San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks: 2026 NFC Divisional Round Preview
The San Francisco 49ers travel to face the Seattle Seahawks in a crucial NFC Divisional Round matchup at Lumen Field on Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET.
You can watch the game on FOX with Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt calling the action. The sixth-seeded 49ers arrive with momentum after their 23-19 upset victory over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The top-seeded Seahawks enter fresh from their first-round bye and are playing their first home playoff game since 2015.
How They Got Here
San Francisco finished the regular season with a 12-5 record despite dealing with major injuries all year. The 49ers lost star linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa to season-ending injuries.
They also lost tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles in the Wild Card round against Philadelphia. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns in that comeback win. The 49ers won six straight games before losing to Seattle in the regular season finale.
Seattle secured the NFC's best record at 14-3. The Seahawks dominated the 49ers 13-3 in Week 18 to claim the NFC West title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Quarterback Sam Darnold became only the second player in NFL history to post back-to-back 14-win seasons after Tom Brady.
The Seahawks boast one of the league's most dangerous pass rushes and feature the NFL's leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Key Matchups
Brock Purdy faces his toughest challenge yet against Seattle's elite defense. The Seahawks held him to just 127 passing yards and forced an interception in their Week 18 meeting. Purdy must protect the football and find ways to attack downfield without his top tight end.
Sam Darnold looks to continue his breakout season in his first playoff start with Seattle. The 28-year-old quarterback threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns during the regular season. Darnold played turnover-free football in the Week 18 win over San Francisco and will rely on Smith-Njigba and running back Kenneth Walker III.
The 49ers lost Christian McCaffrey's primary target in Kittle. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings must step up as the go-to option. Jennings threw a trick-play touchdown to McCaffrey in the Wild Card round and has proven he can make big plays in crucial moments.
What to Watch
This marks the third meeting between these NFC West rivals this season. The teams split their regular season matchups. San Francisco won 17-13 in Seattle during Week 1 but the Seahawks answered with their dominant Week 18 performance.
Seattle holds a 17-5 all-time record in home playoff games. The Seahawks are 7.5-point favorites despite San Francisco's upset potential. The 49ers are playing on just six days of rest while Seattle benefited from a first-round bye.
The winner advances to host the NFC Championship Game. A trip to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara hangs in the balance. The 49ers would get a chance to play for a championship on their home field.
