SEATTLE (Interstat) — A bitter NFC West rivalry reaches its zenith Saturday when the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL playoff game at Lumen Field. The divisional-round matchup, set for Jan. 17, 2026, features two of the conference’s top contenders, with the Seahawks (14-3) holding home-field advantage over the visiting 49ers (13-5).

The teams split their regular-season meetings, setting the stage for a rubber match with a trip to the NFC championship game on the line. San Francisco won 17-13 in Seattle in Week 1, but the Seahawks returned the favor with a decisive 13-3 victory in Santa Clara just two weeks ago.

That recent result looms large. Seattle’s defense stifled 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, holding him to 127 passing yards. Purdy, however, has been prolific elsewhere, throwing for 10 touchdowns over his other three most recent games, including a 262-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 23-19 wild-card win at Philadelphia last week. His connection with versatile running back Christian McCaffrey remains the engine of San Francisco’s offense.

The Seahawks counter with a surging Sam Darnold, who managed the recent win over the 49ers efficiently and has led a balanced attack. Seattle’s ground game, featuring Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, who scored in the last meeting, is central to its formula. The Seahawks have won 10 of their last 11 games.

History adds another layer. The 49ers have endured playoff heartbreak in Seattle before, most notably in the 2013 NFC championship game. The venue, one of the league’s loudest, provides a distinct edge for the home team.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Seattle is projected to advance with a 30-24 victory. To prove that prediction wrong, the 49ers must solve a Seahawks defense that has confounded them recently, while Seattle will aim to control the clock and tempo, leveraging its home crowd to secure a spot in the conference final.