Seahawks Make a Statement, Obliterate 49ers 41–6 to Reach NFC Championship

By Larry Belmontes

Date: 1/18/26

This wasn’t a rivalry game.

This was a message.

The Seattle Seahawks dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 on Saturday night at a deafening Lumen Field, turning an NFC Divisional Playoff showdown into one of the most lopsided postseason wins in franchise history.

From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Seattle controlled every phase, offense, defense, special teams, and emotion leaving San Francisco stunned and searching for answers long before halftime.

It Was Over Before It Began

Seattle didn’t ease into this game.

On the opening kickoff, Rashid Shaheed took the ball 95 yards to the house, instantly detonating the stadium and setting the tone just 13 seconds into the contest.

From there, the Seahawks never let go.

A Jason Myers field goal and a short touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba pushed the lead to 17-0 before the 49ers could even find their footing. San Francisco’s only response all night? Two field goals.

That was it.

Kenneth Walker III Took Over

If there was any doubt about who owned this game, Kenneth Walker III erased it.

Walker gashed the 49ers defense for 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns, scoring in the second, third, and fourth quarters and turning every red-zone trip into inevitability. Seattle finished 4-for-6 in the red zone, while San Francisco never even sniffed one.

This wasn’t just production, it was dominance.

The 49ers Had No Answers

Seattle’s defense suffocated San Francisco from the opening drive.

Brock Purdy struggled mightily, finishing with just 140 passing yards and an interception as the Seahawks erased throwing lanes and collapsed the pocket. The 49ers committed three turnovers, converted just 6 of 12 third downs, and failed on all three fourth-down attempts.

For a team built on balance, precision, and timing, nothing worked.

And by the fourth quarter, it felt less like a playoff game and more like survival.

The Bigger Picture: Seattle Is Peaking

Seattle outscored San Francisco 41-6, outclassed them physically, and never once let momentum swing. Even without eye-popping passing numbers, the Seahawks dictated tempo and punished every mistake.

They finished the night with:

• Zero turnovers

• A +3 turnover margin

• A kickoff return TD

• Three rushing TDs

• Total control from start to finish

At 14-3, Seattle doesn’t just advance, they announce themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl threat!

Final Word

This rivalry didn’t produce drama.

It produced clarity.

The Seahawks were faster, tougher, cleaner, and more prepared and the 49ers were left overwhelmed in one of the most brutal playoff exits of the modern era.

Seattle moves on to the NFC Championship Game.

San Francisco heads home with questions.

And the rest of the league just took notice.

Tune into Three And Out each season for PURE football talk with Larry B. and Teran Rodriguez each week!