Seahawks rout 49ers 41-6, reach NFC title game
Seattle beat San Francisco 49ers 41-6; Rashid Shaheed's 95-yard kickoff return and Kenneth Walker III's three rushing touchdowns propelled the Seahawks to the NFC title.
Overview
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds in, the longest postseason kick return in Seahawks franchise history, setting a dominant tone.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns, tying a franchise playoff mark; his performance powered Seattle's 175-yard team rushing day, sealing the victory.
Sam Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards with a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, earning his first career playoff victory despite playing through an oblique injury.
Seattle's defense forced three turnovers, sacked Brock Purdy twice and held San Francisco out of the end zone, limiting the 49ers to two field goals and 140 passing yards.
San Francisco played without All-Pros George Kittle, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa; Christian McCaffrey left with a stinger. Seattle will host either the Bears or Rams next.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the game as a Seattle rout by foregrounding Seahawks' dominance and celebrating key moments. Editorial choices use loaded terms ("dominance," "never-in-doubt," "demoralizing"), prioritize Seahawks player perspectives and celebrations, and structure the piece to lead with a kickoff TD while relegating 49ers' injuries and context.
Sources (4)
FAQ
Seattle will host the winner of the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC divisional round game.
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the longest postseason kick return in Seahawks franchise history.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns, tying a franchise playoff record and powering Seattle's 175 rushing yards.
San Francisco played without All-Pros George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa; Christian McCaffrey left with a stinger.
Sam Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, earning his first career playoff win while playing through an oblique injury.
History
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