SEATTLE — Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a landing, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 3 scores and the Seattle Seahawks superior to the NFC championship sport with a dominant 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday evening.
Sam Darnold threw a landing cross and bought his first profession playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host both the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams subsequent Sunday with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the sport due to Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the tip zone.
It was the fourth kickoff return for a landing to open a playoff sport since 2000 and the longest postseason kick return in franchise historical past.
Darnold, who had been listed as questionable due to an indirect damage, guided the Seahawks on two extra scoring drives earlier than San Francisco bought on the board with the primary of its two discipline objectives.
After he flopped in his playoff debut final season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking 9 sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Darnold accomplished 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and linked with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a landing within the star receiver’s playoff debut.
The 49ers (13-6) have been by no means aggressive within the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise historical past.
San Francisco misplaced 49-3 to the New York Giants within the divisional spherical within the 1986 season.
The Niners have been lacking three injured All-Professionals: tight finish George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive finish Nick Bosa.
San Francisco’s Brock Purdy accomplished 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a misplaced fumble in opposition to the Seahawks’ “Darkish Facet” protection.
Seattle additionally recovered a fumble by tight finish Jake Tonges.
Walker’s three dashing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for essentially the most in a playoff sport in franchise historical past.
