Seattle earned back-to-back TD drives - the first going 78 yards on 14 plays with six first downs - to take the lead. After forcing back-to-back three-and-outs to open the game, San Francisco's defense let the Seahawks move the ball in the second quarter. The second-half struggles on both sides of the ball sunk Seattle, but Smith played well enough on balance to show why the Seahawks want to keep him in 2023. No other Seahawks player hit the 40-yard mark. After getting slowed in the first two meetings, the wideout went for 136 yards and two TDs on 10 catches. Smith's connection with Metcalf was sublime. As things began to unravel, Geno tossed an interception that led to more San Francisco points. The lost points turned the tide as the Niners converted the turnover into a two-score lead. But trailing by six deep in the third quarter, Smith fumbled in scoring range on a strip-sack. Smith managed the game well, making pinpoint passes, avoiding pressure, and moving the chains. When he got a shot, he took it, hitting DK Metcalf in stride on a 50-yard touchdown that gave Seattle a first-half lead. The veteran QB played with aplomb early, getting the ball out quickly before the rush could get home. Not a bad start for the 262nd pick in the draft. Purdy became the first rookie QB with four total TDs in a playoff game. Even with the misses, Purdy generated 332 passing yards on 18-of-30 passing with three TDs and added a rushing score. When the rookie steps up in the pocket, he remains dangerous and did a solid job getting through his reads. Purdy showed improvisation when the play breaks down that Jimmy Garoppolo simply doesn't. He bounced back in the second half, hitting targets in stride over the middle and converting big third downs when the game was close. The first two quarters were about as bad as we've seen Purdy play since taking over under center. The seventh-round pick looked like a rookie in the first half, repeatedly throwing behind targets, holding the ball a spell too long, bailing backward too often, and missing passes in the red zone. Brock Purdy starts slow but passes first postseason test.If not for red zone futility in the first half (1/3), it would have been an earlier blowout in Santa Clara. After a pass-heavy first half, San Francisco ground down the Seahawks' defense after halftime and took advantage of play action to dominate the game. The Niners rolled up 505 total yards and 24 first downs, punting once all game. The star wideout blew the game open with a 74-yard fourth-quarter TD in which he screamed down the field for 67 yards after the catch. Deebo Samuel looked like vintage Deebo, eating up poor Seahawks tackling efforts to move the chains on third downs. Christian McCaffrey once again proved his worth, scampering for 119 yards on 15 carries, including a massive 68-yard gallop in the first half, and adding a TD catch.

The big names played like it for the Niners. San Francisco scored 25 straight points in the second half to turn a nailbiter into a demolition. Trailing 17-16 at halftime, the Niners quit playing with their food and gobbled up Seattle to sprint away with a wild-card victory. 49ers run away from Seahawks as stars shine in The Bay.

Seahawk 49ers score