SEATTLE — redemption arc of Sam Darnold reached a historic peak this January as he led the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) to the NFC’s top seed. By clinching 14 victories this season, Darnold joins seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record back-to-back seasons with at least 14 wins. Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, the Seahawks host their divisional rival San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line.
14-Win Standard
Darnold’s journey from a perceived draft bust to an elite winner is unprecedented. After leading the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins in 2024, he replicated that success in Seattle, throwing for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns during the 2025 regular season. His 2025 campaign ended on a high note with a 13-3 defensive masterclass against these same 49ers in Week 18, a win that secured home-field advantage. Despite an oblique injury that limited him earlier this week, Darnold insists he is ready to erase his 0-1 career playoff record and secure his first postseason victory.
The 49ers arrive in Seattle battle-worn but dangerous. While Brock Purdy survived a 23-19 Wild Card nail-biter in Philadelphia last week, San Francisco will be without All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. The absence of Warner creates a massive void in the middle of a defense that must contain Seahawks’ weapons Kenneth Walker III and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“I feel good. I just felt a little something in my oblique, and I didn’t want to push it. It’s a very low percentage I won’t play—probably closer to zero.” — Sam Darnold, Seahawks Quarterback
The winner of this rubber match advances to the NFC Championship on January 25, 2026. If Seattle wins, they will host either the Rams or the Bears at Lumen Field. A Seahawks victory would also mark their first home playoff win in front of fans since 2017, signaling a return to the “Legion of Boom” era dominance. For the 49ers, a win would complete a stunning road sweep of the NFC’s top two seeds after knocking off the Eagles.
