Seattle Seahawks discovered a brand new stage of dominance as they stormed to a 41-6 win over San Francisco 49ers in what was their first playoff sport in entrance of dwelling followers in virtually a decade.
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kick-off for a landing, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores and Seattle compelled three turnovers in a never-in-doubt win that despatched the top-seeded Seahawks to the NFC championship sport.
Seahawks legends Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin additionally overrated the famed ‘twelfth Man’ crowd in Seattle, offering a throwback to the Seahawks’ fearsome ‘Legion of Increase’ groups from the 2010s.
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Seattle made the proper begin in opposition to San Francisco because of Rashid Shaheed’s unbelievable 95-yard kick-off return landing
“Considered one of our most full video games, for positive,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams stated. “[Shaheed] beginning the sport off like that set the tone.”
Sam Darnold threw a landing go and obtained his first profession playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host both the Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Rams subsequent Sunday with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the sport because of Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the tip zone – it was the fourth kick-off return for a landing to open a playoff sport since 2000.
“I used to be so hyped,” defensive lineman Byron Murphy II stated.
“I wasn’t anticipating that, however when he did it, I knew the sport was over then. I already knew.”
Darnold, who had been listed as questionable due to an indirect damage, guided the Seahawks on two extra scoring drives earlier than San Francisco obtained on the board with the primary of their two subject objectives.
Seattle Seahawks operating again Kenneth Walker III Walker completed with 116 yards speeding, his most since his rookie 12 months in 2022
As he has all season, Darnold impressed his team-mates together with his toughness.
“He instructed us he was going to do no matter it takes to get again and play for us,” offensive lineman Gray Zabel stated.
“That was a gutsy efficiency by him, not feeling his finest. He continues to only be a frontrunner within the huddle, on the sector, and on the sidelines.”
After he flopped in his playoff debut final season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking 9 sacks in a 27-9 loss to the 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.
Seattle hadn’t performed within the postseason because the 2020 season, once they misplaced at dwelling to the Rams with no followers within the stands due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
49ers’ injury-plagued season ends
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was sacked twice, scrambled 5 occasions for 37 yards and regularly threw on the run within the powerful sport
The 49ers had been by no means aggressive within the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise historical past, with their 49-3 defeat to New York Giants within the divisional spherical within the 1986 season taking the highest spot.
The Niners had been lacking three injured All-Execs: tight finish George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive finish Nick Bosa.
Star left deal with Trent Williams, who himself performed by means of a hamstring damage, was pleased with his crew for getting as far within the playoffs because it did.
“Once you’re enjoying with guys you are signing off the observe squad,” Williams stated, “guys [you are] taking off the road – you’ve got to mood expectations a bit.
“So many rosters had been absolutely loaded whereas we had been enjoying with guys that we obtained every week in the past, two weeks in the past, some guys signed at first of the season, some guys signed in the course of the season.
“The truth that we had been in a position to get to this a part of the season, divisional spherical within the playoffs and provides ourselves an opportunity to get within the NFC championship and we’re extraordinarily shorthanded, I am pleased with this crew.”
Walker waltzes to profession night time
Seattle Seahawks operating again Kenneth Walker III Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores within the dominant dwelling sport
Walker’s three speeding touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for probably the most in a playoff sport in franchise historical past.
Walker completed with 116 yards speeding, his most since his rookie 12 months in 2022, and he picked up the slack after Zach Charbonnet was injured in the course of the sport. The Seahawks ran for 175 yards, their third most this season.
“You may see it, how they’re respiratory, they’re drained, they’re sluggish to stand up,” Walker stated. “You may see it is demoralising to them.”
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