SEATTLE — Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a landing, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores and the Seattle Seahawks superior to the NFC championship recreation with a dominant 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday evening.
Sam Darnold threw a landing move and received his first profession playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host both the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams subsequent Sunday with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 simply 13 seconds into the sport because of Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the top zone. It was the fourth kickoff return for a landing to open a playoff recreation since 2000 and the longest postseason kick return in franchise historical past.
Darnold, who had been listed as questionable due to an indirect damage, guided the Seahawks on two extra scoring drives earlier than the 49ers received on the board with the primary of its two subject objectives.
After he flopped in his playoff debut final season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking 9 sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles 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.
The 49ers (13-6) have been by no means aggressive within the second-most-lopsided playoff loss in franchise historical past. They misplaced 49-3 to the New York Giants within the divisional spherical within the 1986 season.
The Niners have been lacking three injured All-Execs: tight finish George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive finish Nick Bosa.
Brock Purdy accomplished 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a misplaced fumble in opposition to the Seahawks’ “Darkish Facet” protection. The Seahawks additionally recovered a fumble by tight finish Jake Tonges.
Walker’s three dashing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for essentially the most in a playoff recreation in franchise historical past.
Accidents
- 49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey (stinger) was injured within the second quarter and returned within the third quarter earlier than exiting the sport for good. Tonges injured a foot and didn’t return.
- Seahawks: RB Zach Charbonnet injured a knee within the second quarter and didn’t return. LT Charles Cross injured a foot within the third quarter and didn’t return.
