Football

By T.J. “The Huddle” Harrison

NFL Beat Writer, January 5, 2026

Seahawks 13, 49ers 3

Same Score.

Same Teams.

Totally Different Ending.

You want irony? Here it is.

The Seattle Seahawks’ lowest scoring output all season—13 points—came twice. Both times? Against the San Francisco 49ers.

Week 1: Seahawks 13, lose 17–13. Week 18: Seahawks 13, win 13–3.

Same number. Completely different weight.

This time, that 13 was enough to punch Seattle’s ticket to the #1 seed, a first-round bye, and the kind of January runway that wins Super Bowls. And that 3? That was San Francisco’s lowest output of the year—and it might’ve felt like the sound of the season cracking.

This wasn’t a blowout on the scoreboard. It was a beatdown everywhere else.

A Game Seattle Owned — Even When the Math Said Otherwise

Let’s be clear: the Seahawks controlled this game from the opening kick. Tempo. Field position. Physicality. All of it.

And yet, somehow, the door stayed cracked.

Seattle failed on an early 4th-and-1. They missed two of four field goals. They left points bleeding on the turf.

But every time it looked like the 49ers might sneak back into it? Seattle slammed the door shut with defense, discipline, and just enough offense to keep the wheel turning.

That sequence early told the whole story:

Seahawks turn it over on downs -> 49ers go three-and-out -> Special teams flag hands the ball right back to Seattle in plus territory.

That wasn’t luck. That was control.

This was one of those games where the scoreboard lies to you. Seattle never panicked. Never pressed. Never flinched.

And that matters—especially when the quarterback on the other sideline is swinging for the fences just to stay alive.

The Play That Ended a Season

Fourth quarter. San Francisco driving. Season hanging by a thread.

Then it happened.

Brock Purdy fired a pass toward the goal line. It hit Christian McCaffrey’s hands—and popped straight into a defender’s waiting arms inside Seattle’s five-yard line.

Interception.

Game.

Season.

Gut punch.

You could feel it. Not just “ah man, that hurts.” It felt final. Like the oxygen left the room.The 49ers never recovered—and honestly, neither did the vibe.

That was the moment where the 2-for-1 Kyle Shanahan talked about slipped through their fingers. Lose the game, lose the bye, lose the margin for error. And now? A wild card flight to Philadelphia.

Purdy Tried. The Trenches Didn’t Let Him Finish.

I’ll say this plainly: Brock Purdy didn’t fold.

He took shots. Big ones. He stood in knowing the rush was coming. He tried to will an offense forward that had no run game, no separation, and no push.

Christian McCaffrey—held to 23 rushing yards. Receivers blanketed. The offensive line getting walked back like it owed somebody money.

When your quarterback is your leading source of hope, you’re already in trouble.

And yes, the 49ers managed two sacks on Sam Darnold despite having the worst pass rush in the league. Credit where it’s due. But it didn’t matter—because on both sides of the ball, San Francisco was losing ground.

Literally.

This game was won in the ugly places. Pads popping. Feet churning. Helmets under numbers.

Seattle won the line of scrimmage—and once that happens, everything else is just math.

Sam Darnold Didn’t Choke — And That’s the Headline

This was the game people circled. Prime time. #1 seed. Rival. Pressure cooker.

And Sam Darnold? He stayed boring. And boring is beautiful in January.

Quick decisions. Short throws. Easy completions. No panic.

Seattle didn’t ask him to be a hero—they asked him to not give the game away. And he delivered.

One of the loudest knocks on Darnold his whole career? “He’ll blink.”

He didn’t.

Seattle played clean, calm, grown-man football. And now they get the reward everyone’s chasing: rest.

What This Means

Seattle:

#1 seed First-round bye Confidence intact A quarterback who passed the biggest test of his season

They didn’t dominate the scoreboard—but they dominated the night. And that’s how playoff teams are built.

San Francisco:

6th seed Headed to Philly limping, bruised, and searching for answers

Shanahan said it himself: this was the best path to the Super Bowl. They needed it.

They didn’t get it.

Now the margin is gone. One bad quarter, one tipped ball, one cold stretch—and it’s over.

Final Word from The Huddle

This felt like a playoff game because it was one—just without the bracket next to it.

Seattle proved they can win ugly, win tight, and win under pressure. San Francisco learned the hard way that grit without traction doesn’t move the pile.

It ain’t about how you start. It’s about how you finish.

And on Sunday night? The Seahawks finished standing tall— while the 49ers were left staring at the tunnel, wondering how it all slipped away.

Hands dirty. Message sent. 🏈🔥

About T.J. "The Huddle" Harrison

T.J. Harrison didn’t get to where he is by playing it safe. A former defensive lineman with a quick first step and a nose for the football, T.J. knows what it means to win in the trenches, where real football is played. After hanging up his cleats, he transitioned into the world of NFL reporting, quickly earning a reputation for breaking down the X’s and O’s while keeping the energy high and the jokes flowing. His signature segments—like "The Dirty Work" (which focuses on the unsung heroes in the trenches) and "Sideline Sizzle" (for game-changing moments)—have become fan favorites.

T.J. knows that football is more than stats; it’s about attitude, grit, and when that clock hits two minutes and everything’s on the line—who’s got the stones to step up? When you hear T.J. on the mic, you can bet he’s got a fresh take on the game—and he’s bringing the heat.

T.J. says: “It ain’t about how you start, it’s about how you finish. And when it’s crunch time, I wanna see who’s willing to get their hands dirty.”