The tension in Seattle right now is basically thick enough to cut with a knife. If you’re refreshing your phone every ten seconds asking what is the score for the 49ers game, you aren’t alone. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are currently in the thick of the NFC Divisional Round.
The San Francisco 49ers are at Lumen Field taking on the Seattle Seahawks. This isn't just another game. It's a rubber match. It's a "win or go home" situation that has the entire Bay Area on edge.
Current Game Status: 49ers vs. Seahawks (NFC Divisional Round)
Honestly, this game was always going to be a slugfest. As of right now, the game is in the pre-game/early kickoff stage. Kickoff was officially set for 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET).
If you are looking for the live, second-by-second scoreboard, the most reliable way to see the digits change is the official NFL Game Center or the FOX Sports live tracker. But let’s talk about how we got here, because the "score" is only half the story.
The 2025-2026 Journey to This Moment
San Francisco entered this postseason as the No. 6 seed after a rollercoaster 12-5 regular season. They just came off a massive, gritty 23-19 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round. That game was stressful. Brock Purdy had to navigate a collapsing pocket more times than Kyle Shanahan probably liked, especially with George Kittle banged up.
On the other side, the Seahawks are the No. 1 seed. They’ve been resting. They finished 14-3 and have been waiting for this exact moment to prove that their Week 18 win over the Niners wasn't a fluke.
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Why the Score for the 49ers Game is So Tight
Every time these two teams meet, the stats go out the window. It’s about the "will."
- The Week 1 Matchup: San Francisco won 17-13.
- The Week 18 Matchup: Seattle dominated 13-3.
You see the pattern? Defense. Punishing, "make-you-regret-waking-up" defense. If you're checking the score and seeing a low number, don't be surprised. Mike Macdonald has that Seattle defense playing like the "Legion of Boom" era again. They are currently the top rushing defense in the NFC. That makes life incredibly hard for Christian McCaffrey, who is basically the heartbeat of the 49ers' offensive scheme.
Players Who Are Changing the Scoreboard
When you ask what is the score for the 49ers game, you're really asking if Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold made a mistake.
Darnold has been a revelation for Seattle. He’s 28-6 as a starter over the last two years. That is wild to think about. But he’s 0-1 in the playoffs. The 49ers know this. They are going to throw the kitchen sink at him to see if he blinks under the playoff lights.
Meanwhile, Brock Purdy is 5-2 in the playoffs. He’s a veteran in these moments now. Even if the score looks ugly early on, Purdy has shown he can lead a comeback. Just look at the Philly game last week. He didn't panic. He just kept dinking and dunking until the Eagles' secondary snapped.
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How to Watch the 49ers Game Live
If you’re tired of just reading about the score and want to see the madness for yourself, here is the deal. The game is being broadcast nationally on FOX.
If you're on the move:
- FOX Sports App: You’ll need a cable login for this one.
- NFL+: Great for mobile, but there’s usually a slight delay.
- YouTube TV / FuboTV: If you’ve ditched the cord, these are your best bets.
Radio fans in the Bay Area can tune into KSFO (810 AM) or The Bone (107.7 FM). There is something about hearing Greg Papa call a touchdown that just hits different than the TV broadcast.
The Factors That Will Decide the Final Score
We have to talk about the "short week" drama. Kyle Shanahan wasn't happy. Matt Maiocco from NBC Sports Bay Area wasn't happy. The 49ers played Sunday; the Seahawks had a bye. That’s a massive rest advantage for Seattle.
In a game this physical, fatigue matters in the fourth quarter. If the 49ers are trailing by a touchdown late, keep an eye on the offensive line. Trent Williams is back, which is huge. Without him in Week 18, the Niners' offense looked like it was stuck in mud. With him, Purdy actually has a blindside protector he can trust.
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Real-Time Expectations
Vegas had the Seahawks as 7.5-point favorites heading into this. The over/under was set at 44.5. Most experts are predicting a score somewhere in the neighborhood of 24-20 or 23-20 in favor of the home team.
But anyone who follows the NFC West knows that "expectations" are usually just suggestions. Jauan Jennings is the type of player who can catch a random 3rd-and-15 pass and flip the entire momentum of the stadium.
What to Do Next
If the game is still going, the best thing to do is keep the live feed open. Scores in the NFL change in the blink of an eye.
Once the clock hits zero, pay attention to the injury report. Whoever wins this game has a date in the NFC Championship next Sunday. If the 49ers pull off the upset, they’ll be looking at a matchup against either the Rams or the Bears.
For now, stay tuned to the live broadcast on FOX or check the official NFL app for the most current drive-by-drive updates. The path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara goes through the loudest stadium in the league tonight.
Check the live play-by-play on the NFL official site to see if the Niners' defense can hold Sam Darnold in the red zone. Keep an eye on the turnover battle—it's almost always the deciding factor in these playoff matchups.