Seahawks ride all-three-phases formula to NFC title game

SEATTLE – All season long, the Seattle Seahawks have been arguably the NFL’s most complete team.

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They have the league’s top-ranked scoring defense. They have an elite special teams unit that’s made a slew of impact plays. And they have an above-average offense that’s found balance down the stretch.

During the regular season, they rode that all-three-phases formula to a franchise-best 14-3 campaign and the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

And in Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Round, the top-seeded Seahawks put that complementary approach on full display with a 41-6 dismantling of the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers.

Sam Darnold, who was listed as questionable after straining his oblique in Thursday’s practice, threw for just 124 yards. But on a night when the defense, special teams and rushing attack were all clicking, that was more than enough to send Seattle to its fifth NFC Championship Game in franchise history.

Here’s a look back at the contributions from all three phases on Saturday night.

Special teams

Rashid Shaheed set the tone on the opening kick, returning it for a 95-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks an immediate 7-0 lead and sent an already-electric crowd into a fever pitch. It was the Shaheed’s third kick or punt return touchdown in 10 games since Seattle acquired him from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline.

RASHID SHAHEED 95-YARD KICKOFF RETURN TO START THE GAME.

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Defense

Two weeks ago, Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense held the 49ers to just 3 points and 173 total yards in a regular-season finale showdown for the No. 1 seed. The Seahawks delivered a similarly stifling performance on Saturday night, limiting the 49ers to just 6 points and 236 total yards.

For those keeping track, that’s eight straight quarters the 49ers have gone without scoring a touchdown against Seattle.

The tone was set from the get-go. On the 49ers’ first drive, the Seahawks smothered star running back Christian McCaffrey for no gain on third-and-1, then snuffed out a fourth-and-1 fullback speed option by Kyle Juszczyk for a turnover on downs.

And on the 49ers’ second drive, linebacker Ernest Jones IV stripped the ball free from tight end Jake Tonges on a completion over the middle. Safety Julian Love recovered the fumble, setting up Seattle’s offense for a quick TD drive that made it 17-0 before the end of the first quarter.

That Seattle defense came to play.

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Even after building a big lead, the Seahawks’ relentless “Dark Side” defense didn’t let up.

On the opening series of the second half, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams broke through for a fourth-and-2 sack of Brock Purdy. Jones, who had five interceptions in the regular season, picked off a pass in the third quarter. And in the fourth, Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence strip-sacked Purdy for Seattle’s third takeaway of the night.

Leonard Williams SACK on 4th down!

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Offense

The Seahawks finished with just 281 total yards, but that was largely because their defense consistently gave them short fields. Taking advantage of the great field position, they scored four touchdowns and two field goals on their first seven possessions.

The rushing attack continued its late-season surge with 175 yards and 5.3 yards per carry, led by a massive night from running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, finishing with the third-most rushing yards of his four-year career.

Kenneth Walker gives the @Seahawks a 24-6 lead!

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Shaheed, in addition to his kick return score, delivered a pair of key plays on offense by racing for a 30-yard gain on a reverse and drawing a 23-yard pass interference penalty. Veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught all five of his targets for 60 yards.

And Darnold, whose injury status dominated headlines leading up to kickoff, was an efficient 12-of-17 passing for 124 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Again, it was far from a gaudy stat line. But with seemingly every part humming on this Seahawks machine, it was plenty.

DARNOLD. JSN. THE SEATTLE CONNECTION.

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— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Stacy Rost: 3 takeaways from Seattle Seahawks’ drubbing of 49ers
• Seahawks Injuries: What Macdonald said about Cross, Charbonnet

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