Ranking the Seattle Seahawks' top rivalries of the NFC era

2: San Francisco 49ers

Overall record 29-18 (1-1 in playoffs)

If the Panthers over the NFC West teams didn’t raise an eyebrow, I expect this one will, but I have the San Francisco 49ers as Seattle’s second-biggest rival of the NFC era. 

Why are they not No. 1? Well, it’s important to remember how horrible the 49ers were in the non-Harbaugh/Shanahan eras. There were never any games that had any important stakes, as the Seahawks owned San Francisco for the most part until Kyle Shanahan arrived. 

The Harbaugh versus Carroll era was arguably the most entertaining two-year period in all of sports, not just football. College rivals, two young dynamic quarterbacks, championship defenses, and a physicality that made them the two best teams in football by a mile. 

Best Win - “The Tip”

Nothing more needs to be said other than it was the biggest (in a good way) play in the history of Seattle Seahawks football. Sherman beating Kaepernick and Crabtree to win what ended up clearly being the real Super Bowl. A play we’ll never forget. 

Worst Loss - Dec 29, 2019, 49ers over Seahawks 26-21 (at Seattle) 

Hollister falls one yard short of the division. The win gave the 49ers home-field advantage in the NFC (would go on to win the conference). The loss cost the Seahawks the NFC West and No. 3 seed. With the division title, Seattle would have hosted the Vikings in the Wild Card round and could have played another overrated Saints team on the road in the Divisional round, while the 49ers and Packers would have met in Lambeau.

Could we have seen a few more Marshawn Lynch games and a potential NFC Championship Game in Seattle against San Francisco again?

Honorable Mention - Wild Monday Night Walk-Off in 2019