was carving them up.
- The Trenches: Seattle’s offensive line simply couldn't handle the San Francisco front four. Whether it was Geno or Lock, the pocket was rarely clean.
- CMC's Gravity: Even when McCaffrey wasn't getting the ball, the Seahawks had to commit so many resources to stopping him that George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk were consistently finding soft spots in the zone.
Seattle finished the season 9-8, while the 49ers went 12-5 and earned the top seed. Those head-to-head games were the literal difference between winning the division and fighting for a wildcard spot.
Looking Back at the Impact
The seahawks vs 49ers 2023 season was a turning point for both franchises. For San Francisco, it proved their roster was arguably the most talented in the NFL. For Seattle, it was the final year of the Pete Carroll era.
It’s crazy to think about now, but those games were some of the last times we saw Carroll’s specific brand of "always compete" football against Kyle Shanahan’s high-precision system.
The 49ers weren't just better; they were more disciplined. They committed fewer penalties and capitalized on every single Seattle mistake.
💡 You might also like: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
What This Means for Future Matchups
If you’re a Seahawks fan, you have to look at 2023 as the blueprint of what not to do. You can't let Christian McCaffrey dictate the tempo on the first play. You can't let your quarterback get hit six times in a single game.
The rivalry is still intense, but 2023 showed that the "gap" in the NFC West was very real.
To bridge that gap, the focus has to stay on defensive front depth. If you can't pressure Purdy without blitzing, he’s going to find Deebo or Kittle every single time. It’s a math problem that Seattle hasn't quite solved yet.
Moving forward, keep an eye on how Seattle’s new defensive schemes handle the "wideback" roles that San Francisco uses so well. The 2023 tape is basically a masterclass in how the 49ers use motion to confuse Seattle’s linebackers.
Study the line play. That's where these games are won. If the Seahawks can't protect the interior, the scoreboards in 2024 and 2025 will probably look a lot like the ones we saw in 2023.