49ers suffer season-ending loss to Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (#13) gets sacked by Seattle Seahawks DeMarcus Lawrence (#0) during the first quarter of the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
01.17.26 – With a stunning opening play, Rashid Shaheed return the kickoff for a touchdown to open Saturday night’s playoff game, Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and Seattle pulled a 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.
Rashid 95-yard kickoff return, put the 49ers in a hole that would only get deeper by the top-seeded Seahawks.
“Nobody thought we would even be here, let alone thought we would win this game,” 49ers left tackle Trent Williams said, referencing a slew of injuries to key players, including tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa. “At the end of the day, we playing with house money when you get to this point, playing with who we played with”.
Eventually, the game ended marking the 49ers’ worst margin of defeat in a playoff game in nearly 40 years, dating back to their 49-3 bashing by the New York Giants on Jan. 4, 1987.
“During the season, we came down here with a healthy team and we won. I think that’s what we can be. Obviously, when you’re playing with guys you signing off practice squads, guys you taking off the street, I mean, you got to temper your expectations a little bit.”
2026.01.17 – (49ers at Seahawks) NFL Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy (#13) takes a hit from Seattle Seahawks Leonard Williams (#99) during the second half of the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo Lindsey Wasson)
2026.01.17 – (49ers at Seahawks) NFL Game Highlights
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (NBC Sports Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) fumbles the ball during the first quarter of Saturday’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (NBC Sports Post Game)
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (NBC Sports Post Game)
The 49ers got the ball first to start the second half down 24-6, an opportunity to start a comeback. But with star running back Christian McCaffrey busy getting treatment for a first-half shoulder stinger, quarterback Brock Purdy tried but failed to steady the offense that suffered a turnover on downs. By the time McCaffrey re-entered the game, Purdy threw an interception past the ducking head of Williams.
And the Seahawks kept scoring. Or more specifically, Kenneth Walker did; he finished with three rushing touchdowns. McCaffrey, banged up, was taken out soon after the third. So was Purdy.
“You really have to play smart football, check the ball down and stay on the field on third downs,” Purdy said. “They’re a kind of defense, they’re not going to give up the big shot plays. … They’re going to play soft zone and make you go through your read and check it down. … I think for all of us, including myself, we’ve got to understand that when we’re going against these guys.”
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Chat Sports Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey (#23) gets tackled by Seattle Seahawks Drake Thomas (#42) during the first quarter of the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Chat Sports Post Game)
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Chat Sports Post Game)
The Seahawks needed only the first quarter to race out to a 17-0 lead, scoring more points against the 49ers than they had in either of their regular-season meetings (13).
All the 49ers had to show for their first two drives: a botched 4th-and-1 trick play and a lost fumble. Head coach Kyle Shanahan called a horizontal option play between fullback Kyle Juszczyk and McCaffrey to get one yard, which instead lost three, as Juszczyk pitched McCaffrey out of bounds. Then an 11-yard catch for backup tight end Jake Tonges was nullified by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who stripped the ball away for safety Julian Love to recover.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, suffering from a left oblique injury in the days leading up Saturday, appeared more than OK when he capped the subsequent drive with a 4-yard dart to first-team All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
49ers Renardo Green was involved in a 21-yard completion surrendered to Seahawks wideout Cooper Kupp that effectively negated a sack by safety Malik Mustapha the play before.
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers Malik Mustapha (#6) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (#14) during the first quarter of the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2026.01.17 – 49ers at Seahawks (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Speculation swirled around whether Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock would make an appearance with Darnold at less than 100 percent. Lock did ultimately enter the game, after all, midway through the fourth quarter.
But the game, and the 49ers’ season, had effectively been long over by that point.
“I just thanked them for the whole season,” Shanahan said. “How much they battled through everything. I know everyone in there was sick about tonight and the way that went in every facet. But I tried not to make it about tonight when I was in there (post-game) with them.”
Injuries
49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey (stinger) was injured in the second quarter and returned in the third quarter before exiting the game for good. Tonges injured a foot and did not return.
Seahawks: Charbonnet injured a knee in the second quarter and did not return. LT Charles Cross injured a foot in the third quarter and did not return.
Up next (49ers Roster)
49ers: Heal and reload for next season.
Seahawks: Are one victory away from the fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and first in 11 years.
Related: 49ers soar past Super Bowl champion Eagles
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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