Seahawks smother 49ers with defensive masterclass

The Seattle Seahawks defense put on a show against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, securing a dominant 41-6 victory.

The opening play of the night was a perfect momentum boost for Seattle, as WR Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to the endzone, taking an instant 7-0 lead.

Strong defense forced the 49ers into a turnover on downs, setting up the Seahawks for a field goal to extend the lead to double digits.

Just two plays later, Seahawks FS Julian Love recovered a fumble by 49ers TE Jake Tonges. Another Seattle touchdown increased the lead to 17 before San Francisco finally got on the board with a field goal.

After forcing the Seahawks to punt, the 49ers scored another field goal to cut the deficit to 11. That’s when the Seahawks began to separate themselves.

Their swarming defense repeatedly smothered the 49ers offense, all while Seattle’s offense continued to put points on the board. For the remainder of the game, the 49ers showed nearly no signs of life.

RB Kenneth Walker led the way for the Seahawks with 145 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.

Seattle will now host next week’s NFC Championship game and will face the winner of Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.