Honestly, it wasn’t even close. If you were looking for a nail-biter or a classic NFC West defensive struggle, you probably turned the TV off by the second quarter.
The Seattle Seahawks won the San Francisco game today—well, technically late last night, January 17, 2026—in a 41-6 blowout that felt more like a training camp scrimmage than an NFL Divisional Round playoff matchup. It was brutal. It was loud. And for the San Francisco 49ers, it was the kind of season-ending thud that stays with a franchise all summer.
Who Won the San Francisco Game Today? The Gritty Details
Seattle didn’t just win; they dismantled. From the very first whistle, things went sideways for the Niners. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. 13 seconds. That’s all it took for Lumen Field to register actual seismic activity on local seismographs.
When you ask who won the San Francisco game today, you’re really asking how the Seahawks managed to turn a divisional rival into a speed bump. The answer is Kenneth Walker III. He was a force of nature, racking up 116 yards on 19 carries. He tied a franchise playoff record with three rushing touchdowns, looking every bit like the superstar Seattle fans have been waiting for.
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Basically, the 49ers looked like a team that had finally run out of gas. They were missing Nick Bosa. They were missing George Kittle. They were missing Fred Warner. You can only "next man up" your way through so many injuries before the floor falls out, and last night, the floor didn't just fall—it vanished.
A Masterclass in Dominance
Coach Mike Macdonald, in his first ever playoff win as a head coach, called it the "most complementary game" they’ve played. He’s right.
- The Defense: Kept the 49ers out of the end zone entirely. Two field goals from Eddy Piñeiro were the only scraps San Francisco could muster.
- Special Teams: Shaheed’s opening return touchdown set a tone that the Niners never recovered from.
- The Offense: Sam Darnold, playing through an oblique injury, didn't have to be a hero. He just had to be efficient. He finished 12-of-17 for 124 yards and a touchdown before being pulled in the fourth quarter to rest.
It’s sorta wild to think about. This 49ers team was supposed to be the one to challenge for a home-stadium Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium next month. Instead, they’ll be watching the NFC Championship from their couches.
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Why the 49ers Couldn't Keep Up
The discrepancy was most obvious in the trenches. Kenneth Walker III mentioned after the game that he could see the Niners' defenders "breathing heavy" and getting slow to get up. It was demoralizing. When a team is literally too tired to tackle you, the game is over.
Christian McCaffrey tried. He’s a warrior, but he was held to a dismal 2.7 yards per carry. He even headed to the blue medical tent with a shoulder issue at one point, though he did return. It didn't matter. The Seahawks’ defense, led by Ernest Jones and DeMarcus Lawrence, was a brick wall.
What’s Next for San Francisco?
This 41-6 loss is the largest defeat of the Kyle Shanahan era. That’s a tough pill to swallow. The silver lining? Most of those injured stars like Bosa and Kittle are under contract for next year. They’ll be back. But for now, the "Quest for Six" is on ice.
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On the other side of the bay, the Golden State Warriors actually gave San Francisco fans something to smile about yesterday. They handled the Charlotte Hornets 136-116 at Chase Center. De’Anthony Melton went off for 24 points, and Draymond Green surprisingly chipped in 20. It was a high-scoring clinic that provided a much-needed distraction from the carnage in Seattle.
If you're tracking the brackets, the Seahawks are moving on to the NFC Championship. They’ll face either the Chicago Bears or the LA Rams, depending on how Monday’s game shakes out.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the injury report on Christian McCaffrey’s shoulder to see if surgery is looming this offseason.
- Keep an eye on the Monday Night Football result to see who Seattle hosts next Sunday.
- Clear your schedule for the NFC Championship game; if the Seahawks play like this again, they might be the favorites for the Lombardi.