Christian McCaffrey is one touchdown away from NFL playoff history.
The San Francisco 49ers running back has scored in all eight of his career playoff appearances. If he finds the end zone Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, he will tie Thurman Thomas for the most consecutive postseason games with a touchdown in NFL history.
Thomas set the record with a nine-game streak from 1992 to 1998. McCaffrey’s current run places him alongside Emmitt Smith and John Stallworth, who each scored in eight straight playoff games during their careers.
The milestone is within reach. And based on how McCaffrey has performed throughout his playoff career, it feels inevitable.
If CMC scores on Saturday in Seattle, he will tie Thurman Thomas for the most consecutive NFL postseason games with a TD.
Christian McCaffrey’s Playoff Scoring Streak
GettyChristian McCaffrey stepped up in the 49ers’ win over the Eagles.
McCaffrey has been one of the NFL’s most consistent playoff performers.
He has scored in every postseason game he has played. That streak includes multiple touchdown performances, clutch fourth-quarter scores, and production both on the ground and through the air.
His latest playoff outing against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round showed exactly why the milestone feels inevitable. McCaffrey caught six passes for 66 yards and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. He added 48 rushing yards on 15 carries, once again serving as the centerpiece of San Francisco’s offense.
The 49ers leaned on him when it mattered most. He delivered. That has been the story of his entire postseason career.
Now, he has a chance to tie one of the most impressive playoff records in NFL history. And he gets that opportunity against a Seattle defense that has been the league’s best all season.
The Challenge Awaiting McCaffrey in Seattle
The Seahawks enter Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup as the NFC’s top seed.
Seattle finished the regular season 14-3 and allowed just 17.2 points per game, the lowest mark in the NFL. Under head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks have built their success around a disciplined, physical defense that does not give up easy scores.
McCaffrey has faced Seattle twice already this season. The results have been mixed.
In Week 1, the 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13 in Seattle. McCaffrey was productive but not dominant. In Week 18, Seattle held San Francisco to just three points in a 13-3 victory at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers’ offense struggled to generate anything against Seattle’s defense, and McCaffrey was limited in his opportunities.
Saturday’s game will be different. The stakes are higher. The margin for error is gone. And McCaffrey has shown throughout his career that he elevates his game in the postseason.
But Seattle will make him earn it. The Seahawks’ defense has been effective at limiting explosive plays and forcing offenses to execute in the red zone. McCaffrey will need to find ways to create yards after contact and capitalize on the opportunities that come his way.
Why McCaffrey’s Role Is Even Bigger for the 49ers Now
McCaffrey has always been the focal point of San Francisco’s offense.
But his role has expanded even further following the loss of tight end George Kittle, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the Wild Card Round. Kittle’s absence removes one of Brock Purdy‘s most trusted targets and forces the 49ers to lean even more heavily on McCaffrey in both the run game and the passing game.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has built his offense around versatility and mismatches. McCaffrey provides both. He can line up in the backfield, split out wide, or work out of the slot. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways makes him nearly impossible to game-plan against.
Against Philadelphia, McCaffrey caught six passes and scored two receiving touchdowns. That dual-threat ability will be critical against Seattle. The Seahawks will focus on stopping the run, which should create opportunities for McCaffrey in the passing game. If Seattle drops coverage to take away the short passing game, McCaffrey will need to make plays on the ground.
The 49ers need him to be productive in both areas. And if history is any indication, he will be.
What Tying the Record Would Mean
Tying Thurman Thomas’ record would place McCaffrey among the greatest playoff performers in NFL history.
Thomas was a Hall of Famer who dominated for the Buffalo Bills during their Super Bowl run in the early 1990s. Smith and Stallworth are also Hall of Famers who defined playoff excellence during their careers. McCaffrey joining that group would cement his legacy as one of the most reliable postseason scorers the league has ever seen.
The record is not just about individual achievement. It reflects McCaffrey’s ability to deliver when the stakes are highest. Playoff football is different. Defenses are better. Mistakes are magnified. And the margin for error is slim.
McCaffrey has consistently found ways to score in those environments. Eight straight games with a touchdown is not luck. It is a testament to his preparation, versatility, and ability to execute under pressure.
If he scores Saturday, he will tie the record. If the 49ers continue their playoff run and McCaffrey scores again in the NFC Championship, he will break it.
Final Word for the 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is one touchdown away from tying NFL playoff history.
The Seahawks’ defense will make it difficult. Seattle has been the best scoring defense in the league all season, and the 49ers managed just three points against them in Week 18. But McCaffrey has shown throughout his career that he performs at his best when the stakes are highest.
Saturday at Lumen Field, he will have another chance to prove it. The 49ers need him to deliver. And if he does, he will join Thurman Thomas, Emmitt Smith, and John Stallworth as one of the most prolific playoff scorers in NFL history.
49ers’ Christian McCaffrey Can Make Massive NFL History Saturday