Well that was easy, wasn’t it?
The Seattle Seahawks destroyed the San Francisco 49ers from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. A 41-6 thumping unlike anything Kyle Shanahan has ever experienced
in nine seasons as 49ers head coach. Seattle hadn’t won a playoff game since the 2019 season, hadn’t won a home playoff game since the 2016 season, hadn’t beaten the 49ers at home since 2021, and ended all of those droughts in the most beautiful way possible.
It’s time for Winners and Losers!
Seattle Seahawks Winners
Kenneth Walker III has the greatest night of his career
With Zach Charbonnet injured in the first half, it was undoubtedly Kenneth Walker as the top running back. He delivered and then some with 145 yards of total offense, 119 on the ground, and three touchdowns. Walker was hitting holes with conviction, finding his cutback lanes, running through tacklers, and showcasing the speed he wowed everyone with at Michigan State and in his rookie year in Seattle.
I’m so happy for K9. Frustrations and all with his injuries and performances over the past two seasons, he’s playing the best football of his career.
Sam Darnold fights through injury, gets his playoff win
No, Darnold didn’t have some sort of monster game. He didn’t have to. Darnold was 12/17 for 124 yards and a touchdown, with several timely throws on third down and that clutch 2nd and 20 lofted pass to Cooper Kupp in the first quarter. I’m sure Darnold not putting up gaudy stats will do nothing to quell the doubters about his “big game” abilities, but who cares? No turnovers, accurate throws, and playing within himself while battling through an oblique injury.
Good for Sam to get his first playoff win, and now he has a running game to alleviate some of the pressure off of him and the passing attack as a whole.
Playoff Cooper Kupp logs back on
Hey, Cooper Kupp still has more left in the tank! Who would’ve guessed he would lead all receivers in yards with 60? His five catches was his most since the Indianapolis Colts game and the 60 yards was the most since the Arizona Cardinals blowout. If the Seahawks can get this version of Kupp the remainder of the playoffs, then watch out.
Rashid Shaheed sets the tone early
That’s instantly one of the most iconic plays in Seahawks history. Opening kickoff to the house to caused the Rashidquake? That’s three special teams touchdowns since coming to Seattle, which is remarkable. Then he has that 30-yard run right before halftime that helps Seattle get that back-breaking touchdown. Even without being an impact player as a receiver, he’s still an impact player.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets his first touchdown against the 49ers
If I were to tell you the Seahawks would win 41-6 and JSN had three catches for 19 yards, you’d think I’d be lying through my teeth. He got his first career TD against San Francisco, and Deommodore Lenoir can go headbutt someone else in Cancun.
MORE BOBO?!
Okay, just one bit of Jake Bobo as a receiver. For a guy who had more penalties than catches on the year and multiple healthy scratches, he picked a hell of a time to show up as a receiving option again. Darnold converted a critical 3rd and 10 on a slant to Bobo just before halftime, turning a 17-6 game and a likely field goal attempt to a 24-6 rout. Don’t overlook the importance of that play.
The Seahawks offensive line kicks ass again
John Benton, take a bow. The pass protection wasn’t amazing, but the run blocking was a thing of beauty to watch. It was bullyball at its finest. Kenneth Walker had rushing lanes, Zach Charbonnet hit one explosive before his injury, and Rashid Shaheed had a convoy on his 30-yard run. After years of getting thrashed by the 49ers in the run game on offense and defense, Seattle’s rushing attack dropped another 175 yards on the ground. This unis is gelling at the perfect time, and I have to shout out the non-OL players like A.J. Barner, Robbie Ouzts, and Eric Saubert for their contributions.
And how about Amari Kight? Key block on the second Walker TD while filling in for the injured Charles Cross. Jalen Sundell climbing to the second level and smashing people. Anthony Bradford had one missed block on a 3rd and 1 and didn’t really have any issues the remainder of the night. It was the type of football Mike Macdonald envisioned and what we’ve missed seeing for years now.
Klint Kubiak wasn’t distracted by the head coach interest
The Seahawks offense finished their damn drives. How about 4-of-6 in the red zone? There were few playcalls you could really complain about or question on a night when the Seahawks did whatever they wanted to the Niners defense. And with Kevin Stefanski going to the Atlanta Falcons, I think Kubiak’s chances of staying in Seattle have gone up.
Ernest Jones IV is my hero
An interception and a forced fumble = two turnovers generated by Seattle’s superstar middle linebacker. In 2005, it was Lofa Tatupu. In 2013-2014, it was Bobby Wagner. In 2025, it’s Ernest Jones IV. He’s the natural successor at the position for Seattle’s all-time great teams, and it’s a pleasure to watch him play.
DeMarcus Lawrence was a clutch signing by John Schneider
Every week it seems like Tank Lawrence finds a way to turn back the clock. He almost had a strip-sack (and therefore Nick Emmanwori almost had a fumble return TD) on the 49ers’ first offensive play. Lawrence had an actual strip-sack and Emmanwori was there for the recovery in what was more or less garbage time. He also snuffed out that 4th down option play with Kyle Juszczyk and continues to provide more pass rush than I’d anticipated.
Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy are the best interior DL pair in the NFL
How the hell do you block both of these guys consistently over 60 minutes? Trick question; you can’t do it. Williams had the sack on 4th down to start the second half, while Murphy was all over the place with pressures and phenomenal run defense.
The secondary was barely discussed, which is a good thing
San Francisco got Ricky Pearsall back. Did he make a difference? Is 0 catches on 2 targets making a difference? He got some cardio in, which is good for someone returning from injury. San Francisco’s receivers caught a combined three passes for 24 yards on the night. Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Coby Bryant, Julian Love, and Josh Jobe were doing their thing. When Purdy had time, no one was open.
Mike Macdonald had the team ready
I don’t want this to be seen as beating up on Pete Carroll, but it doesn’t take too much to look at the archives of Pete’s playoff games and see the Seahawks regularly trailing by double digits in the first half. It happened even in a couple of the wins, too. Ironically, the Pete masterpiece was Super Bowl 48 in which they stepped on the gas and went to fifth gear in an instant, and tonight was reminiscent of that performance.
Coach Macdonald had the Seahawks raring to go in every which way possible. There was no rust, there was no dysfunction, there was just clean football across the board. Seattle only committed two penalties, had no turnovers in consecutive games for the first time in his young coaching tenure, and very few busted assignments on either offense or defense. What more can you ask for? Macdonald has more than earned his stripes as a top coach who’s only getting better.
Seattle Seahawks Losers
No one gets the loser designation
Come on, man! It’s 41-6 against a hated rival. I’m not calling for any negativity this evening.
Final Notes
- Nick Emmanwori was getting picked on a bit in the first half in coverage, losing his responsibilities on Jake Tonges and out in the flat. And yet, he still had a fumble recovery and broke up a Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the half.
- Jason Myers eased any worries about a possible slump after his brutal Week 18 showing. Michael Dickson was his usual fantastic self on punt duties.
- See? We did see Drew Lock, after all.
- Hopefully Zach Charbonnet and Charles Cross are alright after their respective injuries. Those were the only true downer moments all evening.
- One more win from reaching the Super Bowl. Bears, Rams, it doesn’t matter. They’re on the cusp, which is incredible to think about given even the most optimistic fan would’ve been happy with getting to the playoffs and maybe getting to the Divisional Round. Of course I want the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl, but getting the 49ers out of the way was a non-negotiable to me.
- Enemy Reaction is coming on Monday. That way we could potentially get a Rams meltdown in there, as well. Whether the Rams win or lose, the 49ers fans will not be spared given all of the obnoxiousness from this week. Be patient, my friends!
