The Seattle Seahawks have many of the traits of a Super Bowl contender, but their postseason ceiling may ultimately hinge on quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold cooled off late in the season, and his playoff history raises questions about whether he can deliver on the biggest stage. The San Francisco 49ers are keenly aware of that uncertainty and will look to make Darnold the deciding factor in tonight’s Divisional Round matchup.
I forecast plenty of passing from the journeyman QB, which powers my 49ers vs. Seahawks predictions and NFL picks for Saturday, January 19.
Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from Lumen Field in Seattle, with the game airing on FOX.
49ers vs Seahawks prediction
49ers vs Seahawks Best bet: Sam Darnold Over 19.5 completions (-102)
Sam Darnold completed 20 of 26 passes in a Week 18 win over the San Francisco 49ers, in which the Seattle Seahawks went run-heavy.
The Niners demonstrated they could stiffen on the ground in the second half of their Wild Card win at Philadelphia, and will sell out to stop Seattle's rushing attack. That leaves Darnold dropping back more.
He’s completed 20+ passes in four of his last five outings and faces a passive 49ers defense that doesn’t bring pressure and allows the fifth-highest completion rate. His projections range from 19.8 to a ceiling of 22 completions in this game.
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49ers vs Seahawks same-game parlay
A rested and ready Seattle team received a huge boost when the schedule forced a banged-up Niners team to travel in a short week for a Saturday showdown.
Darnold will get plenty of dropbacks and a chance to prove his worth against a passive 49ers pass defense. His projections sit as high as 257 passing yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Darnold’s top target and has snatched 7+ catches in 12 of his 17 games this season.
49ers vs Seahawks SGP (+224)
- Seahawks moneyline
- Sam Darnold Over 237.5 passing yards
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba Over 6.5 receptions
Our big-ticket SGP: Best in the Pacific Northwest!
In a battle between two of the front-runners for Offensive Player of the Year, JSN sees plenty of touches and torches a soft Niners secondary for a touchdown.
With the game script saying San Francisco plays from behind, Christian McCaffrey plays a bigger role as a receiver and keeps the touchdowns coming after striking twice in Philly.
49ers vs Seahawks SGP (+783)
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba anytime touchdown
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba Over 6.5 receptions
- Christian McCaffrey anytime touchdown
- Christian McCaffrey Over 6.5 receptions
49ers vs Seahawks game predictions
49ers vs Seahawks moneyline prediction
The outright price on Seattle is a juicy ask for a reason. Seattle is healthy and beat this Niners team the last time it took the field.
San Francisco continues to battle injuries and now travels to Lumen Field on a short week.
49ers vs Seahawks spread prediction
This spread jumped as high as Seattle -7.5 before buyback on San Francisco showed up.
I can see the appeal in getting that many points, given how good the 49ers looked last weekend and the familiarity — which breeds competition — between these two NFC West foes.
49ers vs Seahawks Over/Under prediction
My first bet of the week was Under 47.5 on this game, and this total has tanked since, slipping as low as 44.5 points.
Points will be a premium, as they often are in the postseason, but tread lightly with any late Under bets as you’re far from the best of the number.
49ers vs Seahawks odds
- Spread: 49ers +7.5 (-110) | Seahawks -7.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: 49ers +280 | Seahawks -360
- Over/Under: Over 45 (-110) | Under 45 (-110)
More NFL picks and odds from Covers
49ers vs Seahawks trend to know
Since becoming Seattle's head coach, Mike Macdonald is 8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS, and owns a 5-7 O/U record against NFC West rivals. Find more NFL betting trends for 49ers vs. Seahawks.
How to watch 49ers vs Seahawks
| Location | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA |
| Date | Saturday, January 17, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX |
49ers vs Seahawks latest injuries
49ers vs Seahawks weather
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