ClutchPoints
The stage is set for one of the most consequential regular-season games in recent San Francisco 49ers history. When the Seattle Seahawks travel to Levi’s Stadium on Saturday night, the stakes couldn’t be higher—the NFC West title, the conference’s No. 1 seed, a first-round playoff bye, and home-field advantage throughout the postseason all hang in the balance. For a 49ers team that has surged at the right time, winning six consecutive games to reach 12-4, this winner-take-all showdown represents a chance to control their playoff destiny.
The Seahawks enter at 13-3, boasting the second-best defense in the NFL that allows just 18.1 points per game. But the 49ers possess a potent offense that has found its rhythm at precisely the right moment, averaging 27.1 points per game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad has demonstrated a remarkable ability to peak late in the season, posting a 7-1 record from November 1st onward. With everything to play for in prime time, here are three bold predictions that could define San Francisco’s path to the NFC’s top seed.
Brock Purdy has transformed into an elite quarterback at the perfect time. The former Mr. Irrelevant has accounted for at least five touchdowns in back-to-back games, becoming just the sixth quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat in consecutive contests. His recent performances include a five-touchdown eruption against Indianapolis and another five-score showcase against Chicago, joining legendary company alongside Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Ben Roethlisberger, and Daunte Culpepper.
Purdy’s season statistics tell the story of consistency and excellence. Through eight games played in 2025, he’s completed 69.3% of his passes for 2,040 yards with 20 touchdowns against just nine interceptions, posting a stellar 104.2 passer rating that ranks fourth in the NFL. Perhaps most impressively, he’s performing at his highest level during crunch time—in winning efforts, Purdy has elevated his passer rating to 108.5 while throwing 18 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. Shanahan himself has acknowledged that his quarterback is “playing as good as it gets right now,” though he stopped short of definitively calling this Purdy’s best stretch.
The matchup favors San Francisco’s aerial attack. Seattle’s defense, while statistically impressive overall, ranks 27th in variance — meaning they’re unpredictable and prone to giving up big plays. The Seahawks have allowed quarterback Sam Darnold to throw 14 interceptions this season, including four in his last four games, demonstrating vulnerability to turnovers when pressured. With the 49ers’ offense clicking and Christian McCaffrey commanding defensive attention in the run game, Purdy will have opportunities to exploit single coverage downfield. Expect the Iowa State product to carve up Seattle’s secondary for his biggest yardage total of the season while continuing his touchdown binge in the highest-stakes game of his young career.
Christian McCaffrey has reminded the football world why he’s one of the premier dual-threat weapons in the NFL. The veteran running back just recorded his third...
