Why the Seahawks will beat the 49ers even worse than 13-3 Week 18 win in Divisional Round

The Seattle Seahawks really put the pressure on the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 18 game. They held Kyle Shanahan’s high-powered offense to just three points and 173 total yards, which was the lowest output in any regular-season game under Shanahan since 2017. The comprehensive 13-3 victory gave the Seahawks the NFC’s #1 seed, and they will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, the signs on the wall suggest that Saturday’s divisional round rematch at Lumen Field will be a blowout even more than last time.

Since that regular-season finale, the 49ers’ injury situation has worsened from dire to catastrophic. Even though San Francisco was already missing a number of important players in Week 18, they now have to travel to Seattle without three of their most important offensive and defensive cornerstones, which drastically changes the competitive balance of this game.

The Injury Apocalypse for the 49ers

The devastating torn Achilles that George Kittle sustained during the Wild Card victory over Philadelphia is a devastating blow to San Francisco’s offensive identity. As the cornerstone of the 49ers’ run-blocking schemes and Brock Purdy’s most dependable safety valve under duress, the All-Pro tight end is more than just a receiving threat. San Francisco is forced to rely on inexperienced depth in his absence, which seriously jeopardizes their play-action passing strategy and short-yardage scenarios.

The 49ers were already without their two strongest defensive players going into the playoffs. In Week 3 against Arizona, Nick Bosa, the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and possibly the best edge rusher in the league, tore his ACL, ending his season. Given that Seattle’s offensive line has successfully protected Sam Darnold throughout their postseason run, his absence eliminates the only defender who can reliably collapse the pocket and interfere with Darnold’s timing.

Fred Warner, a four-time First-Team All-Pro linebacker, is still sidelined due to a broken and dislocated ankle he suffered against Tampa Bay in October. Warner will undoubtedly miss Saturday’s divisional game, even though the 49ers began his 21-day practice window with hopes of a possible return to the NFC Championship Game. Without him, Seattle’s multifaceted offense gains an advantage. San Francisco loses its defensive quarterback, its best coverage linebacker, and its unquestioned leader. This situation thrusts seasoned practice squad players, such as Eric Kendricks, into more prominent positions.

Seattle’s Defensive Superiority Amplified

The Seahawks had the best scoring defense in the NFL at the end of the regular season, and they have performed exceptionally well against opponents of playoff caliber. Seattle held San Francisco to 17 points in Week 1 and then just three in the season finale, giving up an average of just 19 points per game against teams that advanced to the postseason.

Derick Hall got Brock Purdy to the ground on the 49ers second possession, spinning away from George Kittle’s block for an early Sack. Seattle has been able to force a pair of 3-and-Out’s to start the NFC West showdown.#Seahawks #SeattleSeahawks #Seahawksvs49ers pic.twitter.com/XnCEdR1N83

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