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The Seahawks will play their first home playoff game in five years, and because of the COVID-19 restrictions, it’ll be their first one in front of their fans since the 2016 postseason. They’re trying to win their first playoff game since Jan. 5, 2020, so it’s been a real dry spell for the NFC’s top seed.
However, the Seahawks believe they’ve built another roster to contend this season and into the future. Coach Mike Macdonald reestablished a dominant defensive culture, as they allowed the fewest points in the league for the first time since their historic run from 2012-15. The Seahawks also ranked third against the run, sixth in takeaways (25) and tied for seventh in sacks (47), so they don’t have a weak spot.
If you’d like to see their suffocating defense in action, look no further than their 13-3 victory against the 49ers in the regular-season finale. Niners quarterback Brock Purdy was held without a touchdown for the only time all season, and running back Christian McCaffrey tallied a season-low 57 yards from scrimmage.
The Seahawks have been strong against the league’s best all season, too. They were an NFL-best 6-2 against teams that qualified for the playoffs, while the Niners went 4-4.
The 49ers rebuilt their confidence Sunday when they eliminated the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, with an impressive fourth-quarter takeover. Purdy powered through two second-half interceptions to lead the rally as the QB and the Niners conquered a demon with that tough win in Philly.
The question is whether the 49ers are capable of playing markedly better than Week 18. They entered that game averaging 35.7 points during their six-game winning streak, but they were severely overmatched by the Seahawks with the No. 1 seed at stake.
That was a crucial win for Seattle’s confidence, too, because the Niners had won seven of their previous eight meetings, including a 2022 postseason showdown.
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