The Seattle Seahawks haven't played a playoff game in three seasons, but head coach Mike Macdonald was successful in his first season in 2024, as the team was the only one with double-digit victories not to make the postseason. Those issues didn't last into 2025.
In fact, Seattle finished tied for the best record in the NFL and is the top seed in the NFC. That means home-field advantage as long as the team can stay in the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl. The biggest question for the Divisional Round game against the San Francisco is whether quarterback Sam Darnold will play.
Darnold suffered an oblique injury in practice just days before the 49ers game, and was listed as questionable on Seattle's final injury report. The QB said he fully expects to play and said there was a closer to zero percent chance that he wouldn't go.
Will Sam Darnold be ready as the Seattle Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round?
Macdonald said as much on Friday when speaking to the media. The coach echoed that his quarterback felt ready, and unless something unexpected happened and an aggravation of the injury, the quarterback would play. The slightly worrisome part is that Macdonald did evoke the name of Drew Lock when speaking about Macdonald.
Lock is the backup to Darnold and an experienced quarterback. No one would expect Lock to be as efficient in leading the Seahawks' offense as Darnold, however. Reasons exist that Darnold is a starting quarterback in the NFL and Lock has been a backup for several years: Darnold is the better player.
The Seattle Seahawks are still going to do tests on Sam Darnold on Saturday before the game, and the QB didn't test his throwing motion on Friday, though that was only a walk-through, and there would have been no active practicing. Darnold was seen throwing underhand after the walk-through.
While this article will be updated with the latest information closer to the game, 12s should expect Darnold to be behind center and ready to play. Only if something happens to him during the game will Drew Lock take over. Of course, as long as the Seahawks defense remains dominant, it makes whoever is playing quarterback's job much easier.
The kickoff between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will be at 5 pm PT on Saturday, January 17. The winner will take on whoever is the victor in the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams game in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, January 25. If Seattle beats San Francisco, the NFC Championship game will be held at Lumen Field.