In a high‑stakes Week 18 primetime battle at Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara, the Seattle Seahawks delivered a statement performance to close the regular season, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 13–3 and cementing themselves as the NFC’s top team heading into the playoffs. With the victory, Seattle not only clinched the NFC West division title for the first time since 2020, but also secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC, ensuring a first‑round bye and home‑field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Right from kickoff, the Seahawks established control with a smothering defensive effort that set the tone for the night. Seattle’s unit limited San Francisco to just 173 total yards, forced multiple three‑and‑outs, and held the 49ers to a lone 48‑yard field goal, their only offensive points of the game — marking San Francisco’s lowest production under coach Kyle Shanahan.
The Seahawks opened the scoring in the first quarter when running back Zach Charbonnet broke free for a 27‑yard touchdown run, giving Seattle an early 7–0 lead that buoyed its physical game plan. Seattle’s offense continued to be methodical and effective, relying heavily on the ground game to control possession and keep the 49ers’ explosive offense off the field.
Quarterback Sam Darnold was efficient and mistake‑free, finishing 20‑for‑26 for 198 yards with no turnovers, complementing the Seahawks’ powerful rushing attack, which accumulated 180 total rushing yards, more than the entire 49ers offense managed in total. Kenneth Walker III led the ground charge with 97 yards, while Charbonnet added 74 and the game’s lone touchdown.
Despite Seattle’s dominance in yardage and control of tempo, the game remained closer on the scoreboard than expected at halftime, with the Seahawks leading 10–3 after adding a field goal before the break. Seattle’s special teams unit had mixed results; kicker Jason Myers connected on two field goals but also missed attempts from 47 and 26 yards, adding drama late in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco’s offense, which had been one of the league’s most productive in recent weeks, struggled mightily against Seattle’s front. Quarterback Brock Purdy was held in check, finishing with 127 passing yards and one interception, and San Francisco’s typically dynamic running game was bottled up throughout. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was limited to minimal yardage, reflecting the suffocating nature of Seattle’s defense.
A pivotal moment came early in the fourth quarter when linebacker Drake Thomas intercepted a tipped Purdy pass near the goal line, halting what looked to be San Francisco’s best chance of closing the gap. Seattle then mounted a long, clock‑draining drive to effectively end any comeback hopes.
Seattle’s win capped a seven‑game winning streak to conclude the regular season, finishing with a 14–3 record, the best in franchise history. Coach Mike Macdonald praised his team’s complementary approach, highlighting the defense’s ability to neutralize one of the league’s toughest attacks and the offense’s success in controlling the clock and running the football. With home‑field advantage secured and a first‑round bye in hand, the Seahawks now shift their focus toward a deep playoff run with confidence and momentum.