SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle that defied pregame projections, the Seattle Seahawks methodically ground out a 13-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium. The win, witnessed by 71,836 fans, solidified Seattle’s position atop the NFC West and avenged a narrow loss to the same 49ers team in the season opener.

The contest was a stark departure from the high-scoring affair predicted by analysts. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 32-23 San Francisco win, with the 49ers installed as 2.5-point favorites and an over/under line of 47.5. Instead, the teams combined for only 16 points, with Seattle’s defense delivering a masterclass in containment.

The most important sequence of the game came not from a scoring drive, but from a critical defensive stand by the Seahawks in the fourth quarter. Leading 13-3, Seattle watched as the 49ers mounted their most promising drive of the day. Starting at their own 30, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy engineered a 10-play, 68-yard march deep into Seattle territory. A 20-yard completion to George Kittle and an 11-yard scramble by Purdy highlighted the series, which reached the Seattle 6-yard line.

Facing first-and-goal and a chance to cut the deficit to a single score, the 49ers’ hopes were extinguished by linebacker Drake Thomas. On second down, Purdy looked for Christian McCaffrey on a short pass to the right side. Thomas read the play perfectly, stepping in front of the pass for a game-sealing interception at the 6-yard line with 10:21 remaining. The turnover snuffed out San Francisco’s last realistic chance at a comeback and allowed Seattle to embark on a clock-killing, 14-play drive that consumed over seven minutes of the final quarter.

Seattle’s offense, while not explosive, was ruthlessly efficient and controlled the tempo from the outset. Quarterback Sam Darnold, the top star for Seattle, executed a conservative game plan flawlessly, completing 20 of 26 passes for 198 yards and adding 9 yards on six carries. He committed no turnovers and managed the game expertly behind a powerful running attack.

That ground game was the engine of Seattle’s success. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries, while Zach Charbonnet added 74 yards on 17 attempts, including the game’s only touchdown. The duo combined for 171 rushing yards, consistently moving the chains and dominating time of possession.

Seattle opened the scoring on its second possession. A 12-play, 65-yard drive culminated in Charbonnet breaking a 27-yard run off left tackle for a touchdown with 4:29 left in the first quarter. The drive was sustained by a key defensive pass interference penalty on San Francisco’s Deommodore Lenoir in the end zone on a third-down incompletion.

The Seahawks extended their lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Jason Myers. San Francisco responded with its lone scoring drive just before halftime, a 12-play series that stalled at the Seattle 30 and resulted in a 48-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro, making the score 10-3 at the break.

Seattle’s defense ensured that would be the 49ers’ only points. The Seahawks harassed Purdy throughout, sacking him three times with Jarran Reed, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall each recording one. Purdy finished 19 of 27 for 127 yards and was held without a touchdown pass. The 49ers’ offense, which entered the game averaging over 27 points per game, was limited to 209 total yards and converted only 4 of 13 third-down attempts.

San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey was held in check, gaining just 23 yards on eight carries and catching six passes for 34 yards. Jauan Jennings led 49ers receivers with four catches for 35 yards. Defensively, safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Renardo Green each had eight tackles for San Francisco, while linebacker Tatum Bethune added seven tackles and a sack.

For Seattle, rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was Darnold’s primary target, hauling in six passes for 84 yards. Safety Nick Emmanwori led all defenders with seven tackles.

The victory improved Seattle’s record to 14 wins and 3 losses, securing the NFC West division title. San Francisco fell to 12 wins and 5 losses, likely settling for a wild-card playoff berth. The game’s low total of 16 points easily went under the pregame over/under line of 47.5, underscoring the defensive nature of the playoff-style contest.