Seahawks, 49ers set for rubber match with NFC title-game berth at stake
- - Seahawks, 49ers set for rubber match with NFC title-game berth at stake
Field Level MediaJanuary 16, 2026 at 2:08 AM
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Jan 3, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (5) makes catch against Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) during the second half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images (Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images)
Every great NFL defense needs a nickname.
From the Purple People Eaters (Vikings) to the Steel Curtain (Steelers), the Monsters of the Midway (Bears) to the Doomsday Defense (Cowboys), the Fearsome Foursome (Rams) to the New York Sack Exchange (Jets) and the Orange Crush (Broncos) to the Legion of Boom (Seahawks), the best all got monikers.
Even the Dolphins' No-Name Defense of the 1970s.
The current Seattle Seahawks defense hasn't yet matched the Legion of Boom, which led the NFL in fewest points allowed from 2012 to 2015, but it has come up with a nickname just in case -- the "Dark Side."
That unit will be key when the top-seeded Seahawks (14-3) play host to the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers (13-5) on Saturday in an NFC divisional-round playoff game. The NFC West rivals split their regular-season series.
"I think throughout the season, we were just feeling like we had a really special defense, you know, special players, and we were also just doing special things," Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. "We always hear of 'Legion of Boom,' especially being in here. We were starting to get to a point like, 'Hey, maybe we deserve our own name.'"
The Seahawks had the league's top-ranked scoring defense at 17.2 points per game.
Their best performance came in the regular-season finale in Santa Clara, Calif., against the 49ers in the game that determined the NFC West division title as well as the conference's top playoff seed that came with a first-round bye. The Seahawks allowed just 173 yards of total offense in a 13-3 victory.
That dropped the 49ers to the No. 6 seed. They went on the road and defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 on Sunday to advance.
Christian McCaffrey gained just 48 yards on 15 carries, but made six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns to boost San Francisco. Little-used veteran receiver Demarcus Robinson added a season-high six catches for 111 yards and a score.
It was a costly victory, however, as star tight end George Kittle sustained a torn right Achilles tendon.
The 49ers will be without Kittle and All-Pro defender Nick Bosa (knee) against Seattle.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who was designated to return from injured reserve on Tuesday, will not play on Saturday. He has been sidelined since Oct. 12 with a fractured and dislocated right ankle.
Safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) is the only other Niner to be ruled out. Linebackers Luke Gifford (quadriceps) and Dee Winters (ankle) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) are listed as questionable.
"I think that made us stronger for stuff like this," Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams said of the 49ers' injury-marred season. "Kittle going down in the first half (at Philadelphia). I think if we didn't have experience with that, it would have been easy for everybody to fold and nobody would have blamed us. They would say, 'Hey, they don't have this player, don't have that player, they probably should lose.'"
In a new development on Thursday, quarterback Sam Darnold hurt the left side of his oblique while throwing at practice and is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report.
"Just didn't want to push it," Darnold said. "Wasn't the day to push it. So that was it. Just came inside, got some rehab, and I feel like I'll be ready to go for Saturday."
Offensive tackle Josh Jones (knee), who started the final three games in Charles Cross' stead, has been ruled out but Cross (hamstring, knee) was a full participant Tuesday and Thursday and carries no designation. He started the season's first 14 games at left tackle
The Seahawks will be playing their first playoff game at home since January 2021.
"We need it loud, man," defensive lineman Jarran Reed said, "so the Dark Side can come alive."
The 49ers won 17-13 at Seattle in the season opener, thanks to Bosa's strip sack of Sam Darnold with 36 seconds left and the Seahawks at San Francisco's 9-yard line. Brock Purdy threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to backup tight end Jake Tonges with 1:34 remaining for the go-ahead score.
--Field Level Media
Source: “AOL Sports”
