San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks Tips - NFL Divisional Round

Seattle are tipped to advance, but San Francisco are built to keep this close once again.

These divisional rivals meet for the third time this season and both regular-season matchups followed the same script: low scoring, defensive pressure, and little separation on the scoreboard. Expect more of the same at Lumen Field.

Seattle earned the No.1 seed behind the league’s best defence. They held San Francisco to just three points in Week 18, erased Christian McCaffrey on the ground and intercepted Brock Purdy twice. Over their last six games, five opponents have been held under 17 points, reinforcing Seattle’s ability to control tempo in playoff environments.

San Francisco’s defence is why the +7.5 holds value. They tightened up significantly last week in Philadelphia, holding the Eagles to 19 points, limiting Jalen Hurts to 168 passing yards and keeping the run game under four yards per carry. That discipline matters after Seattle’s last win featured more broken tackles than clean rushing lanes.

With touchdowns hard to come by, this shapes as another grinding, field-position battle. If Seattle are protecting a narrow lead late, Zach Charbonnet becomes central to the game plan as the Seahawks lean into their physical run game. That also keeps the clock moving and reinforces the Under.

Seattle should do enough to move on, but San Francisco are good enough defensively to stay inside the number.

Seattle are the better team, but these matchups rarely blow out. San Francisco’s defence keeps this within reach.

Both regular-season meetings went Under and playoff intensity only tightens scoring further.

Charbonnet’s workload spikes when Seattle are protecting leads and chewing clock late.

With red-zone chances limited, field goals should play a decisive role.

Seattle’s ground game sets the tone when they’re ahead. San Francisco were better positioned defensively last week and must limit broken tackles to keep this close.