Seahawks Shock 49ers to Claim NFC’s Top Spot

Seattle Seahawks crush the 49ers with elite defense to secure the NFC top seed, first-round bye, and playoff home advantage after a dominant 7-game win streak.

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Jan 4, 2026 - 16:05

Seahawks Shock 49ers to Claim NFC’s Top Spot

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 to clinch the NFC West title and the top seed in the NFC, earning them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Zach Charbonnet scored the game's only touchdown, and Jason Myers kicked two field goals for the Seahawks, whose victory was built on a strong defensive performance on the road.

This was their seventh consecutive win, improving their record to 14-3.

"Our defense carried us," said Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. "They've been doing that all year. They're doing a great job."

Darnold passed for 198 yards, while teammates Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet rushed for 97 and 74 yards, respectively.

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"Unbelievable," said Walker. "We've been working hard since day one. We're still working hard. But we still have a lot of work to do, so we can't be complacent."

The 49ers (12-5) saw their six-game winning streak snapped with the loss, meaning they will be on the road for the Wild Card round.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers, who needed a win to secure a playoff berth, scored late on a touchdown by Jaylen Cocker, but the Buccaneers held on for the win.

Both teams have an 8-9 record and will have to await the outcome of the game between the already eliminated Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints to see who makes the playoffs.

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A Falcons win would send Carolina through, while a Saints win would mean the Buccaneers advance.

What is the NFL playoff format? In both the NFC and AFC, the top seed receives a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

The remaining six teams participate in Wild Card Weekend, where the three division winners play at home against the three wild card teams – the second seed plays the seventh seed, the third seed hosts the sixth seed, and the fourth seed faces the fifth seed.

From there, the top seeds enter the competition by hosting the lowest remaining seeds, with the next highest seed playing at home against the next lowest seed in the Divisional Round. The Championship Games then follow, with the highest-seeded team hosting the game, which is why finishing in the top spot can be so crucial.

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