Image Source: AP
Key Takeaways:
- The Seattle Seahawks will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC’s divisional round on Saturday night, marking the third time the teams have met in the playoffs.
- The Seahawks won the division and secured the No. 1 seed with a dominant 13-3 win over the 49ers on January 3.
- San Francisco’s coach Kyle Shanahan expects the Seahawks to make adjustments to their game plan, but believes his team can still execute and win.
- The Seahawks’ quarterback Sam Darnold is listed as questionable with a left oblique injury, but is confident he will play.
- The 49ers’ wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice in a limited capacity and may play on Saturday, providing a boost to the team’s offense.
Introduction to the Matchup
The Seattle Seahawks are set to host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC’s divisional round on Saturday night, in a matchup that will determine which team moves closer to the Super Bowl. As Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams noted, "They’ve clearly shown that they have a good offense… But at the same time, I trust our team." This will be the third time the teams have met in the playoffs, and the second meeting in three weeks. The Seahawks won the division and secured the No. 1 seed with a dominant 13-3 win over the 49ers on January 3, which was the lowest scoring output for the Niners since 2017.
The 49ers’ Game Plan
San Francisco’s coach Kyle Shanahan expects the Seahawks to make adjustments to their game plan, but believes his team can still execute and win. As Shanahan said, "They have a very good scheme that’s very balanced and they can hit you in any way… I think the personnel not only is talented for any scheme, but is perfectly talented for their scheme." The 49ers will have to make adjustments to their game plan, as quarterback Brock Purdy noted, "We just played them two weeks ago, so looking back at the other game plan as well and having it sort of fresh in your mind… picking it up where you left off and obviously making some changes where you need to." The 49ers played their final two games of the regular season with one fewer day of rest than normal, including the Week 18 loss to Seattle, and are in the same situation this week.
The Seahawks’ Preparation
The Seahawks finished the season with seven straight wins to finish with a franchise-record 14 victories. However, one of their losses came at home against San Francisco in Week 1. The Seahawks’ offense had some fresh concerns on Thursday when quarterback Sam Darnold injured his left oblique in practice, but he is listed as questionable and is confident he will play. As Darnold said, he is "confident" he will play, despite being listed as questionable. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald doesn’t expect to see much that’s different about the 49ers, given that they’ve only played once since the last meeting. Macdonald said, "You’re really going off how you felt like you played the game, things you did well, maybe where you think they might take things."
The 49ers’ Injuries
The 49ers’ wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has not played since December 28 due to a knee injury, but returned to practice this week in a limited capacity. A return by Pearsall would be a boost for San Francisco, especially after All-Pro tight end George Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon in the 49ers’ 23-19 win at Philadelphia. Macdonald and the Seahawks expect to see Pearsall in the lineup, as Macdonald said, "They have a lot of talented receivers, but he’s definitely one of them… He definitely complements the rest of the guys well in terms of what he does in his skill set and how they use him." The 49ers are looking to overcome their injuries and make a deep run in the playoffs, and a win over the Seahawks would be a big step in that direction.
The Coaching Matchup
Macdonald, who calls the Seahawks’ defensive plays, got the best of Shanahan in the last meeting, but the Niners coach out-schemed Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio last week. As Shanahan said, "I think they’ve been playing with, not the exact same group, but close to the same group, for two straight years. When you have a talented group with a very good scheme that’s been playing together for two years, they get pretty good." The coaching matchup between Macdonald and Shanahan will be a key factor in the game, as both coaches look to outmaneuver each other and lead their team to victory. The Seahawks allowed a combined 20 points to San Francisco in two meetings this season, and Macdonald will look to replicate that success on Saturday night.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/49ers-seahawks-preview-20260117026/