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49ers vs Seahawks Divisional Preview: Trent Williams Returns to Save Season

NFL PLAYOFFS

NFC Divisional Playoffs: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks


Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026 | Time: 5:15 PM PST

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA | TV: FOX

Series History: 1-1 in 2025. 49ers won Week 1 (17-13); Seahawks won Week 18 (13-3).

The Hall-of-Fame Boost: Trent Returns to Protect the Season

The 13-3 loss in Week 18 was a jarring reminder of how much this team relies on its pillars. Without Trent Williams at LT and Nick Bosa on the edge, the 49ers looked unrecognizable. While Bosa remains out, the return of the future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Williams changes the entire geometry of Kyle Shanahan's offense. With Trent back, Brock Purdy finally has the "blindside security" needed to challenge Mike Macdonald’s #1 defense.


Lineup Attrition: Why Week 18 Felt Different

The 49ers' offensive output dropped by 82% between Week 1 and Week 18. The reason? The "Big Three" absences: Williams, Bosa, and Kittle.

San Francisco 49ers Starters Comparison

Position Week 1 (Win) Week 18 (Loss) Divisional Round
LT Trent Williams Brandon Parker Trent Williams
QB Brock Purdy Brock Purdy Brock Purdy
TE George Kittle George Kittle Jake Tonges
RDE Nick Bosa Mykel Williams Mykel Williams
LB Fred Warner Tatum Bethune Tatum Bethune

The Impact of #71

In Week 18, the 49ers averaged a miserable 2.8 yards per carry to the left side. When Trent Williams is active, that number jumps to nearly 5.1 yards. His presence allows Shanahan to run the outside zone that defines the 49ers' identity, forcing Seattle's pass rushers to respect the run rather than pinning their ears back to hunt Purdy.


Divisional Round "Extreme Impact" Inactives

The 49ers are 12-5 despite facing more "Blue-Chip" injuries than any other playoff team. Here is who is missing on Saturday:

Player Unit Impact Level Postseason Status
Nick Bosa Defense EXTREME OUT (ACL)
George Kittle Offense HIGH OUT (Achilles)
Fred Warner Defense HIGH OUT (Ankle)
Ji'Ayir Brown Defense MODERATE OUT (Hamstring)
Coach's Corner: Kyle Shanahan is 10-4 in the playoffs. While Mike Macdonald (14-3 in 2025) has the healthier roster, he hasn't had to face a 49ers team with a motivated Trent Williams and a healthy CMC in months. Expect a heavy dose of the run game to the left side.

LABELS

Purdy, McCaffrey, Williams, Bosa, Warner, Kittle, Shanahan, Macdonald, 49ers, seahawks, Seattle, divisional, highlight, injury, playoffs

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