Few rivalries in the NFC carry as much history and intensity as the one between the San Francisco 49ers vs Seahawks Match Player Stats. Divisional matchups between these two teams have produced some of the most physical, hard-fought football in the league for over a decade, and the 2025 season delivered one of the most memorable chapters yet. After splitting their two regular season meetings, the teams met a third time in January 2026 in the NFC Divisional Round, and the result was one of the most lopsided playoff outcomes either franchise has been part of in years. This article breaks down the player stats and key performances from that decisive matchup, along with context from the earlier regular season meetings that set the stage for it.
Setting the Stage: A Season-Long Rivalry
The 49ers and Seahawks split their two regular season matchups in 2025. San Francisco won the earlier meeting in Seattle by a score of 17-13, with Brock Purdy leading the offense to a tight, hard-earned road victory. The Seahawks got their revenge in the regular season finale, holding the 49ers to just three points in a 13-3 win at Levi’s Stadium that helped Seattle close out the year with a strong 14-3 record, while San Francisco finished 12-5. That set up a rubber match with much higher stakes: a spot in the NFC Championship Game on the line.
The Divisional Round Rematch: Final Score and Overview
The two teams met again on January 17, 2026, this time in the NFC Divisional Round at Lumen Field in Seattle, and the outcome was decisive from the opening play. Seattle scored on the very first snap of the game when Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, needing just 13 seconds to put the Seahawks on the board. From there, Seattle never let up, building a 24-6 halftime lead and ultimately cruising to a commanding 41-6 victory that sent them to the NFC Championship Game.
The 35-point margin of victory ranked among the largest in Seahawks playoff history, and the win marked the franchise’s first home playoff game in front of their own fans in nearly a decade. For the 49ers, who had fought through a difficult stretch of injuries just to reach the playoffs, the loss brought their postseason run to an abrupt end.
Quarterback Stats: A Tale of Two Performances
The quarterback matchup told much of the story of this game. Seattle’s Sam Darnold turned in an efficient outing, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, good for a strong passer rating above 110. Notably, reports around the game indicated Seattle didn’t even need a fully healthy Darnold to control the outcome, a testament to how thoroughly the Seahawks dominated in the running game and on special teams. Backup Drew Lock also saw the field but did not record any passing attempts in the box score.
On the other side, Brock Purdy had a difficult night for San Francisco, completing 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a passer rating in the mid-50s. Backup Mac Jones also appeared in the game, completing 2 of 4 passes for just 4 yards, an indication that San Francisco’s offense struggled to find any consistent rhythm for most of the contest.
Running Back Performances
Kenneth Walker III was the standout performer of the entire game for Seattle, finding the end zone three separate times on the ground. His touchdown runs, a 7-yard score late in the second quarter, a 15-yard run in the third quarter, and a 6-yard score in the fourth quarter, effectively put the game out of reach and turned what was already a comfortable lead into a blowout. Across the full game, Seattle’s rushing attack combined for 33 carries and 175 yards with three total touchdowns, reflecting just how heavily the Seahawks leaned on their ground game once the lead was established.
For San Francisco, Christian McCaffrey remained the offense’s most involved player even in a lopsided loss, carrying the ball 11 times for 35 yards while also catching 5 of 6 targets for 39 yards out of the backfield, finishing as the 49ers’ leading receiver in the process. Jordan James added 6 carries for 28 yards, while Brian Robinson Jr. chipped in 3 carries for 4 yards. Neither back was able to find consistent running room against a Seattle defense that controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game.
Receiving Stats
San Francisco’s passing game struggled to generate explosive plays, and the receiving stats reflected that difficulty. Tight end Jake Tonges led all 49ers pass catchers, hauling in 5 of 6 targets for 59 yards, the only 49ers player to top 40 receiving yards on the night. Jauan Jennings added 2 catches for 23 yards on 5 targets, while McCaffrey’s 39 yards out of the backfield rounded out San Francisco’s top receiving options. Beyond that trio, the rest of the 49ers’ receiving corps, including Demarcus Robinson, Luke Farrell, and Ricky Pearsall, combined for very little production, with Pearsall failing to record a catch on his two targets.
On Seattle’s side, the receiving production was more spread out, in part because the Seahawks leaned so heavily on the ground game and special teams scores once they built their lead. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s touchdown catch late in the first quarter stood out as one of the more important passing plays of the game, giving Seattle a 17-0 cushion before the 49ers had managed to get on the scoreboard at all.
Special Teams and Defensive Impact
While traditional passing and rushing stats tell part of the story, this game was shaped just as much by special teams and defense. Rashid Shaheed’s opening kickoff return touchdown set the tone immediately and put San Francisco in a hole before their offense had even taken the field. On defense, Seattle linebacker Drake Thomas came away with an interception during the second half, one of several plays that reflected how completely the Seahawks defense shut down San Francisco’s offensive rhythm throughout the game.
San Francisco’s only points came from two Eddy Piñeiro field goals, a 40-yarder and a 56-yarder, both in the second quarter. The 49ers were unable to find the end zone at all, a rare and difficult outcome for an offense that features a player of Christian McCaffrey’s caliber.
Scoring Timeline
Breaking down the scoring sequence helps illustrate just how quickly the game got out of hand for San Francisco. Seattle scored on the opening kickoff return just 13 seconds in, added a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter, and then capped the opening frame with a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, taking a 17-0 lead before the 49ers had run more than a handful of offensive plays. San Francisco’s first points didn’t come until midway through the second quarter via a field goal, and a second field goal before halftime brought the score to 17-6, but Kenneth Walker III’s first rushing touchdown right before the break pushed Seattle’s lead back to 24-6 at the half.
The second half offered no signs of a comeback. Seattle added a field goal and another Walker touchdown run in the third quarter, then closed things out with one final Walker score in the fourth quarter, sealing the 41-6 final and sending the Seahawks to the NFC Championship Game.
What This Game Means Going Forward
Beyond the individual stat lines, this game carried significant implications for both franchises. For Seattle, the win reinforced their status as one of the NFC’s most complete teams, combining an efficient passing attack, a punishing ground game led by Kenneth Walker III, and explosive special teams play into a performance that overwhelmed a divisional rival in every phase of the game. Advancing to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in over a decade marked a major milestone for the Seahawks organization and fan base.
For San Francisco, the loss capped a season that had already tested the roster’s depth given the injuries mentioned throughout their playoff run. Brock Purdy’s difficult outing, combined with a passing game that couldn’t generate consistent big plays, highlighted areas the 49ers will likely look to address going into the following season, even as Christian McCaffrey’s continued production served as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing night.
Final Thoughts
The final chapter of the 2025 season series between the 49ers and Seahawks turned into one of the most decisive playoff performances either team has been part of in recent memory. From Rashid Shaheed’s opening kickoff return to Kenneth Walker III’s three rushing touchdowns, Seattle’s complete performance across offense, defense, and special teams overwhelmed a San Francisco team that simply couldn’t find an answer. As both franchises look ahead, this game will likely be remembered as a defining moment in one of the NFL’s most storied divisional rivalries.