Seattle Seahawks discovered a brand new degree of dominance as they stormed to a 41-6 win over San Francisco 49ers in what was their first playoff sport in entrance of house followers in virtually a decade.
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kick-off for a landing, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores and Seattle pressured three turnovers in a never-in-doubt win that despatched the top-seeded Seahawks to the NFC championship sport.
Seahawks legends Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin additionally overrated the famed ‘twelfth Man’ crowd in Seattle, offering a throwback to the Seahawks’ fearsome ‘Legion of Growth’ groups from the 2010s.
“One of our most complete games, for sure,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams stated. “[Shaheed] starting the game off like that set the tone.”
Sam Darnold threw a landing go and acquired his first profession playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host both the Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Rams subsequent Sunday with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the sport because of Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the tip zone – it was the fourth kick-off return for a landing to open a playoff sport since 2000.
“I was so hyped,” defensive lineman Byron Murphy II stated.
“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 due to an indirect harm, guided the Seahawks on two extra scoring drives earlier than San Francisco acquired on the board with the primary of their two discipline targets.
Seattle Seahawks working again Kenneth Walker III Walker completed with 116 yards speeding, his most since his rookie yr in 2022
As he has all season, Darnold impressed his team-mates along with his toughness.
“He told us he was going to do whatever it takes to get back and play for us,” offensive lineman Gray Zabel stated.
“That was a gutsy performance by him, not feeling his best. He continues to just be a leader in the huddle, on the field, and on the sidelines.”
After he flopped in his playoff debut final season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking 9 sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Rams, Darnold accomplished 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and related with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a landing within the star receiver’s playoff debut.
Seattle hadn’t performed within the postseason because the 2020 season, once they misplaced at house to the Rams with no followers within the stands due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
49ers’ injury-plagued season ends
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was sacked twice, scrambled 5 instances for 37 yards and steadily threw on the run within the robust sport
The 49ers had been by no means aggressive within the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise historical past, with their 49-3 defeat to New York Giants within the divisional spherical within the 1986 season taking the highest spot.
The Niners had been lacking three injured All-Professionals: tight finish George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive finish Nick Bosa.
Star left deal with Trent Williams, who himself performed by a hamstring harm, was happy with his workforce for getting as far within the playoffs because it did.
“When you’re playing with guys you’re signing off the practice squad,” Williams stated, “guys [you are] taking off the street – you have got to temper expectations a bit.
“So many rosters had been absolutely loaded whereas we had been enjoying with guys that we acquired per week in the past, two weeks in the past, some guys signed initially of the season, some guys signed in the midst of the season.
“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.”
Walker waltzes to profession evening
Seattle Seahawks working again Kenneth Walker III Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores within the dominant house sport
Walker’s three speeding touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for probably the most in a playoff sport in franchise historical past.
Walker completed with 116 yards speeding, his most since his rookie yr in 2022, and he picked up the slack after Zach Charbonnet was injured throughout the sport. 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 stated. “You can see it’s demoralising to them.”
