Rubber Match: 49ers Look to Silence Lumen Field in Divisional Showdown
NFC Divisional Round — January 2026
Seattle, WA • Lumen Field
Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
After splitting the regular season, the 49ers and Seahawks meet one final time — with the season on the line.
The Seattle media is feeling confident. After their 13–3 win in Week 18, the “12s” believe they’ve uncovered the blueprint to slow down Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
They’re forgetting one major factor.
Trent Williams is back.
When these teams last met, the 49ers were shorthanded on a rain-soaked field. Saturday night at 5:00 PM PT, it’s a completely different story. San Francisco is fresh off a gutsy road win in Philadelphia and heads into Seattle with momentum — and nothing to lose.
🛑 The Defensive Challenge: Stopping the Run
In the previous matchup, the Seahawks’ duo of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for 171 rushing yards. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh didn’t mince words this week, calling the tackling effort “pitiful.”
Saleh spent the week drilling “All Gas, No Brake” fundamentals. Even with head-coaching interviews looming, his focus remains clear: the Seahawks will not trample the Faithful again. Expect Fred Warner to set the tone early.
🧱 The X-Factor: The Return of the King
The biggest difference between Week 18 and the Divisional Round is simple: Trent Williams.
With the best left tackle in football back in the lineup, the 49ers can re-establish their physical run game with Christian McCaffrey and give Brock Purdy the clean pocket he needs to attack Seattle’s secondary.
📊 Key Matchup Stats
- The Series: Split 1–1 during the regular season
- The Quarterbacks: Sam Darnold is 0–1 in the playoffs; Purdy is 5–2
- The Spread: Seattle favored by 7 — perfect underdog fuel for SF
LABELS
49ers, Seahawks, Purdy, CMC, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, divisional round, playoff preview, Lumen Field, NFC West rivalry
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