Seahawks handle 49ers to earn division title, NFC’s top seed

Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined to rush for 171 yards, Sam Darnold played turnover-free and Seattle’s defense was dominant as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and the conference’s top playoff seed with a 13-3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in Santa Clara, Calif.

Jason Myers kicked two field goals and Charbonnet scored the game’s lone touchdown for the Seahawks (14-3), who won their seventh consecutive game.

“That’s definitely a point of pride that we can have at least one home playoff game in front of the 12s,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said after the game in reference to Seahawks fans. “They’ve been dynamite this year. They’ve been absolutely just incredible. We’re really excited to stay home.”

Walker rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries and Charbonnet added 74 on 17 attempts. Darnold was 20-of-26 passing for 198 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making six catches for 84 yards.

The 49ers (12-5), who had won six in a row and scored more than 40 points in each of their previous two games, were limited to 173 yards of total offense and nine first downs.

Brock Purdy was 19 of 27 for 127 yards with one interception and Christian McCaffrey was limited to 23 yards on eight carries.

“I’m really proud of our team,” Macdonald said. “They love each other, man. It is so much fun to go to work every day and coach this team. It is an absolute honor to coach these guys.”

Myers kicked a 31-yard field goal with 14:15 remaining to give the Seahawks a 10-point lead. The 11-play, 55-yard drive was kept alive when Walker rushed for 19 yards on third-and-17 and the 49ers’ Renardo Green was called for pass interference against Rashid Shaheed on third-and-9.

The 49ers didn’t get a first down on the ground until Purdy scrambled for one with 13:35 remaining.

San Francisco reached the Seahawks’ 6-yard line on that drive before McCaffrey bobbled a tipped pass and the ball fell into linebacker Drake Thomas’ arms for an interception.

The Seahawks dominated the first half statistically but led just 10-3 at the intermission.

Seattle got a first-and-goal at the 49ers’ 1-yard line on the game’s opening drive before Darnold was sacked for a 12-yard loss by Tatum Bethune. The Seahawks went for it on fourth down from the 4, but Darnold’s pass for Cooper Kupp fell incomplete.

The 49ers were held to a three-and-out on their first possession and Seattle needed just three plays to take the lead on Charbonnet’s 27-yard run around the left end.

Myers converted from 45 yards with 5:19 left in the half to make it 10-0.

The 49ers’ Eddy Piniero booted a 48-yarder with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter for the hosts’ lone points.

The Seahawks had a 12-3 advantage in first downs and 196-69 edge in total yards at the half.

–Field Level Media