Live Seahawks-49ers scores, updates: Seahawks clinch No. 1 seed with 13-3 win over 49ers
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Zach Charbonnet #26 celebrates with Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on January 03, 202 (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks are on the road in Santa Clara, California for a Week 18 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers that will decide the winner of the NFC West and much more for the NFC playoffs.
The victor will claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, granting them a first-round bye, and homefield advantage for the entirety of the postseason. With the Super Bowl to be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the 49ers would truly be at home the rest of the way with a win.
The Seahawks enter the game with a 13-3 record, which matches the best record in franchise history – done twice before, in 2005 and 2013. They're looking to avenge a Week 1 loss at home to the 49ers, 17-13, that ended on a Nick Bosa strip-sack of quarterback Sam Darnold when right tackle Abe Lucas was shoved into Darnold's arm to knock the ball loose.
Each of the three times the Seahawks have made the Super Bowl in franchise history, they've done so as the No. 1 seed with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
Seahawks clinch No. 1 seed with 13-3 win - 7:50 p.m.
The Seahawks are NFC West champions and will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
A dominant defensive performance carried the Seahawks to a 13-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers that gives Seattle a 14-3 record, the NFC West crown, a first-round bye, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
A 27-yard Zach Charbonnet touchdown and two Jason Myers field goals were enough for Seattle as they shut down a 49ers offense that had been red-hot in December.
Drake Thomas interception turns away 49ers - 7:25 p.m.
The best drive of the night for the 49ers offense resulted in no points due to the first career interception for linebacker Drake Thomas.
Brock Purdy connected on four passes of at least 10 yards to move the 49ers down the field. A 20-yard connection with George Kittle and a 16-yard pass to Jauan Jennings fueled the drive for San Francisco as they moved to the Seattle 6-yard line to threaten their first touchdown of the night.
However, Boye Mafe tipped a Purdy pass for Christian McCaffrey that slightly threw off the connection. The ball clanked off the hands of McCaffrey directly into the arms of Thomas as he secured the interception at the 3-yard line.
It's the first interception in 40 career games with the Seahawks for Thomas and Seattle's first turnover forced in the game.
Seahawks lead 13-3 early in the fourth quarter - 7:20 p.m.
The Seahawks avoided major disaster and instead turned it into perhaps the clinching drive of the game.
Sam Darnold fumbled a handoff exchange with running back Zach Charbonnet after tripping over center Jalen Sundell backed up on their own 28-yard line. Charbonnet recovered the loose ball to avoid a critical turnover, even if it meant facing a third-and-17 in their own territory.
But for the third straight game in a row, the Seahawks picked up a first down when needing at least 15 yards with a rushing play to keep the drive alive.
Ken Walker III had a 19-yard carry on third-and-17 to take the wind out of the 49ers' defense.
A pass interference call on Renardo Green helped move Seattle into the 49ers' red zone, but the drive stalled.
Jason Myers converted a 31-yard field goal to make it a 13-3 lead with 14:15 left to play.
Josh Jones briefly exits with injury, returns - 6:55 p.m.
The Seahawks were briefly down to their third-string option at left tackle after Josh Jones exited the game for evaluation midway through the third quarter.
Safety Mailk Mustapha landed on the back of Jones' legs as he made a tackle of running back Ken Walker III. It didn't appear to be major torque of either the knee or ankle for Jones, which are the two injuries he came into Saturday night's game with, but it was enough to require attention.
Amari Kight is an undrafted rookie out of Central Florida who had two snaps of offensive experience this season prior to Saturday night. He briefly replaced Jones at left tackle before Jones was able to return to action.
Jarran Reed had a sack of Brock Purdy, and Nick Emmanwori pressured Purdy into a third down throwaway to force a punt on the 49ers' opening drive of the half.
Meanwhile, Zach Charbonnet was dropped for a 5-yard loss on third-and-2 to force a Seattle punt on their possession where Jones was injured.
49ers get a field goal, Seahawks lead 10-3 at half - 6:30 p.m.
San Francisco managed to finally get on the board late in the first half and will get the ball to begin the third quarter as well.
After Jason Myers converted a 45-yard field goal to push Seattle's lead to 10-0, a kickoff out of bounds gave the 49ers good field position for their final drive of the half.
A key third-and-11 conversion on a completion from Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings was the key play on the drive for the 49ers. It served as their only third down conversion of the half, going 1-for-5. After one more first down, the drive stalled out.
Eddy Piñeiro converted a 48-yard field goal to cut Seattle's lead to 10-3 at the break.
The Seahawks hold a 196-69 edge in yards at the break and have 12 first downs to just three for the 49ers. Zach Charbonnet and Ken Walker III have combined for 110 rushing yards on 19 carries with a touchdown as San Francisco's battered defense has struggled to slow Seattle down.
Additionally, linebacker Dee Winters is questionable to return for the 49ers. Seahawks' tackle Josh Jones accidentally stepped on Winters' ankle, getting pushed back into the pocket in the second quarter.
Jason Myers 45-yard field goal, Seahawks lead 10-0 - 6:10 p.m.
The Seahawks have dominated the first half and now have the two-score lead they deserve to show for it.
After Seattle's defense forced the 49ers into a turnover on downs, the Seahawks marched back into scoring range. Sam Darnold escaped an immediate free rusher in linebacker Dee Winters to scramble for a first down on third-and-4 to reach the 49ers' 25-yard line. However, a holding penalty against Grey Zabel ultimately scuttled the drive.
Renardo Green made a nice breakup of a pass from Darnold for Jaxon Smith-Njigba on third down in the end zone to force a field goal try.
After missing a 47-yard attempt on the prior drive, Myers converted a 45-yard attempt to make it a 10-0 lead with 5:19 left in the first half.
Missed chance to extend lead with a missed field goal - 5:55 p.m.
After Seattle's defense forced another three-and-out from the 49ers offense, the Seahawks pushed toward another score to extend the lead.
A 20-yard run from Ken Walker III and a pair of catches for Jaxon Smith-Njigba marched the team down the field. But after reaching the SF 26-yard line, the drive stalled out. Walker was stuffed for a loss of four yards on a second down run that truly stopped the drive.
Jason Myers missed a 47-yard field goal that would have made it a ten-point lead. It snapped a streak of 18 consecutive field goals made by Myers dating back to a missed 61-yard attempt to win the team's 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in November.
San Francisco finally got a first down for the first time in the game on their third drive on a 9-yard completion from Brock Purdy to Christian McCaffrey, but Seattle's defense continues to torment the 49ers.
A 10-yard scramble from Purdy to the Seattle 39-yard line on third down set up a fourth-and-1 that the 49ers then decided to go for. A strong pass rush from DeMarcus Lawrence forced a desperate, backpedaling throw from Purdy to Kyle Juszczyk that was broken up by Riq Woolen for a turnover on downs.
Zach Charbonnet gives Seattle a 7-0 lead - 5:35 p.m.
The turnover on downs ultimately served as just a brief hiccup for the Seahawks offense.
After the defense forced a three-and-out to force the 49ers to punt, Seattle took advantage of the good field position to pay off the strong start. A facemask penalty on Garret Wallow on the punt return moved Seattle to the 49ers' 35-yard line to begin the drive.
Facing a third-and-2, Zach Charbonnet found running room on a nice cutback run to spring free for a 27-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks a 7-0 lead.
Tight end A.J. Barner allowed the play to go for score with a great block on Ji'Ayir Brown on the backside of the run. Charbonnet then made safety Mailk Mustapha miss to reach the end zone for the opening score.
Charbonnet already jas 47 yards on six carries with a touchdown, and Ken Walker III has 20 yards rushing on three carries. Seattle has 67 rushing yards and the first quarter isn't over yet.
Seahawks miss out on early chance. - 5:25 p.m.
A methodical opening drive that appeared destined to reach the end zone came up completely empty for the Seahawks.
Seattle marched 69 yards from their own 30-yard line to the SF 1-yard line on a pass interference call against Deommodore Lenoir to set up first-and-goal. However, Sam Darnold was sacked for a loss of 11 yards on first down to back Seattle up.
Two Zach Charbonnet runs pushed back to the 49ers' 4-yard line as Seattle elected to go for it on fourth down only for Darnold's pass for Cooper Kupp to fall incomplete for a turnover on downs.
A 12-play, 66-yard drive that spanned 7:37 of game time came away with no points at all.
However, the Seahawks' defense quickly forced a three-and-out from the 49ers' offense as San Francisco punted the ball back to Seattle.
Josh Jones active for Seahawks; Trent Williams out for 49ers - 3:55 p.m.
The Seahawks will have tackle Josh Jones in the lineup after being listed as questionable to play with knee and ankle injuries, but the 49ers will be without their starting left tackle in Trent Williams.
Williams injured his hamstring chasing an interception on the first play of San Francisco's win over the Chicago Bears last Sunday night. Austen Pleasants will start at left tackle for the 49ers in Williams' place.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is also officially inactive for the 49ers as well due to knee and ankle injuries.
Starting left tackle Charles Cross will miss a third straight game for Seattle with a hamstring injury as well, but is expected to have a chance to return for the team's first playoff game – whether that's next week or in two weeks. Safety Coby Bryant is out for a second straight game with a knee injury despite limited practice participation this week.
Jones has played well in place of Cross over the last two games and played all 66 snaps for Seattle against the Carolina Panthers last week before surfacing on the injury report. Undrafted rookie Amari Kight was signed from the practice squad to serve as Jones' backup.
Ty Okada will start in place of Bryant for a second straight game, though Julian Love will handle Bryant's role more directly with Okada remaining in the free safety spot.
Tight end George Kittle (ankle), cornerback Upton Stout (concussion), and defensive end Keion White (groin) are active for the 49ers despite being listed as questionable.
The Seahawks elevated running back Cam Akers and cornerback Tyler Hall from the practice squad ahead of the game as well. Akers will handle third running back duties and both will contribute on special teams.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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