The rain was coming down sideways at Lumen Field. It was loud—legitimately, ear-splittingly loud. If you were searching for what's the san francisco 49ers score on Saturday night, January 17, 2026, you likely saw the number that 49ers fans have been dreading all season.
Seattle 24, San Francisco 20.
It’s over. The Niners' season ended in the Pacific Northwest, buried under a mountain of crowd noise and a Seahawks defense that looks like a modern-day reincarnation of the Legion of Boom. Honestly, it felt inevitable at certain points, but that doesn't make the sting any less sharp for a team that has lived and breathed "Super Bowl or bust" for half a decade.
The Final Score: How It All Went Down in Seattle
Look, the 49ers came into this NFC Divisional round as 7-point underdogs. That alone tells you how much the narrative shifted since they beat Philadelphia in the Wild Card round last week. Without George Kittle—who we all know is the heart of that locker room—Brock Purdy looked human. Actually, he looked worse than human for about three quarters.
He was constantly under fire.
The what's the san francisco 49ers score today reflects a game that was much closer than the stats might suggest, but Seattle’s Sam Darnold (yeah, remember him?) did just enough to keep the chains moving. The Seahawks led 13-3 at halftime, a haunting echo of the regular-season finale where they smothered the Niners by that exact same score.
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A Fourth Quarter Surge That Fell Short
San Francisco didn't go quietly. They never do. Christian McCaffrey, even with a nagging calf issue that had him on the bike between drives, managed to find the end zone on a 12-yard wheel route early in the fourth. That cut the lead to 17-10.
Then things got weird.
Deebo Samuel took a jet sweep 44 yards to the house on the very next possession after a forced fumble by Nick Bosa. Suddenly, the score was 20-17 San Francisco. For about six minutes, it felt like the "Niners Magic" was back. But Lumen Field is where dreams go to die for visiting teams. Darnold led a 12-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown with 1:44 left on the clock.
Purdy had one last chance. He got them to the Seattle 34-yard line.
Then came the play everyone will be talking about at the water cooler on Monday. On 4th and 6, Purdy looked for Jauan Jennings over the middle. Devon Witherspoon, who has been a thorn in Kyle Shanahan’s side all year, undercut the route. Interception. Game over. Season over.
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Why the 49ers Score Tells a Larger Story
If you're just looking at the final tally, you're missing the context. This wasn't just a loss; it was a realization. The 49ers' defense, which used to be the gold standard of the NFL, has some massive holes. Kenneth Walker III ran for 114 yards tonight. You can't give up over a hundred yards on the ground and expect to win a playoff game in a hostile environment.
The absence of George Kittle cannot be overstated. When Kittle is out, the blocking scheme for McCaffrey changes. The "threat" over the middle disappears. Basically, the Seahawks were able to stack the box and dare Purdy to beat them outside. He couldn't.
Key Stats from the Divisional Round:
- Brock Purdy: 19/31, 212 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- Christian McCaffrey: 18 carries, 72 yards; 5 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD
- Nick Bosa: 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
- Total Penalties: San Francisco (9 for 85 yards), Seattle (4 for 30 yards)
The penalties were a killer. Every time the Niners got a bit of momentum, a holding call or a false start pushed them back. It’s hard to win when you're playing 1st and 20 half the night.
What’s Next for San Francisco?
This loss hits different. With the Super Bowl scheduled to be played at Levi’s Stadium this year, the 49ers were desperate to be the first team to win a ring on their own turf since the Bucs did it a few years back. Instead, they’ll be watching from the luxury boxes.
The front office has some soul-searching to do. Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation is still a looming cloud, and the defensive line depth is thinner than anyone wants to admit. Kyle Shanahan is going to face a lot of heat for the play-calling in the red zone tonight.
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Honestly, the window isn't closed, but it's definitely creaking.
Actionable Takeaways for 49ers Fans
Stop checking the live updates and start looking toward the draft. The 49ers need help in the secondary and on the offensive line. Trent Williams isn't getting any younger, and the drop-off when he’s not 100% is terrifying.
If you're looking for a silver lining, it’s Jauan Jennings. He proved today he can be a legitimate WR2 or even a WR1 in some systems. But for now, the only score that matters is 24-20, and it’s the wrong way around for the Faithful.
Keep an eye on the injury report regarding George Kittle’s Achilles recovery over the spring. That’s the real "score" to watch during the off-season. The 49ers are heading home, and Seattle is moving on to the NFC Championship.