Seahawks vs. 49ers live score, updates, highlights from NFL wild-card playoff game

The 49ers have been labeled as serious contenders for the Lombardi trophy. Now, it’s time to see if they can live up to the hype.

San Fransisco’s playoff campaign gets underway on Saturday as they welcome Seattle to town in an NFC West Wild Card showdown. The Niners enter as heavy favorites over the Seahawks, who snuck into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed despite a late-season losing streak.

Brock Purdy remains the big story in the Bay Area. The rookie quarterback has continued his impressive play since taking over for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13. Christian McCaffrey has also been unstoppable, with touchdowns in his last six games.

That offensive firepower is balanced out by the league’s best defense, which has given up the fewest total yards and points per game to opposing teams this season. Riding a 10-game winning streak, the Niners are arguably the hottest team in football entering the postseason.

MORE: Sporting News’ NFL experts make their playoff, Super Bowl 57 picks

Meanwhile, Seattle is playing with house money after scraping into the playoffs in Week 18. First, they needed a win against the Rams, which they got by the slimmest of margins in a 19-16 overtime victory. Then, they needed the Lions to do them a huge favor and take down the Packers at Lambeau Field. Detroit obliged, winning 20-16 to punch the Seahawks’ ticket to the postseason.

Few would have predicted Pete Carroll’s squad to be in this position at the start of the year, especially after the departure of Russell Wilson to Denver. But Geno Smith has stepped up in a big way and led his team to an unlikely playoff appearance. Now, they’ll travel to the Bay with nothing to lose as they try pull off a shocking upset. 

Follow along as Sporting News tracks all the key moments, highlights and live scoring updates from Seahawks vs. 49ers in the NFL playoffs. 

MORE: Watch Seahawks vs. 49ers on fuboTV (free trial)

Seahawks vs. 49ers score

Seahawks vs. 49ers live updates, highlights from NFL playoffs

(All times Eastern.)

6:01 p.m. — Well, we have a very surprising halftime score in the Bay Area. After falling into a 10-0 hole, the Seahawks have battled back to take an unexpected lead into the locker room. Will they hang on for the upset? Or will the Niners pull this one out?

End of first half: Seahawks 17, 49ers 16

5:58 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Myers’ kick from 56 yards is GOOD! The Seahawks take the lead into halftime! Those points were the direct result off Ward’s boneheaded penalty on the previous play. He really cost his team there. 

Jason Myers from 56 yards to give the @Seahawks the halftime lead! #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/1PGzFZhafy

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

5:56 p.m. — Oh man. With about 5 seconds left in the half, Geno scrambles and harmlessly slides to the turf after a gain of about 10, but Jimmie Ward comes in late and gets flagged an incredibly needless unnecessary roughness penalty. That’ll drive Shanahan crazy. The Seahawks now have a chance at a very long field goal try to retake the lead. 

Jimmie Ward is called for the late hit on a sliding Geno pic.twitter.com/MvjUJ13d6K

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) January 14, 2023

49ers 16, Seahawks 14

5:54 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Gould stays perfect on the day, putting it right down the middle from 46 yards to give San Francisco the lead once again. 

5:53 p.m. — On 3rd and 10, Purdy goes deep to the end zone for Deebo, but the pass is broken up on a great play by cornerback Mike Jackson. That may have saved a touchdown. Still, the 49ers will have a shot at a field goal to take the lead with just seconds left in the first half. 

5:50 p.m. — Purdy has to throw it away on 1st down, setting up 2nd and 10 with 32 seconds remaining. But the rookie lost track of the play clock and Shanahan is forced to burn one of his two remaining timeouts to avoid a delay of game penalty. Sloppy. 

5:49 p.m. — Back-to-back incompletions bring up 3rd and 10 from just over midfield. Purdy drops back and throws left to Deebo, who skips free of his defender and turns the corner for a 1st down!

5:47 p.m. — That’s a very good start! Purdy goes deep over the middle for Aiyuk on 1st down and the catch is made for a big gain of 31 yards!

Big play Aiyuk

3 catches for 73 yards in the first half so far

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/tcVR1LhTHo

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

5:45 p.m. — After Dallas gets stuffed for no gain on 2nd down, they hand it right back to him on 3rd and 8 with the exact same result. Seattle will have to punt, and the Niners will get one last chance to take a halftime lead with 1:15 left on the clock. 

5:42 p.m. TWO-MINUTE WARNING — Metcalf just absolutely bulldozed Charvarius Ward on his way to a 1st down. He’s not messing around today. After a short run by Walker, we’ve reached the two-minute warning. 

5:38 p.m. — No, they can’t. After short gains on 1st and 2nd down, Purdy’s pass on 3rd and 3 misses his intended target, Deebo Samuel. That’s a three-and-out, and suddenly the Seahawks have all the momentum on their side as they try to close out the half with a score. 

5:36 p.m. — What a turnaround in this second quarter. It felt like the 49ers were totally in control early, but they suddenly find themselves trailing with the half winding down. Can they put together a drive here?  

Seahawks 14, 49ers 13

5:34 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — WOW. Out of nothing, the Seahawks are back in the end zone! On 3rd and short, Geno launches one down the left sideline to Metcalf, who smoked his defender and caught it in stride for a 50 yard house call! After the Jason Myers extra point, Seattle has the lead!

GENO TO DK FOR 50 YARDS. @Seahawks take the lead!

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/tNti6PQzGR

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

5:31 p.m. — The sun has come out in Santa Clara as Geno Smith retakes the field. On 2nd and 7, a toss to tight end Noah Fant picks up 11 yards and a first down. 

49ers 13, Seahawks 7

5:28 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Gould connects from 33 yards to make it a 6-point game. But the momentum has definitely shifted slightly towards the Seahawks this quarter. They could take the lead with a touchdown and an extra point on this drive. 

5:27 p.m. — Kyle Shanahan plays it safe and runs a draw play on 3rd and long. It comes up well short of the sticks, so this will be another field goal try for Gould. 

5:25 p.m. — A pass to McCaffrey keeps San Francisco moving with another solid chunk gain of 13 yards. But he’s tripped up for no gain on the next play, then a Bruce Irvin sack on Purdy sets up 3rd and long.  

5:21 p.m. — Oof, just as I say that he makes a bad decision, passing up a wide open Deebo in favor of a deep shot downfield that falls incomplete. However, he bounces back on the next play with a completion to Kittle for 14 yards. This Niners offense is firing on all cylinders right now. 

5:20 p.m. — After McCaffrey loses a couple of yards on 1st down, Purdy scrambles and high steps his way for a gain of 11 to move the chains again. Looks like he’s settling into this game. 

5:18 p.m. — Purdy starts the ensuing 49ers drive in style with a long completion to Aiyuk for a gain of 23 yards! That quickly moves the home team to near midfield.

49ers 10, Seahawks 7

5:15 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — HUGE moment for Seattle! Kenneth Walker caps off a 14-play, 78-yard drive with a touchdown run to the left side! The Seahawks strike back!

.@Kenneth_Walker9 scores his first playoff TD! #Seahawks #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/RaAAuWBat2

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

5:13 p.m. — The drive stays alive after a direct snap to Walker picks up 5 yards on 3rd and short. 

5:11 p.m. — Two inside run plays set up 3rd and 1 for the Seahawks from about the SF 12 yard line. Niners defensive end Charles Omenihu was a little shaken up at the end of that last play, and the trainers will come on to attend to him. 

End of first quarter: 49ers 10, Seahawks 0

5:06 p.m. — On 3rd and 4, Smith throws right to Lockett, who absorbs a big hit and hangs on to move the chains. As the first quarter winds to a close, Seattle has the ball on the edge of the red zone. 

5:05 p.m. — Greenlaw has quickly checked back into this game after his injury. He just made a nice stop on D.J. Dallas on a run up the middle. 

5:04 p.m. — After a pair of handoffs to Walker, Smith steps up and scrambles for a gain of 11 yards to move the ball down to the SF 33 yard line. 

5:01 p.m. — Tyler Lockett makes his first catch of the game on the following play, picking up 7. 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw went down hurt after the play. 

4:59 p.m. — Smith badly overthrows D.K. Metcalf on 2nd down to bring up 3rd and 5. But the Pro Bowl QB goes right back to Metcalf and hits him on a slant route for a gain of 12. That’s Seattle’s first 1st down this game. 

4:58 p.m. — The Seahawks are in desperate need of points, with this game in danger of getting away from them very quickly. Let’s see how Geno and Co. respond. 

49ers 10, Seahawks 0

4:54 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Touchdown Niners! Purdy steps up in the pocket to escape pressure and finds CMC wide open for a walk-in score! All San Francisco early!

.@BrockPurdy13 goes through his progressions and finds @CMC_22 for the TD! #FTTB #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/MnZuTjbYYO

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

4:53 p.m. — Purdy completes a pass over the middle to Elijah Mitchell, who drags a defender down to about the 2-yard line. Big chance to find the end zone here. 

4:51 p.m. — And there goes Christian McCaffrey! He shoots out of a cannon and finds all kinds of room on the left side, surging down the left sideline for a huge gain of nearly 70 yards! 

Playoff CMC 🔥 @CMC_22 #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/c971vGrvVx

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

4:47 p.m. — On 3rd and 2, Geno fakes the handoff and scrambles to his left, but Tashaun Gipson sniffs it out really well and drags him down for a loss! San Francisco’s defense has looked fantastic early in this game. This will be another Seahawks punt. 

4:46 p.m. — A good kickoff return by Godwin Igwebuike sets up solid field position near the Seattle 40 yard line for the Seahawks’ second offensive possession. 

49ers 3, Seahawks 0

4:43 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Despite a shaky snap, the hold is good and Robbie Gould’s kick sails through from 34 yards out to open the scoring. San Francisco strikes first. 

4:41 p.m. — With the 49ers nearing the red zone, a shot to the end zone on 1st and 10 gets broken up. Jauan Jennings was open, but Purdy’s timing was just a tad off on the throw. After Deebo picks up 7 yards on 2nd down, Purdy’s throw on 3rd and 3 goes incomplete. Some playoff jitters from Purdy? He wasn’t at his best on that drive. Field goal attempt upcoming.

4:39 p.m. — There goes Deebo! He turns on the jets on an outside pitch to pick up 22 more yards! 

Don’t let Deebo get hot. @19problemz#FTTB #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/T52jR1Tlgy

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

4:37 p.m. — Purdy takes the field for the first time today, and on the first play of the drive he drops back and way overthrows Deebo Samuel deep over the middle. But on the next play, he connects with Brandon Aiyuk for a gain of 19 to kickstart the drive. 

4:34 p.m. — The first play from scrimmage is a handoff to Kenneth Walker, who powers ahead for a gain of 9 yards. However, on 2nd down he gets stuffed on a run up the middle and loses a couple. On 3rd and short, Geno drops back to throw and gets dragged down for a sack by Arik Armstead! A huge opening series for this ferocious Niners defense! Seattle will have to punt it away. 

The @49ers defense forces a 3-and-out on the opening drive! @arikarmstead #FTTB #SuperWildCard

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/q5h09XXPRd

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

4:32 p.m. — The 49ers will kick it away, with the Seahawks receiving the ball first.  

4:29 p.m. — It’s time to buckle up. The NFL playoffs start right now. 

4:24 p.m. — The Seahawks look hyped up and ready to go. Can they pull off a stunning upset in the first game of this year’s postseason? 

COME ON NOW! pic.twitter.com/38nynfAa4n

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 14, 2023

4:17 p.m. — 49ers tight end George Kittle gets some pregame love from the legendary Jerry Rice.

Jerry Rice is iced out and here to hype up George Kittle 🥶

(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/QRw86Deu24

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 14, 2023

3:51 p.m. — Nick Bosa looks ready to go. 

Smaller bear, bigger stage 💨 @nbsmallerbear

📺: #SEAvsSF — 4:30pm ET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/96NMtTe9OX pic.twitter.com/d9YqW6QPA2

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

3:36 p.m. — One storyline to keep an eye on today is the weather. It’s going to be a very soggy day in Santa Clara, which has been soaked by rain recently as storms continue to batter the West Coast. 

Click here to follow the latest weather updates ahead of kickoff.  

3:08 p.m. — Incredible stats here on rookie sensation Brock Purdy. He will be the first rookie quarterback EVER to start for the Niners. 

Brock Purdy is set to become the first rookie QB to ever start a playoff game for the 49ers.

Purdy is set to become the first rookie QB drafted in the seventh round to start in a playoff game in over 70 YEARS 😳 pic.twitter.com/otapCVvpEg

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 14, 2023

2:28 p.m. — The 49ers haven’t lost a game since October 23rd (44-23 against the Chiefs). Will they keep their winning streak going today and stay alive in the playoffs? 

Can the @49ers extend their win streak into the #NFLPlayoffs?

📺: #SEAvsSF — 4:30pm ET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/7sbhlxdZrg

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2023

Seahawks vs. 49ers start time 

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 14
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT)

The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. local time) from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

The weather forecast calls for soggy conditions, with rain expected throughout the afternoon, and temperatures in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. 

What channel is Seahawks vs. 49ers on today? 

• TV channel (national): Fox
• TV channel (Seattle): KCPQ
• TV channel (San Francisco): KTVU
• TV channels (Canada): TSN1/3/CTV
• Live streams: Bally Sports app | fuboTV (US) | DAZN (Canada)

The Seahawks vs. 49ers matchup will be broadcast nationally on Fox, with Joe Davis (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color commentary) and Pam Oliver (sideline reporting) on the call from the Bay Area. 

In Canada, the game will air on channels TSN1/3/CTV.

Viewers in the United States looking for a live stream can watch on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. Canadian streamers can tune in on DAZN, which carries every NFL game. 

NFL playoff schedule 2023

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 14

Sunday, Jan. 15

Monday, Jan. 16

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 21

Sunday, Jan. 22

Conference championships

Sunday, Jan. 29

Super Bowl 57

Sunday, Feb. 12