So, you want to know what happened in the Seattle football game today?
Honestly, the score tells part of the story, but the vibe in the city tells the rest. The Seattle Seahawks didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 at Lumen Field. It wasn't even close. If you turned the game on five minutes late, you already missed the moment the momentum shifted for good.
The Seattle Football Game Today: A Total Rout
It started with a literal bang. Rashid Shaheed, the midseason acquisition who’s been playing like his hair is on fire, took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. 13 seconds in. 7-0. The stadium was rocking so hard it registered on local seismographs. Seriously.
Basically, the 49ers never recovered from that initial punch. By the time the dust settled, the Seahawks had punched their ticket to the NFC Championship game.
Kenneth Walker III vs. The Record Books
You've gotta talk about Kenneth Walker III. He was a monster. On 19 carries, he racked up 116 yards and three rushing touchdowns. That ties him with the legendary Shaun Alexander for the most rushing TDs in a single playoff game in franchise history.
Walker looked different tonight. He was patient. He waited for those wide-zone lanes to open up and then—boom. He was gone. It’s the kind of performance that makes you realize why Mike Macdonald’s staff has been so high on the ground game lately. They’ve now put up over 160 rushing yards in four straight games.
✨ Don't miss: Who Won Michigan Game Yesterday: The Wolverines’ Statement in Seattle
Sam Darnold and the Oblique Drama
There was a lot of chatter heading into this one about Sam Darnold’s health. He’d been dealing with an oblique injury that kept him out of practice for a bit. People were worried.
He didn't need to be a hero, though. Darnold finished 12-of-17 for 124 yards and a nice little four-yard touchdown toss to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Most importantly? Zero turnovers. For a guy who led the league in giveaways during the regular season, playing "boring" mistake-free football was exactly what Seattle needed.
Why the "Dark Side" Defense is for Real
If you're looking for the real reason Seattle won the football game today, look at the defense. They call themselves the "Dark Side," and they played like it. They held the 49ers to just six points. That’s back-to-back games where they haven't allowed San Francisco to touch the end zone.
Brock Purdy was under siege. The Seahawks logged 19 pressures on him—the most they’ve had in a playoff game since 2009.
- Ernest Jones IV: The guy is everywhere. He forced a fumble and grabbed an interception.
- DeMarcus Lawrence: Had a strip-sack that basically ended any hope of a Niners comeback.
- Nick Emmanwori: Recovered a fumble and was a constant thorn in Purdy's side.
The 49ers were missing George Kittle (Achilles), and it showed. They looked slow. They looked tired. And the Seahawks just kept coming.
The Cost of Victory: Injury Updates
It wasn't all celebrations, though. The "Hawks" took some hits. Zach Charbonnet left with a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't come back. Then LT Charles Cross went down with a foot issue in the third.
Losing Cross would be a massive blow heading into the NFC Championship. We'll have to see what the scans say tomorrow, but seeing him limp off definitely dampened the mood for a second.
What Happens Next?
Seattle is now the top seed in the NFC for a reason. They get to stay home. They’ll host the winner of the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams game next Sunday.
If you're planning on going, good luck getting tickets. The "12s" were out in full force today—68,579 people screaming their lungs out. It was the first time Seattle hosted a playoff game with a full crowd since the 2016 season, and you could tell the players fed off it.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Seahawks' run to Super Bowl LX, keep these things in mind:
- Monitor the Injury Report: The health of Charles Cross is the single most important factor for the next round. If he's out, the pass protection for Darnold becomes a major question mark.
- Watch the Defensive Scheme: Mike Macdonald is doing things with disguised coverages that are baffling even veteran quarterbacks. Watch how he uses Ernest Jones IV to bait throws into the middle of the field.
- Special Teams Matter: Rashid Shaheed is a game-changer. Teams are likely going to start kicking away from him, which gives Seattle great starting field position regardless.
The road to the Super Bowl runs through Seattle. Based on what we saw today, it’s going to be a very loud, very difficult road for whoever has to travel to Lumen Field next week.