Seattle Seahawks Secure First Seed in NFC for Fourth Time in Franchise History

The Seattle Seahawks have once again made history by securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the fourth time in franchise history. This achievement is particularly significant as the last three times the team held the top seed, they advanced to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks’ latest success came after a dominant 13-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, marking their first 14-win season in franchise history and earning them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers was unique in league history, as both teams entered the regular-season finale with six-game winning streaks. Before this loss, the 49ers had won seven of the last eight games against the Seahawks. With this setback, the 49ers will be the No. 6 seed in the NFC if the Rams defeat the Cardinals tomorrow.

Here are some key takeaways from the game:

Sam Darnold’s Redemption Story Continues for the Seahawks

Sam Darnold’s journey toward redemption has been a highlight of the Seahawks’ season. Last season, he struggled during critical moments with the Minnesota Vikings, including a loss to the Detroit Lions and an NFC Wild Card defeat against the Rams. In those two games, Darnold completed just 53% of his passes for 411 yards, with one touchdown and two turnovers, while being sacked 11 times and posting a 66.4 passer rating.

However, Darnold began his path to redemption two weeks ago by leading the Seahawks to an improbable 38-37 overtime win against the Rams. Facing a similar situation as last season, where a victory was needed to secure the No. 1 seed, Darnold leaned on a strong running game and a resilient defense to secure home-field advantage.

Darnold finished the game with 20-of-26 completions for 198 yards without a touchdown. More importantly, he did not turn the ball over, despite having 20 turnovers on the season. This included a fumbled handoff exchange with Zach Charbonnet that he managed to recover. His teammates have consistently supported him, and Darnold returned the favor by playing mistake-free football in a high-stakes game that sealed a division title and a first-round bye.

Seahawks Bully 49ers with a 1-2 Combo of Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III

Seattle’s running game was instrumental in dismantling the 49ers’ defense. Entering the game, the 49ers had allowed just 103 rushing yards per game, ranking sixth in the NFL. However, the Seahawks rushed for 115 yards by halftime and 180 yards for the game.

Kenneth Walker III led the way with 97 yards, while Zach Charbonnet added 74 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks’ ability to control the clock and limit the 49ers’ explosive offense helped hold them to just three points. During their six-game winning streak, the 49ers averaged 36 points per game.

Seattle’s Defense Bottles Up San Francisco’s Do-Everything RB Christian McCaffrey

One of the most impressive aspects of the game was the Seahawks’ defensive performance against Christian McCaffrey, one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL. McCaffrey entered the game with 2,069 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns, joining LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players in NFL history with three seasons of at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns.

However, the Seahawks’ defense limited McCaffrey to just 23 rushing yards and 57 total scrimmage yards. The 49ers struggled to create space for him in the running game or break him open in the passing game. McCaffrey also dropped a pass near the end zone, which linebacker Drake Thomas turned into a crucial interception to end a fourth-quarter drive in the red zone.

The defense also contained Brock Purdy, who had led the 49ers to a 6-0 record since returning from a turf toe injury. Purdy finished with just 127 passing yards, no touchdowns, and an interception for a 64.9 passer rating.

Seahawks Kicker Jason Myers’ Surprising Struggles Kept the Game Tight

Jason Myers, considered one of the best kickers in the league, struggled in this game with missed kicks from 47 and 26 yards. The latter came in the fourth quarter when it was too late for a Seahawks comeback. Myers also booted the ball out of bounds on a kickoff, giving the 49ers the ball on the 40-yard line. Myers had made 18 straight field goals entering the game and will have a chance to get back on track with some time off.

What’s Next?

The Seahawks will head back to the Pacific Northwest to rest before hosting a team to be determined in the NFC Divisional Round. On the other side, the 49ers will prepare for a road trip in the NFC Wild Card round. If the Rams lose to the Cardinals tomorrow, the Niners will face the winner of the NFC South. If Los Angeles wins, San Francisco will be on the road against either the Bears or Eagles.