Seahawks Dominate 49ers in NFC Playoffs!

Seattle's defense shines as they cruise to a 41-6 victory over San Francisco

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:06am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football game between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, with the players' movements and the energy of the game captured through sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a vibrant color palette.The Seahawks' decisive victory over their NFC West rivals is reflected in this cubist deconstruction of the high-intensity playoff matchup.Hermann Today

The Seattle Seahawks delivered a dominant performance, thrashing the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in the NFC playoffs. Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed electrified the crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening play, setting the tone for the game. Seattle's stifling defense forced three turnovers and held the 49ers' star running back Christian McCaffrey to just 2.7 yards per carry. Quarterback Sam Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown, and running back Kenneth Walker had a standout game, rushing for three scores and over 100 yards. The Seahawks will now face the winner of the Chicago Bears/LA Rams game in the NFC Championship.

Why it matters

The Seahawks' dominant victory over their NFC West rivals, the 49ers, has positioned them one win away from the Super Bowl. This game showcased the Seahawks' defensive prowess, which has been a key factor in their success this season. The 49ers' struggles, partly due to injuries to key players, highlight the importance of roster depth and health in the playoffs.

The details

The Seahawks set the tone early, with Rashid Shaheed's electrifying 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening play. Seattle's defense, ranked as the NFL's best in scoring defense for 2025, was impenetrable, holding the 49ers to just six points and forcing three turnovers. Running back Kenneth Walker had a standout performance, rushing for three touchdowns and over 100 yards, while quarterback Sam Darnold connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the second quarter.

  • The game was played on April 11, 2026.
  • Rashid Shaheed's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown came on the opening play of the game.

The players

Rashid Shaheed

A wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks who electrified the crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening play of the game.

Sam Darnold

The quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, who connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Kenneth Walker

The Seahawks' running back, who had a standout performance, rushing for three touchdowns and over 100 yards.

Christian McCaffrey

The star running back for the San Francisco 49ers, who was held to just 2.7 yards per carry and suffered a shoulder injury during the game.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Seahawks' wide receiver who caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Darnold in the second quarter.

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What they’re saying

“This has been a Seahawks rout.”

— Kevin Burkhardt, Fox Sports commentator

What’s next

The Seahawks will now face the winner of the Chicago Bears/LA Rams game in the NFC Championship.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' dominant victory over the 49ers showcases their defensive prowess and the importance of roster depth and health in the playoffs. The 49ers' struggles, partly due to injuries to key players, highlight the challenges of maintaining a competitive team throughout the season.