SEATTLE (AP) — No game more perfectly embodied the San Francisco 49ers’ yearlong injury woes than their finale Saturday night.
Late in the third quarter of a 41-6 drubbing against the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, star running back Christian McCaffrey wound up in the injury tent with a stinger while starting tight end Jake Tonges, who only entered the lineup because George Kittle tore his right Achilles last week, followed soon after.
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San Francisco 49ers Jake Tonges (88) fumbles the ball during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey reacts on the turf after being tackled by Seattle Seahawks' defense during an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy reacts after fumbling the ball during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) greets Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) after an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
As San Francisco limped to a finish, so, too, did its roster.
“When you’re playing with guys you’re signing off the practice squad,” left tackle Trent Williams said, “guys (you are) taking off the street — you got to temper expectations a bit.”
San Francisco had won six in a row before losing to Seattle 13-3 in the regular-season finale, and churned out those victories without injured All-Pros like linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa.
“So many rosters were fully loaded while we were playing with guys that we got a week ago, two weeks ago, some guys signed at the beginning of the season, some guys signed in the middle of the season,” Williams said. “The fact that we were able to get to this part of the season, divisional round in the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to get in the NFC Championship and we’re extremely shorthanded, I’m proud of this team.”
The 49ers ran into a Seahawks team that continued to improve as the season progressed, and outscored the 49ers 54-9 in the last two games.
Seattle limited quarterback Brock Purdy and San Francisco to just two field goals in the 49ers’ second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. San Francisco lost 49-3 to the New York Giants in the divisional round in the 1986 season.
Purdy had to run for his life all evening, and completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a fumble.
“It’s no secret in terms of their style of play,” Purdy said about Seattle’s defense. “It’s try to make the quarterback check it down and play deep to short. And then within that, have a good pass rush. And that’s a good defense, man. Like, it’s a smart way to play.”
Much of the season, the 49ers held serve with NFC West foes like the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, both of whom are still alive in the playoffs. They split their season series with each opponent.
Should the Rams beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday, though, it would be another NFC West showdown in Seattle for a spot in the Super Bowl.
But as the 49ers quite literally hobbled to the end of the 2025 season, it also spurred some contemplation from its top players about how to properly reflect on the 49ers’ season. McCaffrey, who did briefly return after his injury, called it an “emotional roller-coaster” to go through the season.
“What I will say is this is, in all my years playing, the proudest I’ve ever been to be a part of a team,” McCaffrey said. “It’s this team; I love everybody in that locker room.”
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San Francisco 49ers Jake Tonges (88) fumbles the ball during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey reacts on the turf after being tackled by Seattle Seahawks' defense during an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy reacts after fumbling the ball during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) greets Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) after an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE (AP) — Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin hyped up the famed “12th Man” crowd in Seattle, providing a throwback to the Seahawks' fearsome “Legion of Boom” teams from the 2010s.
Then, in their first playoff game in front of home fans in nearly a decade, the Seahawks found a new level of dominance.
Rashid Shaheed returned the returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and Seattle forced three turnovers in a never-in-doubt 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night that sent the top-seeded Seahawks to the NFC championship game.
“One of our most complete games, for sure,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “(Shaheed) starting the game off like that set the tone.”
Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and got his first career playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host either the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the game thanks to Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the end zone. It was the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown to open a playoff game since 2000 and the longest postseason kick return in franchise history.
“I was so hyped,” defensive lineman Byron Murphy II said. “I wasn’t expecting that, but when he did it, I knew the game was over then. I already knew.”
Darnold, who had been listed as questionable because of an oblique injury, guided the Seahawks on two more scoring drives before San Francisco got on the board with the first of its two field goals. As he has all season, Darnold impressed his teammates with his toughness.
“He told us he was going to do whatever it takes to get back and play for us,” offensive lineman Grey Zabel said. “That was a gutsy performance by him, not feeling his best. He continues to just be a leader in the huddle, on the field, on the sidelines.”
After he flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking nine sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Rams, Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the star receiver’s playoff debut.
Seattle hadn't played in the postseason since the 2020 season, when it lost at home to the Rams with no fans in the stands because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49ers (13-6) were never competitive in the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. San Francisco lost 49-3 to the New York Giants in the divisional round in the 1986 season.
The Niners were missing three injured All-Pros: tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa. Star left tackle Trent Williams, who played through a hamstring injury, was proud of his team for getting as far in the playoffs as it did.
“When you’re playing with guys you’re signing off the practice squad,” Williams said, “guys (you are) taking off the street — you got to temper expectations a bit.”
Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a lost fumble against the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense. Seattle also recovered a fumble by tight end Jake Tonges.
“Everything’s working for us, to be honest,” safety Nick Emmanwori said. “Everything’s working. We fly to the ball, we’ve got (a) great scheme, great coaches, great players. I (think) it’s hard for teams to find a way to score on us or beat us straight up.”
Walker’s three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a playoff game in franchise history. Two of the scores came after halftime, and he celebrated one by chucking the ball into the crowd.
“I’d do it more,” Walker said, “but I’d get fined for it.”
Walker finished with 116 yards rushing, his most since his rookie year in 2022, and he picked up the slack after Zach Charbonnet was injured during the game. The Seahawks ran for 175 yards, their third most this season.
“You can see it, how they’re breathing, they’re tired, they’re slow to get up,” Walker said. “You can see it’s demoralizing to them.”
The Seahawks’ front seven made life difficult for Purdy, chasing him across the field while sacking him twice. With the Niners thin at receiver, Purdy scrambled five times for 37 yards and frequently threw on the run.
“It’s no secret in terms of their style of play,” Purdy said. “Trying to make a quarterback check it down and play deep to short. Then within that, have a good pass rush. That’s a good defense, man.”
49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey (stinger) was injured in the second quarter and returned in the third quarter before exiting the game for good. Tonges injured a foot and did not return.
Seahawks: Charbonnet injured a knee in the second quarter and did not return. LT Charles Cross injured a foot in the third quarter and did not return.
49ers: Heal and reload for next season.
Seahawks: Are one victory away from the fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and first in 11 years.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) runs a kickoff return in for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold reacts during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
