Whether it is Malcolm Smith’s interception off Richard Sherman’s tipped pass breakup or Dre Greenlaw’s 1-yard-line stuff against Jacob Hollister, it is fair to say this rivalry runs deep.

Since the 2002 NFL realignment, the Seahawks and 49ers have faced off 48 times in the regular season. In that stretch, the Seahawks lead the series 29–19.

The two teams have only met in the playoffs twice and split games, with the home team having won each time. In 2013, the Seahawks won 23–17 in the NFC Championship game, and in the 2022 Wild Card Round, the 49ers won 41–23.

On Saturday, they will play for the third time in the postseason. It also happens to be their third meeting this season. 

In Week One, the Niners escaped with a win after DE Nick Bosa pushed Abraham Lucas into Sam Darnold, causing a fumble which the 49ers recovered.

In Week 18, the Seahawks went to Santa Clara and ran away with the victory, literally. RBs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III averaged 5.2 yards per carry. The 49ers’ offense could not get rolling and mustered just three points and 173 yards, the second-fewest in a 49ers game coached by Kyle Shanahan.

This week, the game is in Seattle, a place the 49ers have not lost in since 2021. However, the Seahawks are 10–1 in their last 11 playoff games in Seattle.

The Seahawks come into this game off a bye week and have won 11 out of their past 12 games. They are set to get LT Charles Cross and S Coby Bryant back from injury this week. 

The Seahawks’ defense ranks among the best this season. They held their opponents to just 17.2 points per game on average, the fewest by any team in the league. They also ranked the best in third-down defense, getting off the field on third down 32% of the time. In the two prior times they faced San Francisco this year, they held them to a total of 16 points.

Their offense is solid as well. In the regular season, they averaged the third-most points per game, with 28.4. However, Darnold has yet to crack 200 yards passing or a touchdown against the Niners this year. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the leader in receiving yards this season, has yet to score against the Niners. In total, they scored 26 points against the 49ers in their first two meetings.

The 49ers earned a spot in this game by defeating the Eagles last week, 23–19. However, they had another tough injury, with TE George Kittle suffering a torn Achilles tendon. 

Defensively, the 49ers have been okay this season, holding teams to 21.8 points per game, 13th-best in the league. However, they have not been as great recently, especially against the Seahawks. From Weeks 15 to 17, they allowed an average of 29.7 points per game. Against the Hawks two weeks ago, they allowed them to have possession for nearly 38 minutes.

Offensive has been the 49ers’ strong suit this season, as they finished top-10 in both points per game and passing yards per game. However, QB Brock Purdy has struggled against the Seahawks. He has thrown three interceptions and just two touchdowns. In his career, Purdy has struggled against Mike Macdonald, the head coach of the Seahawks. Through five games, he has a 79.7 passer rating and has thrown just six touchdowns to eight interceptions. RB Christian McCaffrey also struggled in the regular season against the Seahawks. He averaged 3.1 yards on 30 carries.

Luckily for the 49ers, they will have Trent Williams on Saturday, and Ricky Pearsall may return. Purdy has also never lost when he has played in Seattle; he is 4–0. 

One main key for the Seahawks is that they will be going up against a depleted 49ers’ defense. San Francisco, without Bosa, DT Mykel Williams and Fred Warner, has struggled and managed just 20 sacks in the regular season, the worst in the NFL. The 49ers could also be without LBs Luke Gifford and Dee Winters, which would leave San Francisco playing their fifth and sixth-string linebackers. This should give Darnold time to breathe and find open receivers, which will especially help since he will be playing through an oblique injury.

One key for the 49ers is that they have much more playoff experience. Darnold has only ever played in one other playoff game and struggled, recording a sub-78 passer rating. HC Macdonald has never been the head coach for a playoff game. On the other hand, Purdy is now 5–2 in the playoffs, including four game-winning drives, and Shanahan has nine playoff wins as the 49ers’ head coach.

Whichever team wins this game will advance to the NFC Championship game and face the Bears or the Rams next Sunday, Jan. 25. That game will determine who represents the NFC in Super Bowl LX.

The Daily Evergreen Predictions:

Conner Orr: 49ers 24–21

Abe Daniel: Seahawks 24–10

Smith Slye: Seahawks 7–3

Grant Chisholm: Seahawks 17–14

Doug Wood: Seahawks 28–24

Gaige Anderson: Seahawks 20–14

Nathan Eshelman: Seahawks 23–10

Ben Walker: Seahawks 24–14