49ers’ Shanahan denied his wish for playoff game vs Seahawks

The San Francisco 49ers could use some extra rest before their NFC Divisional Round game against the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.

They won’t be getting it.

What to know about Seahawks-49ers divisional round matchup

The sixth-seeded Niners knocked off the Eagles 23-19 in Philadelphia on Sunday night, but head coach Mike Shanahan saw his already banged-up team take another hit with star tight end George Kittle suffering a torn Achilles in the wild card game.

Shanahan was asked after the win if his preference for the divisional round was to play next Sunday, Jan. 18, to which he responded that it “very strongly” was.

“I’m expecting it to be Saturday, but hopefully, if the NFL is cool and understanding, they’ll make it Sunday,” Shanahan said.

Shots fired – preemptively.

As we would find out a few hours later following the conclusion of the Sunday primetime game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers, the NFL wasn’t “cool and understanding” in Shanahan’s book, as the league slated the 49ers-Seahawks game for one of the two slots this Saturday, Jan. 17.

Date, potential start times announced for Seahawks-Niners playoff clash

That’s good news for the Seahawks, who will be well rested having sat out the wild card weekend thanks to the bye afforded the top seeds in each conference. And it’s not good news for the 49ers, who were down wide receiver Ricky Pearsall against the Eagles and just got left tackle Trent Williams back from a hamstring injury Saturday.

San Francisco played on short rest in each of the last two weeks of the regular season, as their Sunday, Dec. 28 win over the Chicago Bears came six days after they played on Monday Night Football, and then preceded a Saturday, Jan. 3 loss to the Seahawks. As a result, this Saturday’s game in Seattle will be the 49ers’ fifth in a 26-day period. For the Seahawks, it will be just their third game since a Thursday Night Football win over the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 18.

The schedule is clearly favoring the top seed here – but that’s the point of finishing atop the conference in the regular season, isn’t it?

The official kickoff time and television broadcast details for Saturday’s Seahawks-Niners game are expected to be announced following Monday’s final AFC Wild Card game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans, which is set for a 5:15 p.m. start.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• What’s helped the Seahawks’ surging run game get untracked
• How Schneider built Seahawks back into a title contender
• Seahawks’ DB duo is something no other defense has
• Huard: How rookie TE Arroyo’s return could boost Seahawks
• Seattle Seahawks match franchise record with five All-Pro selections

Related

Bump’s hope about Nick Emmanwori going on Seahawks PUP listNick Emmanwori among 3 Seahawks added to PUP listReport reveals potential factor in Seahawks selling to Khosla groupBreaking down the Seahawks’ defensive position battlesCamp Preview: Sizing up Seahawks’ offensive position battlesSeahawks place rookie D-lineman on PUP list