Seahawks Make Announcement After NFL Delivers Final Crucial Decision Regarding Playoff Matchup With 49ers

Seattle, Washington – January 12, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks didn’t need to manufacture noise. The noise found them — delivered by the NFL’s final, decisive call.

After the league finalized the Divisional Round schedule, the Seattle Seahawks officially confirmed that their home playoff matchup against the San Francisco 49ers will be moved to national television, a clear signal that the NFL wants fans across the country tuned in to Seattle at the most critical moment of the season.

The game is set for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle — the Seahawks’ home stadium after securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Under the NFL’s current windows, kickoff will be either 4:30 PM ET or 8:00 PM ET, pending the league’s final announcement (typically determined after the preceding Monday Night game). For viewers on the West Coast, that translates to 1:30 PM PT or 5:00 PM PT.

Moving the game to a national broadcast is about more than scheduling. League sources indicate the NFL wants to ensure fans nationwide can watch the Seahawks, because this is far from a routine Divisional Round matchup. By elevating Seattle to a premier national slot, the league has turned this contest into the central stage of the NFC playoffs — a game with direct implications for the road to the Super Bowl.

The stakes are unmistakable. This is a high-voltage NFC West rematch, the third meeting between the rivals this season. Seattle dropped the opener, then defeated San Francisco in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. The rubber match now decides far more than divisional pride.

Broadcast plans remain TBD, but the matchup is expected to air on FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, or Peacock, with FOX and NBC viewed as the leading candidates for an NFC playoff showcase. Regardless of the network, the NFL’s message is unmistakable: this is not just another playoff game — it’s the NFC’s main event.

For the Seahawks, the announcement carries added weight. It marks the first home playoff game of the Mike Macdonald era, played under the brightest national spotlight. Familiarity with the 49ers offers no comfort; if anything, it magnifies every mistake when the entire country is watching.

The NFL’s decision also eliminates any remaining uncertainty around timing, allowing Seattle to lock into full game-week mode — fine-tuning routines, recovery, and game plans with a known opponent and a known stage.

The league wants America watching Seattle.
The league wants the NFC paying attention.

And now, with the lights fully on at Lumen Field, the Seahawks understand exactly what this moment demands: you don’t just play to win — you play to establish who you are in front of the entire NFL.