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
2025 Series: Split 1-1 (Week 1: SF 17-13 | Week 18: SEA 13-3)
The Hall-of-Fame Boost: Trent Williams 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 at home. While Bosa remains out, the return of the future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Trent Williams changes the entire geometry of Kyle Shanahan's offense. We saw the "Trent Effect" immediately in the Wild Card round, as his presence sparked a 23-19 road win in hostile Philadelphia. Now, with the blindside secured, Brock Purdy finally has the protection needed to challenge Mike Macdonald’s #1 defense in the loudest stadium in the NFL.
WATCH: Why Trent Williams is the 49ers' Postseason X-Factor
The Tale of Two Tapes: Week 18 vs. Philadelphia
To understand the Extreme Impact of Trent Williams, one only needs to look at the film from the last two games. In Week 18, against a Seattle pass rush that isn't exactly the '85 Bears, Brock Purdy was under duress on nearly 45% of his dropbacks. Brandon Parker, a serviceable backup, simply couldn't handle the simulated pressures Mike Macdonald threw his way. The result was a stagnant 3-point performance that cost the Niners the division.
Fast forward to the Wild Card round at Lincoln Financial Field. Against a ferocious Eagles front, Trent Williams returned. Not only did Purdy look comfortable, but the running lanes for Christian McCaffrey—which had been clogged like rush hour traffic in Week 18—suddenly opened up. The 49ers didn't just win; they controlled the tempo in one of the most hostile environments in sports.
The "Trent Effect": Offensive Drop-off Without #71
| Metric | Week 18 (No Trent) | Wild Card (With Trent) | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMC Rush Yards | 23 Yards | 112 Yards | +386% |
| Purdy Pass Yards | 127 Yards | 264 Yards | +107% |
| Third Down % | 18% | 46% | Elite Sustain |
| Total Points | 3 Points | 23 Points | Victory |
Lineup Attrition: Why This Divisional Round is Different
The 49ers' 12-5 season is a testament to the coaching of Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh. Losing Nick Bosa in Week 3 was a season-altering blow. Bosa isn't just a pass rusher; he is the gravitational force that makes everyone else on the defense better. Without him, the Niners have had to rely on a "bend-but-don't-break" secondary and the emergence of rookies like Mykel Williams.
However, the offense is built on "The Big Three": Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle. With Kittle out (Achilles), the 49ers lose their best intermediate weapon and a devastating run blocker. This puts even more pressure on Trent Williams to dominate his individual matchup. If Trent can erase Seattle's edge rushers, Shanahan can use CMC and Jauan Jennings to move the chains without needing to rely on deep, slow-developing shots that Bosa-less teams often struggle to protect.
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 |
Divisional Round "Extreme Impact" Inactives
It is rare to see a team this decimated by injury still favored to make a deep run. The 49ers are essentially playing with a "Skeleton Crew" defense. Nick Bosa's ACL tear in Week 3, combined with Fred Warner's lingering ankle issues and George Kittle's Achilles tear, means the Niners are missing nearly $100 million in cap value on the field this 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) |
The Coaching Chess Match: Shanahan vs. Macdonald
This game isn't just about the players; it's a heavyweight fight between the most innovative offensive mind in football and the league's brightest defensive architect. Mike Macdonald's rise in Seattle has been meteoric. His "A-Gap" blitzes and disguised coverages completely flustered the Niners in Week 18.
However, Kyle Shanahan with Trent Williams is a different beast. Shanahan can run "Counter-T" and "Outside Zone" knowing that the left side of the line is a brick wall. This forces Macdonald to commit more safeties to the box, opening up the play-action pass for Brock Purdy. In Philadelphia, we saw the Niners use Trent as a pulling blocker to lead CMC into the secondary. Expect a similar game plan this Saturday to keep the Seattle pass rush at bay.
LABELS
Purdy, McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Warner, Kittle, Shanahan, Macdonald, 49ers, seahawks, Philadelphia, Seattle, divisional, highlight, injury, playoffs
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