SEATTLE – The road to Super Bowl 60 in the NFC goes through the Pacific Northwest.
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 to advance to the NFC championship game.
Pro Bowl returner Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house to begin the game – the Seahawks were off to the races from there.
The Seahawks got the opening kickoff return touchdown, the defense got a fourth-down stop and a takeaway in the first quarter alone as they stormed out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead.
Later, the Seahawks went on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped off with a seven-yard touchdown run by running back Kenneth Walker III to give Seattle a 24-6 advantage at halftime.
Seattle’s defense took command of the game in the second half.
Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams sacked Brock Purdy on fourth-and-2 to give the ball back to the Seahawks offense. The Seahawks managed a 24-yard field goal after the change of possession. On the 49ers’ next series, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones intercepted a Purdy pass intended for tight end Luke Farrell.
Walker and the Seahawks made the 49ers pay following the turnover. The Seahawks running back found the end zone six plays later to give Seattle an insurmountable 34-6 lead with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter.
The Seahawks defense forced three turnovers, sacked Purdy twice and kept San Francisco out of the end zone for the second time this season.
Walker registered 145 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. He was the best player on Seattle’s offense.
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, who injured his oblique on Thursday, finished 12-of-17 for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle now has a 13-3 all-time record at home in the postseason. Their Jan. 17 win earned the Seahawks their fifth conference championship appearance, and first since 2014.
Quick takeaways
Kenneth Walker III has career night
Walker rushed for a season-best and career playoff-high 116 yards and his three rushing touchdowns equaled a lifetime best.
The Seahawks running back kept the chains moving for Seattle. He had nice outside runs and in between the tackles.
Walker also displayed his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He tallied three receptions for 29 yards.
Zach Charbonnet injured his knee in the first half and didn’t return.
Rashid Shaheed’s explosive ability as returner
Shaheed’s given the Seahawks another explosive element ever since he was traded to Seattle. His opening kickoff return was a huge momentum boost for the Seahawks to begin the game. It also ignited an already raucous Seattle crowd.
Shaheed’s 95-yard kickoff return touchdown was the longest postseason kickoff return touchdown in franchise history.
Sam Darnold’s oblique injury
Darnold injured his oblique on Jan. 15. He came on the field late for pregame warmups which caused some concern. Those concerns dissipated quickly in the first half. Darnold rolled out and torqued his body on four-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first quarter.
Darnold didn’t perform like his oblique bothered him, but the quarterback didn’t have to do a lot of heavy lifting in what was an all-around team win.
Injury-riddled 49ers
It’s a testament to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers for making it to the divisional round, but it was apparent that injuries to Fred Warner, George Kittle and Nick Bosa took a toll on the resilient team. To make matters worse, Christian McCaffrey was diagnosed with a stinger during the game. He played through the ailment during the second half, but checked out of the game in the fourth quarter.
Warner, Kittle and Bosa are three of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions. It’s nearly impossible to fill the void left by all three of them.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
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