Field Gulls
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!
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...
