Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks received the opening kickoff and proceeded to whoop the San Francisco 49ers straight out of the 2026 NFL Playoffs.
Rashid Shaheed’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone for an “all three phases” masterclass by the Seahawks in front of a raucous Lumen Field crowd. By the end of the first quarter it was 17-0 Seahawks. At halftime it was 24-6, later increased to 34-6 by the end of the third quarter. The final score was 41-6, marking the largest playoff win in Seahawks history (tied with their Super Bowl 48 triumph over the Denver Broncos), and the heaviest defeat of Kyle Shanahan’s coaching career.
Sam Darnold, questionable with an oblique injury suffered in practice, wasn’t asked to do much but he did his job well in his first playoff win. He was 12/17 for 124 yards and a touchdown before Drew Lock came in for mop-up duty. Kenneth Walker III was the star of the show on offense with 116 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first Seahawk in franchise history to rush for over 100 and three scores in a playoff game. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught his first touchdown against the 49ers, while Cooper Kupp (!!) led Seattle with 5 catches for 60 yards.
As for the defense? What more can be said? Three turnovers forced, no touchdowns allowed for the second time in a row against the Niners, no explosive rushes allowed to Christian McCaffrey, and well under 300 yards of offense once again. Ernest Jones had an interception and a fumble forced, while rookie Nick Emmanwori recovered a fumble following a DeMarcus Lawrence strip-sack.
The only concerns on the night were injuries to Zach Charbonnet and Charles Cross, with Charbonnet injuring his leg and Cross hurting his foot. Neither returned to action but neither was even needed.
Seattle is going to the NFC Championship Game! From no playoffs for two years, no playoff win since the 2019 season, to one win from heading to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60.
The 49ers won the toss and the Seahawks started on offense first. Sort of. Rashid Shaheed got the ball and ran it 95 yards for an opening kickoff touchdown! Eddy Pineiro tried to trip him in a last ditch effort and was flagged for the effort. WHAT A START! 7-0 Seahawks.
Seattle almost made it 14-0 when Brock Purdy was hit by DeMarcus Lawrence as he threw. Nick Emmanwori ran it back for the score but it was rightly ruled incomplete. On 3rd and 1 in Seattle territory, Christian McCaffrey was stuffed by Byron Murphy II. After a Seahawks timeout, the 49ers’ 4th and 1 play was an… option with Kyle Juszczyk? He pitched it to McCaffrey and it had no chance!
The Seahawks started with a couple of touches for Kenneth Walker on the ground and in the air. A Zach Charbonnet left-side toss out of the I-formation gained 15. A.J. Barner converted on...
