Seattle’s Defensive Dominance and Strategic Triumphs

Mike Macdonald gathered his defensive players around him in front of their bench. He took off his headset. He was firm, pointed. It was early in the third quarter. The 38-year-old coach and defensive guru knew they had dawgs on their defense. He wanted them to keep barking.

They did. DeMarcus Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Devon Witherspoon, Ernest Jones, Nick Emmanwori—all studded out again Saturday night, with a division title and top seed in the conference playoffs at stake. But did Macdonald know he had a fighter pilot on D? That’s what Drake Thomas had—the reaction-time and dexterity of on a remarkable interception. The former waiver pickup from the Raiders caught the ball immediately and inches after Brock Purdy’s pass had changed direction twice, off Seattle linebacker Boye Mafe’s hand then through the hands of 49ers All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.

The ridiculous interception by Thomas, the linebacker whom Macdonald rewarded as a new starter early this season for his rugged play, came in the red zone with 10 1/2 minutes to play. Macdonald’s defense also had three three-and-out stops and a fourth-down stop against a 49ers offense that had just ripped the NFC North-champion Chicago Bears for 42 points and almost 500 yards six days earlier.

Sam Darnold passing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba early then Cooper Kupp for key first downs late plus the running game of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet did just enough. The Seahawks bludgeoned San Francisco 13-3 to win the West.

A Historic Win for the Seahawks

Seattle held the 49ers to their fewest points in more than five years, since week one of the 2017 season. That’s why the Seahawks (14-3) have their first division title since 2020. The 14 wins are the most in any of the Seahawks’ 50 NFL seasons. Seattle will be off next weekend through the first round of the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks will play the lowest-remaining seed in the conference after round one, in the divisional round the weekend of Jan. 17-18. They are two home wins from the Super Bowl.

This is the fourth time in team history Seattle has had the top seed in the conference playoffs. The other three times (to end the 2005, ‘13 and ‘14 seasons) are the only three times the Seahawks have made the Super Bowl.

Key Performances and Strategic Decisions

Darnold completed 20 of 26 passes for 198 yards. Forgot those numbers: This was the fourth time in 17 games the NFL’s leader in committing turnovers, and all the Seahawks, did not commit a turnover. Walker rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries. Charbonnet had 74 more on 17 rushes, and the game’s lone touchdown. That came in a first half that should have been a Seahawks rout, but wasn’t.

Seattle improved to 8-1 on the road this season, and 15-2 in away games in their two regular seasons under Macdonald. That’s the second-most road wins to begin a head-coaching career in NFL history, behind George Seifert (16 with San Francisco, 1989-90).

A Game-Changing Run by Kenneth Walker

The Seahawks were poised to punt the ball away leading only 10-3 late in the third quarter, facing a third and 17 at their own 25. But for the third time in three games, Seattle got a huge run on a third-and-long play that looked like it was a surrender snap. Instead, Walker ran around right end and through a defender’s arm tackle. His twist and plow at the end gained the first down on a huge, 19-yard run.

On the next play, Darnold completed a pass over the middle to Smith-Njigba for 19 yards well into San Francisco territory. That set up Jason Myers, who had missed a kick earlier, for a 31-yard field goal he made. Seattle was back up two scores, 13-3, with 14 minutes left.

Missed Opportunities and Turnovers

The Seahawks should have been leading 20-0 midway through the second quarter. They had 12 of the game’s first 13 first downs. The total yards were Seattle 193, San Francisco 39. Instead, the lead was just half that. Seattle’s offense took the opening kickoff and rolled through the 49ers’ recently ransacked defense. Runs by Walker and Charbonnet preceded San Francisco’s Deommodore Lenoir grabbing Smith-Njigba in the end zone on the Seahawks receiver’s pass route to the outside. That penalty gave Seattle a first and goal at the 1.

Four runs, maybe multiple Tush Bush tries by tight end AJ Barner out of direct snaps that have worked all season, almost assuredly would have resulted in a Seahawks touchdown. Instead, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak called for a pass on first and goal. Darnold inexplicably missed Charbonnet open in the flat on a swing pass that would have been a TD. Then he failed to get rid of the pass and took a 10-yard sack.

Only then did the Seahawks run – on second and goal from the 11. And on third and goal from the 8. Instead of taking the chip-shot three points with a short field goal, coach Mike Macdonald chose to go for the touchdown on fourth down from the 4. Smith-Njigba was one on one outside right with Lenoir. Darnold never looked that way. He threw left, to covered Cooper Kupp, wide of him in the end zone incomplete for the turnover on downs.

Defensive Strength and Offense Come Together

Seattle’s defense got a three and out, and the Seahawks marched down the field again. This time it became a touchdown. On third and 2, Charbonnet saw tight end AJ Barner’s crunching block on the left edge. He cut hard outside that for a 27-yard TD run. Charbonnet’s 12th rushing touchdown of the season made it 7-0. He is the first Seahawk with double-digit TDs in a season since Marshawn Lynch in 2014, the Seahawks’ last Super Bowl season.

Darnold tied Tom Brady for most wins in consecutive seasons for an NFL quarterback, 28. The Seahawks’ 115 yards rushing were their most in any first half since December 2024. Macdonald’s defense came out firing, as well. It stopped the Niners on two consecutive three-and-out drives to begin the game. Then after the 49ers got their initial first down of the game with 11 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter, San Francisco went for a fourth and long 1 at the Seattle 39 trailing 7-0. Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, perhaps the best performing Seahawk the last month, blew up the play with a deft swim over his blocker at the snap. The 12th-year veteran after 11 years in Dallas forces Purdy throw incomplete into tight coverage by cornerback Riq Woolen.

Another stop for Seattle’s defense, a turnover on downs. Darnold drove the Seahawks offense back into 49ers territory on the ensuing drive. But on third down San Francisco cornerback Renardo Green broke up Darnold’s pass he lofted into the end zone down the right sideline to Smith-Njigba. Seattle had to settle for Myers’ field goal. He made it that time for a 10-0 late in the second quarter.

It should have been 20-0 – but for the Seahawks mucking up that first and goal at the 1 and Myers missing his first field-goal try. The 49ers got back into the game late in the half after the Seahawks let Purdy extend a third and 10 into a first-down pass to Jauan Jennings out to midfield. That led to a field goal. A game that should have been a Seattle blowout was only 10-3 at the half.