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Brady Henderson
SEATTLE — Sam Darnold’s oblique injury was the primary concern leading into Seattle’s playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, creating a moment of anxiety for the Seahawks and their supporters after the Pro Bowl quarterback exited practice two days prior.
yet, it quickly faded into the background.
Rashid Shaheed ignited the game with a touchdown return on the opening kickoff, setting the tone for a comprehensive victory as the Seahawks thrashed their division foes 41-6 at Lumen Field. They jumped to a 17-0 lead and maintained control, with their top-ranked scoring defense stifling San Francisco in a repeat performance while Kenneth Walker III and the developing run game drove their offense forward.
And Darnold appeared to be in great shape.
“That’s likely the most balanced game we’ve played so far,” said coach Mike Macdonald, whose team will face either the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday in the NFC Championship Game.
The Seahawks dealt the 49ers their most significant defeat during the Kyle Shanahan era, which began in 2017. For Macdonald, who took over from Pete Carroll in 2024, it marked the third-largest margin of victory for a head coach in their playoff debut in NFL history according to ESPN Research.
In front of a lively crowd, the Seahawks hosted their first playoff game with fans in attendance in nine years. Lumen Field was already charged with energy when Shaheed propelled it into euphoria by returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
“That was a great team win from the first snap,” said Darnold, who notched the first playoff victory of his eight-year career. “The kickoff, [Shaheed] bringing it back, was something special. Hearing that stadium rocking, it was unbelievable. The 12s showed up. It was a blast. Our defense did their thing, and offensively, controlling the ball was crucial for us throughout the game while finishing strong in the red zone.”
When asked about his pain level, Darnold simply replied, “I felt great. Felt great.”
Darnold’s injury occurred while he threw during a routes-on-air drill early Thursday. He left practice for treatment after feeling a slight discomfort in his left side, stating it wasn’t logical to push through it.
even with being tagged as questionable, both Darnold and Macdonald showed confidence in his ability to play, although the coach did acknowledge the chance that Darnold might be somewhat restricted.
Darnold’s choice to skip pregame warmups added to the suspense. He opted to throw in the locker room to avoid effectively warming up twice.
Once the game commenced, he seemed unaffected by the injury, moving fluidly and throwing with his characteristic velocity. His sole touchdown pass came in the first quarter, where he rolled left and delivered a precise throw into the end zone for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“I felt good, and if I had gotten hurt, I’m sure you all would have known,” he said. “So, no, I felt really good throughout the game. Any hits I took, I didn’t feel it on that side.”
Darnold wrapped up the game 12-of-17 for 124 yards with no turnovers before Drew Lock stepped in with nine minutes remaining. He secured an additional $500,000 in incentives with the victory.
“Incredible,” Macdonald remarked on his quarterback’s performance. “There were a few initial plays that took him a bit to find his rhythm. But I consider his game management a high compliment. He was on time with his throws, protected the ball, and made significant plays when needed. There could have been more explosive plays available, but overall, his operations helped us greatly.”
Darnold acknowledged that the injury is “absolutely” something he’ll need to manage for the rest of the playoffs.
Given Seattle’s strong defense, their run could take them back to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX.
In their Week 18 clash at that venue, the Seahawks held what was the NFL’s top offense at that moment to just a field goal. They similarly dominated in the playoff rematch, as Macdonald’s unit caused three takeaways along with three turnovers on downs—extending their streak to eight consecutive quarters of not allowing Purdy and the 49ers into the end zone.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV, a second-team All-Pro, was pivotal in two of the takeaways—forcing a fumble in the first quarter and intercepting Purdy in the third. even with dealing with an illness earlier in the week, as Macdonald noted, “he was not in a good spot” on Wednesday.
“For him to rally, get ready to play, really inspires the team,” Macdonald elaborated. “Those two tremendous plays shifted the game’s momentum with those takeaways.”
The Seahawks pressured Purdy on 19 of his 33 dropbacks (58%). As noted by ESPN Research, that represents the second-highest pressure rate he’s faced and the most pressures he’s encountered in any game. He completed just 6 of 14 passes for 74 yards, one interception, two sacks, and a lost fumble under duress.
Darnold, conversely, avoided turnovers after leading the league with 20 giveaways during the regular season. He didn’t have to force anything given the strength of his defense and run game.
After an inconsistent rushing attack throughout the regular season, Klint Kubiak’s offense is now firing on all cylinders. Seattle has rushed for 160 or more yards in four consecutive games, totaling 175 on Saturday.
Walker led the charge with 116 yards on 19 carries, especially as Zach Charbonnet sat out the second half due to a knee injury. All three of his rushing touchdowns, along with 110 of Seattle’s rushing yards, came outside the tackles.
“It’s a collective effort,” Macdonald stated regarding Seattle’s run game. “Our coaches deserve a lot of credit. K9 had an outstanding game. Much of our success comes from the wide zone play, which we’ve been refining all year, so it’s great to see it come to fruition.”
Macdonald expressed optimism regarding Charbonnet’s situation, noting: “We need to get it imaged, but early signs suggest that structurally it’s looking okay.”
Left tackle Charles Cross also sustained a foot injury in the third quarter. Macdonald mentioned they pulled him out “as a precaution” with the win secured, adding, “But we still need to assess his foot, so I can’t provide any details on that yet.”
even with these injuries and Darnold’s condition, the Seahawks reached a playoff victory margin matching their 43-8 win in Super Bowl XLVIII. Another home victory next week will offer them a shot at securing the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
“It was an amazing win,” Macdonald reflected. “In the locker room, we’re elated and immensely proud of the effort. The guys recognize there’s still more to achieve. We have another week ahead of us, and we need to maintain our focus. Proud of our group. We’ll celebrate today, take a break tomorrow, and return on Monday.”
