The Divisional Round matchups on Saturday wrapped up with a classic NFC West battle between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, this time with a trip to the NFC Championship Game at stake. Fittingly, a game between these two heated rivals just two weeks after their last meeting quickly turned into a one-sided thrashing on national television.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from the 49ers vs Seahawks, with Seattle utterly dominating its rival to clinch the right to host the NFC Championship Game.
Winner: Rashid Shaheed, WR, Seattle Seahawks
This is one of the reasons why Seahawks general manager John Schneider acquired Rashid Shaheed at the NFL trade deadline. He was not particularly productive as an offensive weapon in the Seattle offense, putting up just 252 scrimmage yards in nine games. As the Divisional Round demonstrated, though, he can be just as dangerous as a returner. Shaheed’s 95-yard kickoff return touchdown sent Lumen Field into a frenzy, only fueling the raucous home-field advantage you would expect when the Seahawks are playing at home. For good measure, he also added some explosive plays on offense and drew a big DPI.
Loser: Jake Tonges, TE, San Francisco 49ers
It didn’t take long for the George Kittle injury to cost the 49ers in the Divisional Round. Already trailing 10-0 late in the first quarter, Brock Purdy hit tight end Jake Tonges for an 11-yard gain. Unfortunately for San Francisco, poor ball security from Tonges allowed the football to be ripped out with Seattle recovering it at the 49ers’ 43-yard line. Five plays later, the Seahawks found the end zone to make it a 17-point game.
Winner: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
The statistics were even better than his Week 18 performance in San Francisco that clinched the No. 1 seed. Kenneth Walker III was just as effective on Saturday night at home, stepping up with Zach Charbonnet leaving the game early with a knee injury, Walker was thrust into a featured role and excelled. Even when the San Francisco defensive line generated penetration at or behind the line of scrimmage, Walker found a way to get extra yards. He popped in a key touchdown before halftime, running through a defender on his way to the end zone, and put up over 100 scrimmage yards with remarkable efficiency on the ground. For good emasure, he drove the dagger into San Francisco’s heart with a 15-yard touchdown run. Evidently that wasn’t enough, as he punched in his third score in the fourth quarter to turn this rivalry game into a one-sided decimation. In a contract year, Walker is making himself more money with this late-season excellence.
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Loser: Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Even before the stinger injury, Christian McCaffrey could not get anything going against the Seattle defense in a must-win game. The All-Pro running back finished the first half with 68 scrimmage yards on 15 touches, with only one play (an 11-yard catch and run) going for 10-plus yards. It felt eerily similar to his performance in Week 18 (57 scrimmage yards on 14 touches). Credit goes to McCaffrey for trying to fight through the injury and return late in the third quarter, but he was clearly even less effective.
Winner: Ernest Jones, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald’s defense in Baltimore excelled after the team acquired All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith. So, a few months into his stint as the Seahawks head coach, the team went out and landed Ernest Jones. Now in this system for over a full season, Jones is coming off the first All-Pro selection (second team) of his career. He proved instrumental in snuffing out the San Francisco rushing attack on Saturday night, as he did in Week 18. He also made a great play late in the third quarter to pick off Brock Purdy, setting up another score for Seattle. Jones has found a home in Seattle, and he is one of the biggest reasons why this team will be hosting the NFC Championship Game next week.
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Loser: Winner of Los Angeles Rams vs Chicago Bears
We felt heading into the weekend that the Seahawks were the best team in the NFL playoffs. Saturday did nothing to change that. The defense is capable of winning a game on its own and, while Sam Darnold has not been as sharp as he was in the second half of the season, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has dialed up an explosive and efficient rushing attack.
That was on full display against the 49ers. Furthermore, the game showed the home-field advantage the Seahawks have at Lumen Field, and we have not even mentioned what might be the best special teams unit in the playoffs. Whether the Los Angeles Rams or Chicago Bears win on Sunday, we like the Seattle odds in the NFC title game.
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Winner: Seattle Seahawks’ Defensive Line
In the first three quarters, San Francisco averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. If you take away an 18-yard scramble by Brock Purdy, that figure drops to a 2.8 yards-per-carry average. Speaking of Purdy, he was running for his life. The Seattle defensive front routinely tore through the 49ers offensive line, recording double-digit pressures, knocking him around, and forcing him into multiple throwaways and an interception. This entire unit is a force to be reckoned with, but the Seahawks defensive line was truly phenomenal tonight.
