Overview
- Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the franchise’s longest postseason return and just the fourth opening-score kickoff return in the NFL playoffs since 2000.
- Kenneth Walker III ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns as Seattle piled up 175 rushing yards to control the game.
- Sam Darnold, cleared after an oblique concern, went 12-for-17 for 124 yards with a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, securing his first playoff win with Seattle.
- Seattle’s defense forced multiple turnovers, including Brock Purdy’s early fumble recovered by Julian Love, a later interception that set up a Walker score, and a late forced fumble by DeMarcus Lawrence recovered by Nick Emmanwori.
- Short-handed San Francisco struggled with key absences including George Kittle, while Christian McCaffrey was limited to roughly 35 yards as the 49ers suffered their second-most lopsided playoff defeat; Seattle will face the Bears or Rams next for a Super Bowl berth.