The Seattle Seahawks are set to take on the 49ers on Saturday in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. It’ll be the third meeting this season between the two NFC West rivals, after splitting the two in-season meetings. All the way back in Week 1, the 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13. But Seattle got their revenge in Week 18, beating San Francisco 13-3 to lock up the division title and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Seahawks enjoyed a first-round bye as they watched the chaos unfold around the league during wildcard weekend. Meanwhile, the No. 6 seed 49ers traveled to Philadelphia and knocked off the Eagles to advance to this rematch. Both previous games between these teams have been low-scoring affairs led by their defenses, so it seems reasonable to expect more of the same on Saturday.
The Seattle Seahawks’ Rookie Class Ranked Oddly Low by ESPN
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Nick Emmanwori #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after a interception during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A big reason for the Seahawks’ success this season is their rookie class. After having one of the worst offensive lines in football last season, Seattle drafted North Dakota State OT Grey Zabel in the first round and moved him inside to guard, where he’s thrived. On defense, second-round S Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina transformed what Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald can do on that side of the ball.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz ranked every rookie class in the NFL. The Seahawks came in at No. 19, with Schatz praising the impact that Zabel and Emmanwori had, while dinging Seattle for the lack of depth in their class.
“First-rounder Grey Zabel started all 17 games at left guard,” Schatz wrote. “He led all guards with an 83.0% run block win rate when no other guard was above 80%, but he had a below-average pass block win rate of 89.9%. The other major addition for the Seahawks was second-round pick Nick Emmanwori. Nominally a safety, Emmanwori actually bounced between linebacker and slot cornerback. His ability to play the run allowed the Seahawks to constantly stay in nickel personnel, even on clear run downs. Emmanwori finished the season with 81 combined tackles, 11 passes defensed and 2.5 sacks.”
“None of the other Seattle rookies played more than 13 games,” continued Schatz. “Tight end Elijah Arroyo, another second-round selection, finished the season with just 15 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. Fifth-round wide receiver Tory Horton had 13 catches for 161 yards and a surprising five touchdowns in just eight games. Fifth-round fullback Robbie Ouzts was an important part of the run game but didn’t catch a pass.”
The Seattle Seahawks Face a Tough Task in Rematch with the 49ers
The Seahawks scored just 13 points in both meetings with the 49ers this season. In Week 1, they weren’t able to shut down San Francisco’s offense, giving up 17 points in a loss. In Week 18, Seattle effectively shut off the water to the 49ers, holding them to three points in a victory.
In order to repeat that Week 18 performance, the Seahawks defense will need to do what they’ve done all season long: play aggressive, swarming defense and create big plays. It would help, too, if Seattle’s offense got a little more traction on Saturday.
Seahawks Rookies Receive Surprising Ranking From ESPN