News Seahawks Team Notes

[Seattle Seahawks]

Pre-Snap Reads 1/2: Seahawks need to start proving they are better than 49ers

In Today’s Links: how our Seattle Seahawks can improve through Free Agency this offseason, why and how our squad will beat the San Francisco 49ers, Sam Darnold’s view on Saturday’s game, a few previews of the big game, Coach Macdonald has some words about Christian McCaffrey, an episode of the Seahawks Syndicate featuring multiple Field Gull’ers, and much, much more! Tune in, do the knowledge, prepare thyself. Saturday is nigh(ish)! Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!

#np Shiver by George Benson

Seahawks News

How the Seahawks can ‘Nail’ free agency – Seaside Joe
Plus how can Sam Darnold avoid pressure to beat the 49ers?

The Reset: Seahawks will beat 49ers – these are the reasons – Seattle Sports
It’s doesn’t get much bigger than the Seattle Seahawks’ game on Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

Sam Darnold Looks Ahead To Saturday’s Matchup: ‘Just Treating It Like Another Game’ – Seahawks.com
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold knows the “gravity” of Saturday’s game, but wants to keep the same process he had been all season, knowing that, “it’s football and we’ll be ready to go for it.”

The Opposing View: An Insider’s Look At The Seahawks’ Week 18 Opponent, The San Francisco 49ers – Seahawks.com
Five questions from Seahawks.com about this week’s opponent; five answers from 49ers.com team reporter Briana Jeannel.

A Seahawks win over the 49ers isn’t the hope — it’s the expectation – The Seattle Times
Winning the division and getting a bye against the 49ers on Saturday is no longer a fantasy for the Seahawks — it’s become the expectation.

Good Seahawks injury news day: Rashid Shaheed full go, Josh Jones progresses – The News Tribune
Rashid Shaheed’s smile beamed off the walls on his way out of the locker room and into the rest of his New Year’s Day. No wonder he was happy.

Mike Macdonald admits to ‘terrible answer’ on how to defend Christian McCaffrey – si.com
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald knows there’s no good way to answer this question.

Three Seattle Seahawks players who could decide the monumental 49ers rematch – The Athletic
Much has changed since the San Francisco 49ers narrowly defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 at Lumen Field. Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers have evolved since that 17-13 victory. Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks have, too.

6 Surprising Seahawks & 49ers Players Who Could Swing the NFC West Title Game! – Sea Hawkers Podcast
49ers creator Young Heavy of ‪@sportsafterdark‬ joins the pod to discuss this defense and surprising 49ers that could tilt the scale for the red, gold, and black. Adam and Clinton share ideas on some surprising Seahawks to watch out for and how to tell if Sam Darnold is in his bag early OR if the Niners are getting to Sam in the pocket.

SEAHAWKS vs. 49ers: The NFC West Title Fight! (Seahawks Syndicate Roundtable PREVIEW) – Seahawks Forever w/ Dan Viens
The Seattle Seahawks head to Santa Clara for a pivotal NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, and the surface-level narratives don’t tell the whole story.

NFC West News

With the First Pick 6.0: Another Cardinals loss gets closer – Revenge of the Birds
Another loss last weekend for the Arizona Cardinals. What does that make now?

1 play that magnifies all of the issues with the 49ers defense this season – Niners Nation
It’s been a bumpy road for the 49ers defense since Fred Warner and Nick Bosa went down with an injury

5 New Year’s resolutions for Rams in 2026 – Turf Show Times
The Rams have hit a late-season slump. Here are five New Year’s resolutions they must fix to get back on track.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...d-to-start-proving-they-are-better-than-49ers

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Charles Cross expected back for Seahawks’ first playoff game

The Seattle Seahawks will not have starting left tackle Charles Cross for Saturday’s Week 18 NFC West and No. 1 seed title decider against the San Francisco 49ers, marking his third consecutive missed game due to a hamstring injury. Luckily, whether the Seahawks gets a first-round bye or not, it looks as if his return is imminent.

Speaking at his media availability session before the team’s flight to Santa Clara, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald indicated that Cross should be ready to return for the postseason.

“We’re optimistic for next week or the week after for Charles (Cross),” Macdonald said. “These guys have done a great job getting back and working, but obviously Charles isn’t going to make it this week.”

A Seahawks win means Cross wouldn’t have to come back until the NFC Divisional Round in two weeks, whereas a loss would mean playing next week in the Wild Card against either the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Macdonald was predictably coy regarding backup tackle Josh Jones’ availability for the 49ers game. Jones was listed as questionable with ankle and knee injuries, and his only practice this week was as a limited participant on Thursday.

“It’s questionable if he’s going to play,” Macdonald said. “He’s progressing; the injury report is what it is. We’ll stick with it right now.”

If Jones can’t go, undrafted rookie Amari Kight would slot in as the left tackle.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...ross-injury-update-seahawks-playoffs-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

5 predictions for Seahawks vs. 49ers: One more for the road to get home-field advantage

We are just hours away from the biggest regular season game in Seattle Seahawks franchise history. They’ve been the No. 1 seed before, but they’ve never had to clinch it in this fashion on the final day of the regular season. The winner of the Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara gets

It’s time for our some predictions! Let’s first review how last week’s Carolina Panthers game predictions went.

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Bold prediction: Kenneth Walker gets the rushing yards needed to hit 1,000

He wasn’t close to 121 yards, but he only needs 70 to hit 1k for the year.

Seahawks offense prediction: Sam Darnold cracks 300 yards

He didn’t even hit 200.

Seahawks defense prediction: Nick Emmanwori forces a turnover in his return home

Quiet day for Emmanwori on the stat sheet, so while the Seahawks forced turnovers, he was not involved.

Panthers prediction: Mike Jackson gets some measure of revenge

WELP.

Game prediction: The Seahawks turn back a determined Panthers team

The Panthers defense was determined to win. Not sure about the offense. I said 30-20 and I gave Carolina too much credit, but the thought was correct.

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Bold prediction: Better late than never for Rashid Shaheed​

After legitimate concern over whether or not he’d be available after he was concussed against the Carolina Panthers, Seattle’s Pro Bowl return specialist and wide receiver is all systems go for Saturday night. With Tory Horton likely done for the year, it’s clear that Shaheed is the only non-Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seahawks receiver who can stretch opposing defenses vertically. He had consecutive very productive performances as a WR against the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons before a goose egg (but a punt return TD) against the Rams and then one ultimately concussive catch vs. Carolina.

The 49ers defense is prone to giving up explosive pass plays—five straight weeks with a 20+ yard touchdown pass allowed—and this stat should raise eyebrows.

Mentioned this on the pod–the Niners are 32nd league wide in DVOA vs WR2s. Opportunity is there for Shaheed. https://t.co/YVpA3eCFqS

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 2, 2026

Is Shaheed WR2 over Cooper Kupp? Probably 2a and 2b at this point, and in this game I think I’d rather see Rashid be WR2. He’ll finally get his first receiving touchdown as a Seahawk, and it’ll be an explosive one.

Seahawks offense prediction: The Seahawks finally score multiple 1st half offensive touchdowns​

That Arizona Cardinals blowout seems so long ago. Week 10 is the last time the Seahawks offense put up multiple offensive touchdowns in the first half. Since Week 11, they’ve been held to a whopping two as part of a somewhat concerning trend of slow starts. They’ve been fortunate that the defense has been amazing, such that the Seahawks can wake up in the second half and not have to deal with big deficits.

San Francisco’s defense is 28th by EPA/play in the 1st half and 24th by DVOA. If the Seahawks can’t figure this out now (or, rather, return to their dominant 1st halves from the early part of the year) then maybe this is who they’ll be for the rest of the season.

Klint Kubiak, you’re on notice to make sure the Seahawks can get going early so that they’re either keeping pace with the 49ers or not trailing by a significant margin heading into halftime.

Seahawks defense prediction: Multiple turnovers off of Brock Purdy again​

Brock Purdy is playing at an exceptional level over the past few weeks. He’s 7-1 as a starter on the year and isn’t showing major regression signs like has seemingly been predicted regularly for a couple of seasons. Buuuuut….

There will be no shortage of attention paid to Sam Darnold's turnover issues in this game and beyond. He's not the only QB with a TO problem playing Saturday night.

Purdy actually has a *higher* INT rate than Darnold this season. pic.twitter.com/wnk44llGtF

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) December 31, 2025

I understand that the Macdonald defense stat is a small sample size, but the interception rate over his half-season played is a little bit larger. If nothing else, Purdy will put the ball in harm’s way, and as an anticipatory thrower there’s nothing a defense can do more to get Purdy panicked than disrupt the route combinations of the receivers. The Chicago Bears did it on the opening play and got a pick-six off of Brock last week, then made no effort to play defense the rest of the night.

Purdy’s turnovers tend to be more about interceptions than fumbles, but the conditions may be conducive to some normally accurate throws going astray and some mishaps in the backfield. He was picked twice in the first meeting, and I believe that even if Purdy throws touchdowns and is otherwise productive, he’ll give the ball up a couple of times against the best defense he’s faced all season. Watch out for Seattle’s pass rush looking to exploit the lack of Trent Williams protecting his blindside.

49ers prediction: George Kittle still has a big day​

Christian McCaffrey is the headline name on the 49ers offense, and for good reason. George Kittle has been the Seahawks killer for much longer, and maybe it’s not coincidental that the bulk of Seattle’s wins over the 49ers since 2019 have involved him not playing or playing hobbled. Kittle had four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 before exiting with an injury.

The Seahawks defense is outstanding, but they’re 18th by DVOA against tight ends. Kittle means so much to the 49ers not just as a receiver, but as a blocker in the run game. He can crack any defense, including this one, and I fear that what gives the 49ers a chance to win is Kittle being able to get open in zone coverage and defeat the Seahawks linebackers and secondary in 1-on-1 battles.

I’m thinking Kittle has a touchdown and leads the 49ers in receiving yards, if not cracking the century mark.

Game prediction: Seahawks are the kings of the NFC West​

Seattle is a better team. The better team doesn’t always win, and especially not in divisional matchups. The season-long issues with turning the ball over have me worried this game will be close through that alone. San Francisco’s offense also has a lot of similar concepts the Rams ripped Seattle apart with just a few weeks back at Lumen Field.

And yet, I’m going for the W. There will be a late Sam Darnold game-winning drive that gives Seattle the lead, while the defense valiantly holds Brock Purdy out of the end zone in the closing stages. The Seahawks win it 27-24 and secure top spot in the division and conference, and the next time we see the Seahawks is for the NFC Divisional Round at Lumen Field, something that stadium hasn’t experienced since the 2014 season.

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Your turn! Make your predictions in the comments section!

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Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...ictions-seahawks-vs-49ers-nfc-west-title-game

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks-49ers score: Seattle dominates 49ers to win NFC West, top seed

The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) are NFC West champions for the first time since 2020!

While Seattle didn’t put up nearly as many points as it should’ve given the offensive performance, the Seahawks defense stifled a red-hot San Francisco 49ers (12-5) offense. Zach Charbonnet’s 27-yard touchdown was the only TD of the game and it was the only one needed. The Seahawks prevailed 13-3 in a game nowhere as indicative of how lopsided this game was.

Seattle rushed for 179 yards on the night, continuing the recent run game success. Seattle’s offense did not turn the ball over, while the Seahawks defense had just 173 yards of total offense. Sam Darnold was 20/26 for 198 yards, while Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet each had over 100 yards of offense. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was Seattle’s leading receiver with 84 yards on six catches.

A true masterclass on the road by Mike Macdonald’s group! The NFC road to Santa Clara and Super Bowl 60 goes through Lumen Field!

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Seahawks-49ers 1st half recap​

The Seahawks lost the coin toss and started on offense first. They took up half the quarter with a nice mix of run and pass, including a 20-yard screen from Sam Darnold to Zach Charbonnet. A Deommodore Lenoir pass interference in the end zone on Jaxon Smith-Njigba set the Seahawks up with first-and-goal at the 1. Klint Kubiak called a play action with Zach Charbonnet wide open for a touchdown, except Sam Darnold didn’t see him and took a sack. Seattle got to the 4-yard line for 4th and goal, opting to go for it and not kick a field goal, and Darnold threw incomplete to Cooper Kupp. A long drive for no points. Pain.

Seattle forced a three-and-out on San Francisco’s first possession, and a special teams penalty meant the Seahawks got the ball back at San Francisco’s 35. On 3rd and 2, Zach Charbonnet cut back and went to the outside of A.J. Barner’s block and took it to the house! 7-0 Seahawks.

First of the night. No stopping @zachcharbon ‍

: ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/Ms6Nt7kFFz

— x – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2026

Another three-and-out for the Seahawks defense! Christian McCaffrey with a short gain, Derick Hall with a short-loss sack, and Jauan Jennings stuffed a couple of yards shy of the marker. Kyle Shanahan opted to punt instead of go for it at his own 43. Seattle again marched into 49ers territory, only to come away with no points to start the second quarter. A blown up screen for Ken Walker on 3rd and 14 led to a 47-yard field goal attempt for Jason Myers, whose wide right kick was his first miss since Week 11.

San Francisco was set up with good field position off the miss but wasted it. One first down by Christian McCaffrey set the 49ers put in Seahawks territory, but 4th and 1 saw Purdy pressured on play action and he heaved one to Kyle Juszczyk incomplete. It would’ve been short of the marker anyway and Riq Woolen nearly picked it. Turnover on downs, nevertheless!

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught an 18-yard pass into 49ers territory on the first play of Seattle’s next drive, and again the Seahawks moved inside San Francisco’s 30. A deep shot to JSN for a touchdown was broken up in the end zone, and Jason Myers was tasked with making a 45-yarder, which he did. 10-0 Seahawks.

A kickoff out of bounds set up the 49ers at their own 40. Purdy was able to find Jauan Jennings on a scramble drill for a first down on 3rd and 10. A jump pass while pressured by DeMarcus Lawrence landed in George Kittle’s arms for another first down. On 3rd and short, Purdy was sacked by Uchenna Nwosu, and Kyle Shanahan opted for a field goal before halftime. Eddy Pineiro had no issues from 48. 10-3 Seahawks at halftime.

Seahawks-49ers 2nd half recap​

A mishandled kickoff by Brian Robinson Jr backed the 49ers up at their own 12. Purdy was able to convert a 3rd and 4 pass to Demarcus Robinson with Josh Jobe in coverage. San Francisco was able to grind out yards until Jarran Reed sacked Purdy and put the 49ers behind the sticks. Purdy was leveled by Nick Emmanwori and threw incomplete on 3rd and long, prompting a punt, which Rashid Shaheed returned for 20 yards to his own 37.

QB down.

: ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/UsDp07Kp7F

— x – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2026

Seattle again reached the fringes of field goal range, only to go backward on 3rd and 2 with Charbonnet losing five yards on an open-field tackle by Deommodore Lenoir. Josh Jones hurt his ankle one play prior and was replaced by rookie Amari Kight out at left tackle.

The 49ers once again were forced to punt after an inaccurate Purdy throw led to Demarcus Robinson coming back to the ball on 3rd and 2, with Devon Witherspoon tackling him for only a yard.

For the millionth time in a row, the Seahawks advanced across midfield. That almost didn’t happen when Darnold was tripped by Jalen Sundell on a handoff to Zach Charbonnet. San Francisco could not fall on the ball, but Charbonnet did. On 3rd and 17, a toss to Kenneth Walker gained 19 yards for a first down!

Amazing is right. @Kenneth_Walker9

: ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/7OIBP0RXKL

— x – Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2026

Another week where the Seahawks call a run on 3rd and long and it works out! Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a great adjustment on an off-target Darnold throw for 19 more yards into field goal range. Rashid Shaheed was interfered with by Renardo Green on 3rd down, setting up Seattle in the red zone.

With the score still 10-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, Darnold was pressured on 3rd down and checked it down to Eric Saubert, who was nowhere near the line to gain. Jason Myers easily converted a 31-yard field goal. 13-3 Seahawks with 14:15 to go.

At last, the 49ers finally got something really going against the Seahawks defense. Brock Purdy made a few good throws and scrambled for 11 yards. In next to no time, the Niners were inside Seattle’s 10 and threatening to make it 13-10… but the Seahawks defense wasn’t about to let that happen! Boye Mafe got the slightest of tips on a throw to McCaffrey out in the flat. CMC couldn’t hold on, and Drake Thomas found a football in his lap for a huge interception!

Red zone takeaway by Drake Thomas and the Seahawks!

SEAvsSF on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/eEOrqbxdpn

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

Backed up at their own 3, the Seahawks knocked out the 49ers once and for all. An astonishing drive of effective running and timely plays by Sam Darnold meant draining eight minutes off the clock and traveling 89 yards.

However, Seattle opted to kick on 4th and 1 instead of go for the clock-kneeling or touchdown dagger. Jason Myers from 26 yards out DOINKED it. Are you kidding me? Oh well, still only two minutes and a long ways to go for the 49ers to even kick a field goal. Didn’t matter, because the 49ers didn’t get a first down and turned it over on downs. NFC WEST CHAMPS, 13-3 Seahawks final!

Darnold rolls right and finds Kupp for a first down!

SEAvsSF on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/kWy452lH2F

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

Seahawks defense stands strong to ice it

SEAvsSF on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/Z8y6AR4SPW

— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

Full Box Score​

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Next week’s opponent​

A bye week, so we’ll see you in the NFC Divisional Round!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/nfl-play...9ers-score-nfl-week-18-results-nfc-west-title

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

The Seahawks have ruined football (for their opponents)

Once again, the Seattle Seahawks came into another stadium held the NFL’s number one offense to single-digit points. The San Francisco 49ers got to stay home and prepare for an entire week, with home-field advantage all the way through the Super Bowl on the line.

They scored three points.

But take heart! You’re not alone bang gang Niner tang or whatever it is. Seattle has been doing this to everyone. All year. It has been a thoroughly unenjoyable experience to play against the Seahawks defense.

Provided for your enjoyment, faithful 12s, how the Seahawks have made life miserable for opponents. With minimal exception, every quarterback had their worst game in one or more meaningful metric against the 2025 #1 seed Seattle Seahawks.

Week 18 – Brock Purdy​

You just saw it. Not much need be added. I will though – 127 passing yards was Brock Purdy’s fewest and 3 sacks his most. Enjoy the road.

The 3 points is the fewest points the 49ers have scored in any game coached by Kyle Shanahan.

Just an unbelievably dominant performance by the Seahawks defense.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 4, 2026

Week 17 – Bryce Young​

Young managed only 54 passing yards; his fewest by half this season.

It was his worst Yards per Attempt of his career, and second-worst EPA per dropback.

Week 11 & 16 – Matt Stafford​

In the first matchup in particular, Stafford posted a 53.6% completion percentage, and his longest pass was 23 yards. Both are seasonal worsts for the likely MVP runner-up.

Week 15 – Philip Rivers​

Rivers came out of retirement for the most interesting and sentimental game of the week, but it wasn’t a flurry of success. On 27 attempts, Rivers threw an interception and managed an unfathomable 0.9 Air Yards per Attempt. That does mean what you think it does; Rivers could only test the secondary on average one yard past the line of scrimmage per completion.

3.3 and 4.3 AYPA were his other two games if you were wondering. Tripled.

Week 14 – Kirk Cousins​

Cousins threw half of his season’s interceptions, and posted a 38.5 Rating against the Seahawks, worst by 20 points.

Week 13 – Max Brosmer​

Would you believe it, Brosmer never threw a single interception this season outside of the Seattle game? Well, he didn’t. Four INT this season, four INT against the Seahawks.

Week 12 – Cam Ward​

We have found our first exception. Somehow, the Tennessee Titans played Houston, Seattle, and Jacksonville in three straight weeks, and that is when Cam Ward decided to turn things around in his inaugural season. He played well against the Seahawks and has been a revelation since then.

Week 10 – Jacoby Brissett​

Another 50% completion rate, his worst of the year. But 5 sacks and 2 fumbles?? That’s the good stuff, baby. It unlocked the fumble potential of this team.

Seahawks hadn’t forced a fumble on defense before today. Then Tyrice Knight blitzed Jacoby Brissett and well….. pic.twitter.com/LoAyFZvlmW

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) November 9, 2025

Week 9 – Jayden Daniels​

Of games he completed this year, this was Daniels’ fewest yards, most amount of interceptions, most amount of sacks, and still had to scramble 9 times, most this year.

Week 7 – C.J. Stroud​

C.J. Stroud did not enjoy this day. He went 23 of 49. 44.9% completion. Under half. Sacked three times, tied for most, and 3.8 net yards gained per pass attempt was worst by a yard.

Not to mention by the miracle of technology and rules completely avoided, Stroud does not have two safeties on his permanent record.

CJ stroud losing 18-yards by running backwards into his own end zone

barely avoided a safety… but set up a short field TD for Seattle pic.twitter.com/INl3URvC3C

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 21, 2025

Week 6 – Trevor Lawrence​

Lawrence has really been on one this season, and did his very best to be an exception to this list. Over 250 yards with 2 TD is a good first glance. But no, the Seahawks are still no fun to play for him either. Lawrence was sacked a staggering 7 times for 44 yards behind 17 QB hits. That’s about as un-fun as football gets.

Week 5 – Baker Mayfield​

Alright, you finally got us. Tip of the hat to Mayfield, who still looked like the MVP way back in Week 5. May I point out that this game took place without Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Riq Woolen got hurt?

Week 4 – Kyler Murray​

Kyler had a bad year, and is now labeled a kind of bad quarterback, which seems fair. But this was an especially bad day; he threw 2 INT, managed one 18-yard completion and was sacked 6 times. All three are season-worst marks. You could say he came up short.

Week 3 – Spencer Rattler​

I hope you’re sitting for this. Statistically, against Seattle was Spencer Rattler’s third-best game of his career. A lot can happen when you’re down by 57 points and Nick Emmanwori is injured. Just let it rip, Spence!

Week 2 – Aaron Rodgers​

It seems like Rodgers had one worse game than this, in November against the Los Angeles Chargers. But the MOB ties are not to be denied. Rodgers had far less fun here than against the Chargers, and I can prove it! He was pressured on 40.5% of his dropbacks. That’s doubled his next worse games.

The Seahawks have ruined football for their opponents. Football is no fun, sir.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...otball-for-opposing-quarterbacks-nfl-analysis

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seattle Seahawks playoff schedule: Seahawks could know Divisional Round matchup by Saturday

The NFL has released the Wild Card schedule to kick off the 2026 playoffs. Thankfully, the Seattle Seahawks have that coveted week off as the number one seed in the NFC. In the meantime, it’s a waiting game over next weekend to figure out which team will come over to Lumen Field for the Divisional Round.

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NFC Wild Card schedule​

• Saturday, Jan. 10 at 1:30 pm PT on FOX: No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 4 Carolina Panthers
• Saturday, Jan. 10 at 5 pm PT on Prime Video: No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears
• Sunday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 pm PT on FOX: No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

Based on the schedule and the NFL’s seeding rules, the Seahawks may know their first opponent sooner rather than later.

Who the Seahawks won’t play in the NFC Divisional Round​

Neither the Chicago Bears nor Philadelphia Eagles can face Seattle in the Divisional Round. The highest seed a top seed can face is No. 4, and the Bears and Eagles are respectively No. 2 and No. 3.

Who the Seahawks can play in the NFC Divisional Round​

The Seahawks will play the lowest seed available in the Divisional Round, which otherwise means there are four possible options:

Four possible Seahawks Divisional Round opponents​

• The Green Bay Packers if they beat the Chicago Bears. All 7-seed Wild Card winners play the 1-seed in the Divisional Round. Seattle could therefore know who’s coming to town by the end of Saturday.
  
• The San Francisco 49ers if they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears beat the Packers. An NFC West trilogy would be confirmed if the 6-seeded 49ers knock off the reigning Super Bowl champions while the 7-seeded Packers get bounced.
  
• The Los Angeles Rams if they beat the Carolina Panthers and the 49ers and Packers both lose. In other words, the Rams are the only NFC team to win on the road.
  
• The Carolina Panthers if all NFC road teams lose. Party like it’s the 2014 postseason and the sub-.500 Panthers get to face the Seahawks in the Divisional Round after winning on Wild Card weekend.

When will the Seahawks’ Divisional Round game date, kickoff time be confirmed?​

Most likely toward the end of Wild Card weekend, presumably during Sunday Night Football between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots.

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Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/nfl-play...-schedule-nfl-2026-wild-card-divisional-round

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Four Down Territory: How the (NFC) West was won

It was the biggest regular season game in franchise history, and the Seattle Seahawks delivered one of the most impressive defensive statements in franchise history. It was all Seahawks in a 13-3 pummeling that doesn’t accurately show how much Seattle dominated the San Francisco 49ers.

After beating big brother number one in the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago, the Seahawks embarrassed big brother number two in the 49ers to win their first division title since 2020, and secure the NFC’s coveted 1-seed for the first time since 2014. It was a historic night to cap off a historic regular season, let’s break down what it all means.

First Down – Mike Macdonald should win Coach of the Year​

I understand and want to acknowledge the incredible seasons by both Mike Vrabel and Liam Coen have had incredible turnaround seasons, and they are the likely favorites to win the NFL Coach of the Year award. That being said, I don’t think anyone has done a better job than Mike Macdonald in 2025.

When Macdonald took over as the Seahawks head coach, he was taking over the 24th ranked defense that had a culture that felt stale at best, rotten at worst, and was lacking talent and consistency. In one year, he built the 12th ranked defense. In year two, he built the most dominant defense in the NFL, winning the defensive scoring title.

Defensive coach or not, he saw his offensive vision was not to his standard this spring, firing former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and working with Klint Kubiak to have Seattle finish second in the NFL in scoring.

A franchise record 14-3, a franchise record 8-1 on the road, and a 6-2 home record to rebuild some lost goodwill with the fans at Lumen Field. Mike Macdonald has completely transformed the Seattle Seahawks into the best team in the NFL. I don’t know if that will lead to a Super Bowl victory, but Macdonald’s ability to blend the good from Harbaugh’s Ravens and Pete’s Seahawks has created a monster.

I hope he pulls off the upset and wins the award.

Second Down – John Schneider should win Executive of the Year ​

Echoing what I just said about Coach Macdonald, the same can be said about the transformation accomplished by John Schneider.

Schneider has achieved the highest highs already in Seattle. A Super Bowl champion that had built a legacy that was in the realm of hall of fame worthy as Pete Carroll’s general manager, Schneider was given a second chance to build something new, as the Pete Carroll era had expired. I think there’s a case to be made that Schneider should already have the NFL Executive of the Year award locked up. Yes, the award is just for the 2025 season, but this is a two year journey of excellence by John.

It would be naive to think he didn’t play some role in the removal of Pete Carroll. While the world was freaking out about how slow the coaching search was going, Schneider had his eyes set on Macdonald, and was able to close the deal, getting the best coaching prospect since arguably Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.

In the 2024 draft, Schneider hit two home runs, with the selections of Byron Murphy and AJ Barner, arguably the two best up incoming players at their respective positions.

After a 10-win season that had some missed opportunities, Schneider was bold and locked in on his vision during the offseason.

Out was Geno Smith. Out was DK Metcalf. Out was Ryan Grubb. Schneider cleared out culture guys that he was not set on, and then hit some absolute home runs in free agency.

The signing of Darnold is arguably the storyline of the year. Despite the reputation that he has, Darnold just led the Seahawks to 14 wins and is a Pro Bowl quarterback. DeMarcus Lawrence may be the best defensive free agent signing in all of football. In the draft, the Seahawks drafted the best offensive lineman in Grey Zabel at pick 18. Using the pick they got from Pittsburgh for DK Metcalf, Schneider drafted Nick Emmanwori, who’s undoubtedly the most exciting defensive rookie in this class, and looks like an immediate blue chip star.

At the trade deadline, John made one of the biggest moves in the lead, trading for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints. An aggressive trade, the Seahawks don’t win the NFC West without some of Shaheed’s heroics, specifically on special teams.

It’s been an incredible two year run for Schneider, but what he’s done this year is how teams make “Super” jumps. 14 wins, best team in the NFL. It’s be a travesty if he didn’t win the award.

Third Down – Work still to be done ​

The Seahawks earned the right for a bye week, and they will need it as they can get better and have work to do. Despite all the good, there is plenty to improve upon from Saturday’s win, specifically offensively.

I thought Sam Darnold did a really good job on Saturday. That game was a playoff atmosphere, on the road, and Darnold got the job done. He was great on third down, he didn’t turn the ball over, and he didn’t look rattled. He also missed a wide open touchdown to start the game at the one yard line. He had two poor throws that could’ve been intercepted, and this offense continues to struggle to deliver the explosive passing plays that rocked the NFL for the first 10 weeks of the season.

For the first time all year, we saw Jason Myers struggle, missing two field goals that he simply hasn’t missed this season. What has made this team so dangerous is that they have a massive special teams advantage over the rest of the league. That must continue if the Seahawks want to win three more games this season.

As the Seahawks head into the bye week, they should feel good about getting both Charles Cross and Coby Bryant back from injury. If Cross can come back and help continue this suddenly booming running game, while protecting Sam long enough to start hitting Smith-Njigba or Shaheed deep, then this team should have what they need to make a run.

Fourth Down – A night to a remember ​

Emphasis on the run, I don’t know about you, but last night was the closest I’ve felt to watching a team in Seattle as great as the Legion of Boom era.

The defense put on a masterclass that would rival anything the LOB, but it was the running revival that gave me goosebumps. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet combined for 171 rushing yards on 33 carries, just gashing and pummeling the 49ers defense.

It would be one thing to break the 49ers hearts on their home turf to win the division, and send their asses to Carolina. It’s a whole another thing to physically overwhelm them the way the Seahawks did. They were too fast, too strong, and simply too mean for the 49ers to handle.

It was a night Seahawks fans will never forget, and it may be a night the NFL remembers that the Seahawks assumed the role of the biggest bully on the block. The job is not done, but your Seattle Seahawks will be playing at home in two weeks for the right to host the NFC Championship.

Fun fact, the Seahawks have never lost a home divisional round game, or a home conference championship game. Dream big Seahawks fans, you have the best team in the NFL.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...ory-how-the-nfc-west-was-won-seattle-seahawks

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Falcons request head coach interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak

The 2025 NFL regular season is over, but the search for new head coaches is very much underway.

After the Atlanta Falcons fired Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, the NFC South team went straight to work on at least finding their next coach. One of the candidates is Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, per NFL reporter Tom Pelissero.

The Falcons requested an interview with Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak for their head coaching job, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 5, 2026

Interest around the league in Kubiak as a head coach is not surprising, both given previous reporting and the fact that the Seahawks have had one of the better offenses in the NFL (despite the decline in performance late in the season).

The Seahawks are on a bye week as the NFC’s top seed, which means Kubiak is allowed to interview for head coaching roles before the Divisional Round.

This is obviously just the preliminary stage for the Falcons, and it’s very possible that they won’t be the only team requesting an interview with Kubiak, who’s never been a head coach but whose dad Gary was a Super Bowl champion head coach with the Denver Broncos.

It’s definitely a heck of a 180 for the Seahawks, who fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in his only season with the team. His replacement has done well enough to merit head coach interest.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...t-kubiak-head-coach-interview-atlanta-falcons

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Snap Reactions: Seahawks defense plays fewest snaps in 35 years

After years of mostly non-competitive losing performances, the Seattle Seahawks turned the tables on the San Francisco 49ers and handed them a humbling loss with the NFC West title on the line. Seattle’s 13-3 win was a kind scoreline given the statistical dominance, but it’s still a win that gave the Seahawks the division title and No. 1 seed in the NFC. The 49ers offense went from scoring 40+ points in consecutive weeks to their worst showing under Kyle Shanahan.

Normally when snap count articles are done, the offense is first and the defense is second. I want to do the defense first because you’ll notice that five players played every snap: Ernest Jones, Julian Love, Nick Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon, and Ty Okada. They were all on the field for only 42 snaps, the fewest snaps the Seahawks defense faced all season and the fewest snaps played by the Seahawks defense since 1991.

Of course, sometimes a team can have a lot of offensive success without having a lot of snaps. That wasn’t the case on Saturday night. The Seahawks defense held the 49ers to three three-and-outs and a four-and-out, with no drives lasting longer than nine plays. San Francisco was 2/9 on third-down after entering the game as the best in the NFL on third-downs, and both fourth-down attempts fell incomplete.

What also helped the Seahawks defense was the Seahawks offense controlling the damn ball. A rare night of no lost fumbles or interceptions certainly helped, but Seattle was 6/13 on third-down conversions (really, 6/12 given they knelt on the final “conversion”) and posted five drives lasting at least four minutes. Incredibly, their two longest drives combined for 15:38 of game time and resulted in a missed field goal and a turnover on downs. Nevertheless, the Seahawks still had 69 snaps on offense, with everyone on the offensive line except Josh Jones (who had one missed play due to injury), as well as Sam Darnold, going the distance.

Once again, Zach Charbonnet outsnapped Kenneth Walker, although both men were incredibly effective in their respective roles; they had over 200 combined yards of total offense and Charbonnet scored the game’s only touchdown. Jake Bobo and Dareke Young had nine and eight snaps respectively, but ran a grand total of one route apiece. Bobo was used as a blocker almost exclusively, while Young was in a similar spot but was part of the kneeldown group at the end. Cam Akers’ lone offensive snap saw him split out wide as a receiver.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...defense-plays-fewest-snaps-35-years-nfl-stats

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Browns request to interview the other Seahawks coordinator for head coaching vacancy

With the NFL Head Coaching Carousel in motion, the Seattle Seahawks’ coordinators are very popular. This popularity started with Klink Kubiak getting plenty of interest from around the league. However that popularity is seeping over to the defensive side as well with Defensive Coordinator, Aden Durde.

NFL reporter, Ian Rapoport announced that the Cleveland Browns are requesting permission to interview Durde for their vacant Head Coaching job. Despite the fact that Durde does not call defensive plays for Seattle, the pure dominance they have shown on that side of the ball clearly has left a mark with the rest of the NFL. Durde not only has helped the Seahawks finish the season first in points allowed, but he has also had his hand in the development of Seattle’s defensive line. This is seen in the jump in performance of players like Byron Murphy II and DeMarcus Lawrence this season. Speaking of Lawrence, it was Durde’s presence in Seattle that helped lure Lawrence to sign.

All in all, Durde, the England native, has gotten the attention of the NFL. The question remains if he will get more interviews after the Browns. Durde can start interviewing for head coaching jobs around the league before the Divisional Round begins.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...st-to-interview-a-second-seahawks-coordinator

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks All-22 review: How Seattle’s rookies were key to win over 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks rookies combined for 137 snaps in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers. Once again, only Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori played meaningful snaps. Robbie Ouzts logged his third-highest snap count of the season, while Rylie Mills and undrafted rookie Amari Kight combined for just five snaps.

Let’s dive into the tape and break down the key rookie performances from Seattle’s NFC West championship victory.

---

Grey Zabel — Offensive Guard (69 snaps)​

This was Zabel’s best game of the season — and arguably one of the best individual offensive line performances the Seahawks have put on tape in quite some time. He posted a 93.4 PFF offensive grade (best in Week 18), a 91.6 run-blocking grade (also best of the week), and did not allow a single pressure.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Playing with better base this game being able to absorb speed to power move.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:22:22.427Z

The improvement is clear on film. Zabel played with a much stronger base and better balance throughout the game. On similar reps earlier in the season, he was getting walked back at the point of contact. Here, he absorbs the defender’s momentum, stays square, and preserves the integrity of the pocket.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Jump set + perfect placement from inside hand.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:22:59.782Z

Hand placement was another major step forward. On one rep, Zabel mixes in a jump set, completely disrupting the defensive tackle’s timing. His right hand lands cleanly under the pads — textbook placement — allowing him to control and steer the defender.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Not allow any counter move. Few games ago he allowed a sack against Rams in a similar situation. Great improvement for the rookie.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:24:05.267Z

Play-action reps can sometimes flatter offensive linemen, but the growth still matters. Go back a few weeks to the sack he allowed against the Rams on a similar push-pull attempt. This time, Zabel avoids leaning forward, keeps his weight centered, and eliminates any chance of the defender countering back inside.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Patient and finisher.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:24:33.533Z

One of the most impressive snaps came on a screen. Zabel shows patience, delaying his release just enough to avoid an ineligible man downfield penalty, then absolutely levels the linebacker to spring Ken Walker. That’s awareness and discipline paired with violence.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Watch Zabel’s footwork compared to the rest of the line. When he’s already into his third step, other linemen are still finishing their first.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:25:15.471Z

Watch Zabel’s footwork compared to the rest of the line. When he’s already into his third step, other linemen are still finishing their first. That get-off speed gives him excellent angles on reach blocks and consistently puts him in position to win early.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Bad holding call here…

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:25:54.098Z

There was a questionable holding call against him that doesn’t fully match what the tape shows. Zabel helps Josh Jones at the first level, then climbs quickly to the linebacker. The 49ers defender does a good job attacking low and slipping, which creates the illusion of a hold more than an actual one.

Grey Zabel, LG, #76Nimble feet to reach the second level

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:26:27.030Z

This snap encapsulates why the Seahawks’ run game finally clicked. All five linemen are in sync, and the angles at the second level are clean. Given the athletic profile of this offensive line, this kind of execution had been surprisingly inconsistent all year. Here, Jalen Sundell and Zabel reach the second level with ease, sealing key blocks on a long third-down conversion.

---

Nick Emmanwori — Defensive Back (42 snaps)​

Seattle’s defensive performance was close to flawless, and Emmanwori played his role to near perfection. He consistently erased checkdowns and was a critical piece in the run fits that severely limited San Francisco’s ground game. He finished with two pressures (including a QB hit), seven tackles, three stops, and allowed just 38 yards when targeted.

His usage was diverse:

• 1 snap on the defensive line;
• 22 snaps in the box;
• 18 snaps in the slot;
• 1 snap at outside corner;

Nick Emmanwori, DB, #3Wins the block against the FB/TE and makes the play.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:27:18.141Z

Even when the 49ers leaned into heavy personnel packages, the Seahawks stayed in nickel. A big reason for the success was Emmanwori’s ability to function as a hybrid defender. On this rep, he lines up across from Kyle Juszczyk, one of the league’s most physical lead blockers. The rookie not only holds his ground, but controls the block, closes the gap, and helps finish the tackle.

Nick Emmanwori, DB, #3Physical.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:27:36.619Z

On another snap, San Francisco’s motion creates a favorable blocking angle against him. In theory, this should spring the play. Instead, Emmanwori shocks the blocker backward, forcing the ball carrier to widen his path and fall short of the first down.

Nick Emmanwori, DB, #3A havoc

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:29:00.771Z

Seattle shows a dime look with a three-safety shell and sends Emmanwori as a blitzer. His primary job isn’t to sack the quarterback, but to attack the outside shoulder of the guard and open space for Leonard Williams on the stunt. The impact is so forceful that Emmanwori creates his own lane and gets a clean QB hit, disrupting the throw.

Note: Excellent patience from Riq Woolen on this rep, staying disciplined against a potential double move.

Nick Emmanwori, DB, #3"Shutdowning" the checkdowns

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:29:13.741Z

Discipline was the foundation of this defensive performance. Staying true to assignments and limiting mistakes prevented San Francisco’s checkdowns from turning into explosive plays. Emmanwori’s tackle on Christian McCaffrey in space is a perfect example — technically sound, decisive.

Nick Emmanwori, DB, #3The rookie was not fooled by the misdirection from 49ers offense.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:29:40.728Z

My favorite play of his game came against a classic 49ers misdirection. Two-back formation, McCaffrey motions, the action suggests a jet pass, the quarterback carries the fake toward the right side — all designed to pull eyes away so George Kittle can slip out on the backside. Emmanwori doesn’t bite. He doesn’t freelance. He trusts his assignment and makes an outstanding tackle for a loss.

---

Elijah Arroyo — Tight End (0 snaps)​

Injured Reserve.

Jalen Milroe — Quarterback (0 snaps)​

Inactive.

Rylie Mills — Defensive Lineman (3 snaps)​

After flashing some promising reps in recent weeks, Mills played just three snaps and had no real impact on the game.

Tory Horton — Wide Receiver (0 snaps)​

Injured Reserve.

---

Robbie Ouzts — Fullback (21 snaps)​

Ouzts may have played his best game as a rookie. There’s still room to grow, particularly with target accuracy in the blocks and consistently imposing his 270-pound frame, but his movement skills stand out. He’s exceptionally quick for a player of his size.

Robbie Ouzts, FB, #40Needs a better tech here. He often attacks only half of a defender’s body. That habit makes it harder to sustain blocks, as defenders can slip free.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:30:33.449Z

Technically, he needs to fix one recurring issue: he often attacks only half of a defender’s body. That habit makes it harder to sustain blocks, as defenders can slip free.

Robbie Ouzts, FB, #40Amazing block in open space.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:31:01.797Z

On one rep, Ouzts shows excellent processing. He recognizes Abe Lucas losing leverage, comes off his initial path to help, puts the defender on the ground, and then climbs to block another player — all on the same snap.

Robbie Ouzts, FB, #40Seahawks basically calls a "trap" leaving the DT against the rookie FB.

— (@alexcastrofilho.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T02:31:18.230Z

The Seahawks clearly trust him as a blocker. On a key run, they essentially run a trap concept, leaving the defensive tackle unblocked while Zabel and Jones climb. Ouzts arrives right on time to seal the play and make it work.

---

Bryce Cabeldue — Offensive Lineman (0 snaps)​

Inactive.

Mason Richman — Offensive Lineman (0 snaps)​

Inactive.

Nick Kallerup — Tight End (0 snaps)​

After being active every week since Week 9, Kallerup was inactive. Seattle opted to use Brady Russell as the situational third tight end instead.

---

Final Thoughts​

Seattle’s two highest rookie selections were central to this win — Zabel anchoring the offensive line and Emmanwori setting the tone defensively. Robbie Ouzts also played an important role within his fullback responsibilities, helping fuel the run game.

With injuries limiting the rest of the rookie class (and little optimism that Tory Horton or Elijah Arroyo will return), contributions will likely continue to be concentrated around Zabel and Emmanwori. Ouzts should remain a useful piece, Kallerup may resurface in select blocking situations, and the only potential wild card down the stretch is whether Rylie Mills can earn a larger role.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...w-how-seattle-rookies-were-key-win-over-49ers

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks’ Klint Kubiak draws head coach interest from Ravens following John Harbaugh firing

Add another team to the list of potential head coach destinations for Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

One day after the big decision to move on from Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens are reportedly looking to interview Kubiak. The Ravens join the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders in the queue for an interview request.

The Ravens requested an interview with Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak for their head coaching job, per source.

That’s five interview requests for Kubiak, who can interview for jobs during Seattle’s playoff bye this week.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 7, 2026

As noted by Tom Pelissero, the Seahawks are on a bye as the NFC’s number one seed, which means Kubiak can conduct interviews throughout Wild Card weekend, albeit virtually and not in-person.

There are some familial ties to the Ravens for the Kubiak family, as Klint’s father Gary was Baltimore’s OC in 2014 before leaving to take a head coaching job with the Denver Broncos. It worked out pretty well for Gary, who won a Super Bowl after leaving Baltimore. The hope for Seahawks fans is that, should Klint get hired as a head coach, he’ll do so having won a Super Bowl with Seattle on the way out.

Another way to spin this story is the fact that the Ravens are looking at a Mike Macdonald assistant to possibly be their next head coach. The Seahawks’ current head coach was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023 before he was hired by Seattle in 2024. While Macdonald could win Coach of the Year for the Seahawks, the Ravens are in the rare position of needing a new head coach for the first time in almost 20 years.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...avens-following-john-harbaugh-firing-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

NFL Playoffs: The track record of top seeds since the Seahawks last made the Super Bowl

With their victory over the San Francisco 49ers last Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks secured the number one seed in the NFC. This is the fourth time in Seahawks history that they have finished in this position. The last time was in 2014, when Seattle also most recently made the Super Bowl.

Over the past decade, the No. 1 seed in both the AFC and NFC has remained the reference point of the NFL playoffs — just not in the automatic, fail-proof way many narratives still suggest. Finishing with the best record in the conference is still a real advantage, but it is increasingly dependent on how a team gets there, not simply the fact that it did. The bye week and home-field advantage matter, but they are not a shield against structural flaws.

The high floor: why No. 1 seeds usually go deep​

Over the last 10 years (2015-2024, all post-Seahawks Super Bowl appearance), teams that earned the No. 1 seed generally met the baseline expectation: playing meaningful football late into January. Rest and home-field raise the competitive floor, reduce variance, and force opponents to win multiple road games. It is not a coincidence that the majority of these teams reached at least the Conference Championship round.

What separates No. 1 seeds that win from those that merely survive​

When looking at the No. 1 seeds that truly converted that position into postseason success, there is a clear pattern. The Chiefs, Eagles, and 49ers in their strongest years were not just efficient, they were structurally sound. A functional run game, dominance in the trenches, and defenses capable of winning on third-down without relying solely on turnovers consistently show up in teams that made it to February.

When rest is not enough: early exits​

Early eliminations almost always came with warning signs that were ignored in December. The 2019 Ravens entered the playoffs as a historically efficient machine, only to fall in the Divisional Round when forced away from their offensive identity. The 2020 and 2021 Packers, both No. 1 seeds in the NFC, saw highly efficient offenses stall when the game demanded patience and short-area execution. The 2021 Titans, despite the bye and home-field advantage, were eliminated early due to an offense that could not sustain drives in critical moments.

These examples reinforce a familiar lesson: rest helps the body, but it does not fix structural problems. In some cases, it merely delays them until January exposes them in full.

The decade in numbers: What actually happened​

Looking objectively at the 20 teams that earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC and NFC over the past 10 years, the numbers help frame the discussion clearly:

• 6 of the 20 were eliminated in their first playoff game, losing in the Divisional Round despite the bye;
• 14 of the 20 reached the Conference Championship, confirming the high competitive floor of the No. 1 seed;
• 8 of the 20 advanced to the Super Bowl;
• 5 of the 20 finished the season as Super Bowl champions;

AFC vs. NFC: stability matters more than the conference​

The difference between the AFC and NFC over the decade had less to do with the conference itself and more to do with stability. The AFC featured more recurring No. 1 seeds, driven by elite quarterback play and coaching continuity. The NFC, by contrast, saw far more turnover at the top, with teams peaking in shorter windows — which helps explain why some No. 1 seeds never felt truly “inevitable” once January arrived.

Final thoughts​

In the end, the past decade delivers a clear message. Being the No. 1 seed still matters, once it shortens the path, raises the floor, and reduces exposure to chaos. But it also magnifies any underlying weakness. The No. 1 seed significantly improves a team’s odds of going deep, but it is far from a guarantee of a title.

In January, no one wins on résumé or regular-season efficiency alone. Teams win with identity, adaptability, and the ability to survive when the script breaks down. And that may be the biggest lesson of the last ten years: the No. 1 seed does not guarantee a Super Bowl, but it very quickly reveals who was truly built for one.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...record-top-seeded-teams-seahawks-nfl-playoffs

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Charles Cross returns to Seahawks practice following hamstring injury

The Seattle Seahawks may have a bye, but that doesn’t mean they’re free from all football activities until the week of the NFC Divisional Round.

Seattle practiced on Wednesday and Thursday as it awaits one of the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, over Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks aren’t required to produce an injury report for a non-game week, but it’s most important to note who returned to the practice field for the first time in three weeks.

Starting left tackle Charles Cross, who injured his hamstring in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts, practiced both days. This is about as encouraging as it gets that he’ll be back in the lineup for Seattle’s next game.

Charles Cross returns to the practice field pic.twitter.com/CDuAL5mzpu

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) January 7, 2026

Charles Cross back for his second practice pic.twitter.com/0FZl7efSwe

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) January 8, 2026

While Cross has been out, he did score a major victory by signing a four-year contract extension worth over $100 million.

“I feel great just being in Seattle, being around my teammates, the organization here,“ Cross said (via Seahawks.com). Like I said before, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s real special to me… I was drafted here. The teammates, the team, the camaraderie that we have, the relationships. Means the world me.”

He also had praise for the performance of Josh Jones, who deputized for Cross and played through ankle and knee injuries in the NFC West title win over the San Francisco 49ers.

“Josh has done a great job coming in and playing week in and week out,” Cross said. “He played great in the games he played in in my opinion. I mean, what more could you ask for from Josh? I’m happy for him and proud of him. He’s done everything he needs to do.”

The only other major injury concern on the active roster is safety Coby Bryant, who missed the final two games with a knee injury. There haven’t been any updates on Bryant this week, but limited practice the week before should provide some optimism that he’ll also return next week.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...-practice-following-hamstring-injury-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Ravens fans lament losing Mike Macdonald to Seahawks after John Harbaugh firing

The Seattle Seahawks are 24-10 through two seasons under Mike Macdonald. His first season ended in a narrow playoff miss, while his second season is in progress and two home wins away from appearing in Super Bowl 60. I could rattle off all of the cool stats regarding Macdonald’s early success, but that’s absolutely not the point of this article.

Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens parted ways with head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in charge. Harbaugh’s career highlight was beating his brother Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 47 back in the 2012 season, much to the delight of Seahawks fans. Baltimore hasn’t been back to the Super Bowl since then, and missing the playoffs this season was the final straw.

As the Ravens search for a new head coach, Ravens fans are left wondering “what could’ve been?” had their former defensive coordinator somehow stayed on the staff instead of go to the Seahawks.

The real shame is that Mike Macdonald should have been appointed Head Coach instead of letting him go to Seattle. Instead, the Ravens gave John Harbaugh a 3-year deal and Groundhog Day repeated itself each year since.

— CoffinCorner (@CoffinCorner) January 6, 2026

See how good this Seahawks defense is? This how good the ravens defense used to be. I miss Mike MacDonald we fumbled that fasho but Seahawks my 2nd favorite team now

— Karlito (@KarlUniverse) January 4, 2026

Mike Macdonald left the Ravens and thrived.

Maybe I should too.

— Vito Von Doom. (@CreativeAssVito) January 5, 2026

We really chose John Harbaugh over Mike Macdonald man I’ll never get over it https://t.co/xXY0NnyMpD pic.twitter.com/PCn6TNlqiG

— 𝙍𝙊𝘾 (@RavensOsCelts08) January 4, 2026

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Not “promoting” John Harbaugh to some made-up advisory role and making Mike Macdonald our head coach before he left for Seattle was the biggest mistake the @Ravens have made in their 30 years of existence.#RavensFlock https://t.co/vxqDuzF1Gb

— Andrew Watkins (@awatkins952) January 5, 2026

The #Ravens were coming off 13-4, AFC title game when Mike Macdonald went to #Seahawks. Recognized as star in the making. Bisciotti wasn’t firing Harbaugh then. Could Ravens have given $$$$$ and made Macdonald “coach in waiting”? Why would he take that when he could be coach now?

— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) January 4, 2026

The Ravens really let Mike Macdonald leave their building for John Harbaugh yo

— Lockdown Ar’Darius (@Gamergod29) January 4, 2026

This has realistically been going on all season in Baltimore, especially with the Ravens starting the year 1 -5 with a defense performing far below their typically high standards. There was surely no chance that the Ravens were considering firing Harbaugh or moving him into some front office role in order to keep Macdonald, but Mike’s top-ranked defense made him an instant candidate for head coach status. Even in defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, the Ravens shut the Chiefs out in the second half after giving up 17 points in the first half, but the offense didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.

It’s through the downfall of the Ravens and the rise of the Seahawks that I’ve realized that the context of Macdonald’s early success is something Seahawks fans have never experienced:

Assistant coach poach envy​

Subtracting Mike McCormack, who remains the only interim coach in franchise history, the Seahawks have only had nine head coaches over 50 seasons. Five of them were previous NFL coaches (Pete Carroll, Jim L. Mora, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, and Chuck Knox), two were college head coaches (Carroll again, Dennis Erickson), and inaugural coach Jack Patera was an NFL-lifer as a player and an experienced assistant.

Mike Macdonald is not like these other eight coaches. No prior college or pro head coaching experience and only three seasons as a high-level college and/or NFL coordinator. He’s the “up-and-coming, young mastermind” hire the Seahawks have generally not even considered doing. Seattle has almost always gone “big game hunting” for its head coaches, as opposed to searching for someone without deeply established credentials. Carroll and Erickson were national champions in college, Holmgren won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, Flores was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Raiders, and Knox was a perennial playoff coach with the Rams and Buffalo Bills. Even a complete bust like Jim Mora took the Atlanta Falcons to an NFC Championship Game a few years before his ill-fated Seahawks gig.

Perhaps this was also intentional on the part of John Schneider (and, maybe, Jody Allen) to chart a different course. If you look at the candidates the Seahawks interviewed as Carroll successors, only Raheem Morris and Dan Quinn were previously head coaches. Morris took the Atlanta Falcons job, which left Quinn as the only previous head coach to get a second Seahawks interview, and surely the familiarity with the organization had some role in his candidacy. Otherwise, everyone else was a would-be first-time head coach: Patrick Graham, Mike Kafka, Ejiro Evero, Ben Johnson, and Mike Macdonald.

Striking gold in today’s NFL is finding that elite assistant coach in hopes they’re a future great head coach. The Seahawks’ first legitimate attempt may have hit the jackpot, much to the chagrin of Ravens fans.

And you know what? It feels good. It’ll feel even better if this season ends with a Lombardi Trophy coming back to Lumen Field.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...ke-macdonald-to-seahawks-john-harbaugh-firing

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Cooper Kupp mutes announcers sometimes, which means he’ll love new Peacock feature

You ever watch a football game on TV? Pretty great, huh?

But then the other guy with the mic, the one not describing the plays but adding….color…will just randomly insult some players? He’ll go on, claiming a guy doesn’t know what he’s doing, how he clearly didn’t see his assignment, or this is what happens when you don’t prioritize offensive line in the offseason.

Well friends, if you suffer from commentator dysphoria, a remedy may be headed your way soon!

Peacock is preparing to roll out a new User Interface for games streamed on its platform – so like, a couple – that will allow fans to adjust specific audio segments.

Maybe Prime next? Maybe Prime.

NFL announcers are a bit like those new rivalry uniforms: everyone’s got an opinion and according to some fans they’re all terrible. I’m not typically in this crowd, mostly because I am amused by incompetence more often than annoyed.

But if you are in that camp, you’re not alone. NFL players don’t always appreciate the commentary either. Including our very own Cooper Kupp.

Cooper Kupp will watch NFL playoff games with his boys at home on #Seahawks bye. “The color commentators?…I’ve got to mute that thing sometimes: Boys sit down. Let me explain to you what’s really happening here.

“Cris Collinsworth I love you. Let me explain what happened here.” pic.twitter.com/3gbZKlSfC5

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 9, 2026

I’d listen to Kupp, that’s for sure.

The Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots is on NBC and Peacock this weekend, but the feature’s not out yet.

Until then, enjoy the Wild Card Round, with or without sound!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...-sometimes-which-means-peacock-audio-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

NFL 2025 All-Pro teams: 5 Seahawks chosen, Jaxon Smith-Njigba unanimously selected

The 2025 NFL All-Pro results are in, and the Seattle Seahawks had five members named across the first- and second-teams.

One offensive player, three on defense, and one special teams representative were nominated, reiterating again how the Seahawks have become the NFL’s most well-balanced team.

Seahawks voted to 2025 AP All-Pro teams:

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 1st team

DT Leonard Williams – 2nd team

LB Ernest Jones IV – 2nd team

CB Devon Witherspoon – 2nd team

P Michael Dickson – 2nd team

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) January 10, 2026

It’s the first AP All-Pro honors for four of the five guys, and you might be able to guess. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Leonard Williams, Ernest Jones, and Devon Witherspoon just won their first All-Pro selections. Only Michael Dickson has been here before, in his rookie season.

What a fun year for this roster, with all kinds of firsts in team history, all kinds of individual firsts, and so on. Jones had never even made a Pro Bowl before this season.

Quite a few Seahawks received recognition on some level. Jason Myers was the closest to also getting in, and you can tell that Nick Emmanwori will be on the verge of this type of impact as a career player.

Seahawks who got at least 1 All-Pro vote but didn’t make either team:

KR/PR Rashid Shaheed (36 total)
K Jason Myers (13)
Slot Nick Emmanwori (6)
DT Byron Murphy II (5)
S Julian Love (3)
LG Grey Zabel (3)
LS Chris Stoll (3)
FB Robbie Ouzts (2)
TE AJ Barner (1)
Edge DeMarcus…

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) January 10, 2026

JSN was a unanimous selection, by the way.

To wrap things up, this final tidbit. The NFC West is stacked, and Seattle is very good. QB, WR, TE, FB, and “all-purpose” (the Christian McCaffrey award) were all won by someone in the NFC West.

You have to travel down the list quite a ways to find someone from team the Seahawks did not beat this season.

The Associated Press 2025 NFL All-Pro team selected by a national panel of 50 media members:

First team

Offense
Quarterback — Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Running Back — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta
Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Wide Receivers — Puka Nacua, Los…

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 10, 2026

Five All-Pros is awesome. Seattle gets to have a little extra fun celebrating the guys when they come back together on Monday before all eyes turn towards their next opponent for the Divisional Round.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...chosen-jaxon-smith-njigba-unanimous-selection

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks NFC playoff bracket: Seattle set for NFC West trilogy after Rams win, Packers collapse

The Seattle Seahawks will have to play another game against an NFC West rival; they just don’t know which one yet.

On a dramatic opening day of the 2026 NFL Playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams rallied late to avoid an upset loss to the Carolina Panthers, while the Chicago Bears pulled off another absurd comeback on the Green Bay Packers. This means the Seahawks will not play either of the two weakest teams by record in the NFC’s playoff field. Green Bay winning would’ve meant facing the Seahawks next week.

Former Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson scored a game-winning touchdown in the final minute to give the Rams a 34-31 win over a spirited Carolina team that was 14-0 down early and stormed back for a 31-27 lead. Speaking of 31-27, that was the final score of the Bears vs. Packers after the Packers led 21-3 at halftime. Caleb Williams engineered an extraordinary rally, while the Packers showed little interest in clock management or playing any defense in the closing stages. Williams’ go-ahead TD to D.J. Moore after the two-minute warning came after Brandon McManus missed his second field goal and third overall kick on the evening. Chicago’s defense held on late for an improbable win even by their standards.

Seahawks Divisional Round scenarios​

The Seahawks will play the Rams again if the Philadelphia Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle beat the Rams 38-37 in a Week 16 overtime classic to take control of the NFC West. The Rams won the first game 21-19 in Week 11.

The Seahawks will play the 49ers again if the 49ers beat the Eagles. Seattle clinched the NFC West and the number one seed by stifling San Francisco 13-3 in the Week 18 finale. San Francisco opened the year beating the Seahawks 17-13 at Lumen Field.

A kickoff time and date will be announced likely during the Sunday Night Football broadcast.

Buckle up, folks. The Seahawks’ road to the Super Bowl will involve knocking off one of their division rivals one last time. This wasn’t looking likely at halftime in Chicago, but that’s the reality now.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...acket-seattle-nfc-divisional-round-49ers-rams

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks fan discussion: Packers win over Bears means a trip to Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks could know their Divisional Round opponent solely from this game. If the Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears on a snowy night in the Windy City, then they’ll be heading to Lumen Field next week. A Bears win would mean we’d need to wait on the Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup to determine whether the Seahawks play the 49ers or the Rams.

Green Bay won the first matchup at home but with Micah Parsons playing. In the rematch sans Parsons (and, during the game, sans Jordan Love), the Packers lost a late lead in overtime to the Bears in a wild one at Soldier Field. Parsons ain’t coming back this season for Green Bay, but Love has returned. This is Caleb Williams’ playoff debut and expectations are high in Chicago. Their last playoff win came against the Seahawks back in the 2010 season

Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will take you through this matchup, live on Prime Video at 5 pm PT. The winner of this game could face the Seahawks next week in the Divisional Round, but it’s dependent on how the other NFC matchups go.

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Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/nfl-play...ussion-packers-vs-bears-nfl-wild-card-weekend