Seattle Seahawks claim 41-6 win over San Francisco 49ers to advance to NFC Championship Game | NFL news

The Seattle Seahawks reached a new level of dominance as they cruised to a 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their first playoff game in front of their home fans in nearly a decade.

Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Kenneth Walker III rushed for a 3-pointer and Seattle forced three turnovers for an improbable victory that sent the top-seeded Seahawks into the NFC championship game.

Seahawks legends Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin once again graced the famous ’12th Man’ crowd in Seattle, providing an answer to the formidable ‘Legion of Boom’ Seahawks teams from the 2010s.

“One of our more complete games, for sure,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “[Shaheed] starting the game like this sets the tone.”

Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and got his first playoff victory in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.

The Seahawks took a 7-0 lead 13 seconds into the game thanks to Shaheed, who scored the opening touchdown and took it 95 yards to the end zone — the fourth game back to open a playoff game since 2000.

“I was really excited,” defensive lineman Byron Murphy II said.

“I didn’t expect that, but when he did it, I knew it was game over. I already knew it.”

Darnold, who was listed as questionable with a groin injury, led the Seahawks to two more touchdowns before San Francisco got on the board with the first of the two.

As he has all season, Darnold has impressed his teammates with his toughness.

“He told us he would do anything to come back and play for us,” offensive lineman Gray Zabel said.

“That was his game that didn’t drop down, he didn’t feel good. He continues to be a leader in the group, on the field, and on the sideline.”

After entering his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings with 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 the star receiver’s first playoff touchdown.

Seattle has not played in the postseason since the 2020 season, when they lost at home to the Rams without fans in the stands due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 49ers’ injury-riddled season is coming to an end

The 49ers never contended for the second-most lopsided loss in franchise history, with their 49-3 loss to the New York Giants in the divisional round in the 1986 season taking the top spot.

The Niners were missing three injured All-Pros: tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa.

Left fielder Trent Williams, who also played with a hamstring injury, was proud of his team for making it as far in the playoffs as they did.

“When you play with guys, you come off the practice squad,” Williams said, “guys [you are] from the road – you should temper your expectations.

“Many players were full when we played with the boys we got two weeks ago, some boys signed at the beginning of the season, others signed in the middle of the season.

“The fact that we were able to get to this part of the season, the divisional round in the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to get into the NFC championship and come up short, I’m proud of this team.”

Walker leaves for work at night

Walker’s three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a playoff game in franchise history.

Walker finished with 116 yards rushing, his most since his rookie year in 2022, and picked up the slack after Zach Charbonnet was injured midway through the game. The Seahawks rushed for 175 yards, the third most of the season.

“You can see how they’re breathing, they’re tired, they’re slow to wake up,” said Walker. “You can see it’s draining them.”