The Seattle Seahawks would likely rather the San Francisco 49ers not have any built-in excuses for losing at Lumen Field on Saturday in the Divisional Round. Sure, a wounded team can be a dangerous one, but Seattle should be able to take care of business as long as turnovers are kept to a minimum.
The 49ers lost tight end George Kittle to an Achilles tendon tear against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round, and he will obviously be out for the rest of the playoffs (which hopefully only lasts one game for San Francisco), and probably much of next season too. That's a big hit to the 49ers' offense.
But San Francisco is also very unlikely to get one of their best defensive players back for Saturday's game. Linebacker Fred Warner broke and dislocated an ankle in Week 6, and the assumption initially was that he could not return until 2026. That part has potentially changed.
San Francisco 49ers very unlikely to have linebacker Fred Warner against the Seattle Seahawks
The four-time First-Team All-Pro is seemingly on the verge of returning, but only if the 49ers reach the NFC Championship game, and that means beating the Seahawks in the Divisional Round. When asked if Warner might return against Seattle, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan responded by saying that chances are "not very high."
While that doesn't rule Warner out completely (after all, he is already on track to return sooner than most expected), it sure sounds like he won't return. He is the kind of disruptive linebacker that Bobby Wagner was for years for the Seahawks, and the fact that the 49ers have succeeded without him and edge rusher Nick Bosa is incredible.
Still, even if San Francisco were healthy, the Seattle Seahawks should be at least their equal. The 49ers defeated Seattle in Week 1, but only after a late fumble by quarterback Sam Darnold as Seattle was driving for a potential game-winning touchdown. Both teams were mostly healthy then.
The Week 18 matchup wasn't as close as the score. Seattle won 13-3, but doubled the 49ers in total yards and controlled time of possession. Except for two missed field goals by kicker Jason Myers and a failed first drive by the Seahawks, the game could have easily been along the lines of 27-10.
The San Francisco 49ers will be a dangerous foe for the Seahawks in the Divisional Round. Many players on the 49ers have won playoff games before, while many Seattle players have yet to prove themselves in the postseason. Now is their chance against a banged-up 49ers team.