The biggest game of Week 18 turned into an absolute massacre.

Seattle's defense suffocated San Francisco in a 13-3 beatdown Saturday night, clinching the NFC West title, the conference's top seed, and home-field advantage through the playoffs. The 49ers looked like they forgot how to play football.

And if you had the under, congratulations. You cashed in spectacular fashion.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Seahawks dominated 49ers 13-3 in winner-take-all NFC West showdown
• The damage: San Francisco managed just 173 total yards - fewest under Kyle Shanahan
• Why you should care: Seattle gets a bye while SF has to travel to Philly
• The move: Seahawks are now +340 Super Bowl favorites, and those odds might be too long

The Numbers Are Brutal

Let's talk about how badly the 49ers got embarrassed:

• 173 total yards - The fewest in any regular-season game under Kyle Shanahan, who became head coach in 2017
• Brock Purdy: 127 passing yards, 1 INT
• Christian McCaffrey: 23 rushing yards on 8 carries
• Third-down conversions: 3-of-13

Seattle's defense didn't just win this game - they broke San Francisco's spirit. The Seahawks held the 49ers scoreless in the second half, turning what was supposed to be a shootout into a clinic.

The Seattle Ground Game Dominated

While the defense stole headlines, the Seahawks' running game sealed the deal. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for 171 rushing yards and a touchdown on 33 carries.

Charbonnet's 27-yard TD run in the first quarter set the tone. Seattle came out punching, and San Francisco never recovered.

Sam Darnold didn't need to be spectacular - he just needed to manage the game. He went 20-of-26 for 198 yards with no touchdowns but, critically, no turnovers. When your defense holds an opponent to three points, that's all you need from your quarterback.

Betting Recap

The Seahawks closed as -2.5 favorites, and they covered by 7.5 points. If you followed our preview, you know we liked Seattle's moneyline. That cashed easily.

The over/under was 47.5, and the game finished with 16 total points. Under bettors are doing backflips. The 49ers' injuries on defense were supposed to lead to points, but Seattle's run-first approach killed clock and limited possessions.

The Seahawks are now 10-1 SU and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games. That's the hottest team in football entering the playoffs.

What This Means for the Playoffs

Seattle gets the NFC's #1 seed, which means:

• First-round bye (no Wild Card game)
• Home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs
• If they reach the Super Bowl, they'll have played one fewer game than their opponent

The 49ers fall to the #5 seed and must travel to Philadelphia for Wild Card weekend. Given how they looked Saturday, that's going to be a brutal matchup.

The Wild Card lines just dropped, and the Eagles are -3.5 favorites against San Francisco. After that 173-yard performance, the sharps are going to hammer Philly.

Sam Darnold's Resurrection Is Complete

Remember when Sam Darnold "saw ghosts" in New York? When everyone wrote him off as a bust? The man just led Seattle to the NFC's top seed.

Darnold finished the regular season with 4,200+ passing yards and a 28:9 TD:INT ratio. He won over the locker room, the fan base, and a coaching staff that trusted him with the franchise.

Now he gets a week off to rest while everyone else beats the hell out of each other in Wild Card games. That's the reward for being the best team in the conference.

Historical Context

This is the fourth time in franchise history that the Seahawks have earned the NFC's top seed. The previous three times (2005, 2013, 2014), Seattle made it to the Super Bowl.

That's a hell of a stat heading into January.

The Bottom Line

Saturday night was a statement game. The Seahawks didn't just beat the 49ers - they dominated them in a way that sends a message to the entire conference.

Seattle's defense is championship-caliber. Their running game can control the clock against anyone. And Sam Darnold has proven he can manage high-stakes games without making costly mistakes.

The NFC runs through Seattle. And right now, that feels like exactly where it should.

Seahawks Super Bowl tickets are on sale. The way they're playing, those might be the best investment in sports.