{"id":12796,"date":"2026-01-04T03:05:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T03:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/seahawks-49ers-charbonnet-td\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T03:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T03:05:23","slug":"seahawks-49ers-charbonnet-td","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/seahawks-49ers-charbonnet-td\/","title":{"rendered":"Live: Seahawks take 7-0 lead over 49ers on Charbonnet rushing TD"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>In the Week 18 regular-season finale at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday night, the Seattle Seahawks built an early lead over the San Francisco 49ers in a high-stakes NFC West showdown. Seattle opened with a drive that stalled at the 1-yard line, then struck on a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Zach Charbonnet to go up 7-0. Jason Myers missed a 47-yard attempt but later converted a 45-yard field goal; San Francisco responded with a 48-yard Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro field goal before halftime. As of late in the third quarter the Seahawks led 10-3, with Seattle\u2019s run game and defense controlling much of the game.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Score\/setting: Seahawks lead 10-3 late in the third quarter at Levi\u2019s Stadium; the game decides the NFC West champion and the NFC\u2019s No. 1 seed.<\/li>\n<li>Early drives: Seattle\u2019s opening drive reached the 1-yard line but ended with a turnover on downs; the second possession produced Zach Charbonnet\u2019s 27-yard TD.<\/li>\n<li>Rushing dominance: Seattle held a 115-23 advantage in rushing yards through the first half and led about 196-69 in total yards at halftime.<\/li>\n<li>Third-down battle: San Francisco entered the week leading the NFL in third-down conversions (51%); through the first half they were 0-for-3 against a Seattle defense that ranks among the league leaders in stopping third downs.<\/li>\n<li>Kicker milestones: Jason Myers missed a 47-yard attempt (his first miss since Nov. 16) but later made a 45-yarder and sits among kickers with 40+ field goals in a season.<\/li>\n<li>Injuries\/lineup: Seahawks LT Josh Jones, listed questionable, played and later went to the tent after a right-leg roll-up; 49ers LT Trent Williams was inactive, replaced by Austen Pleasants.<\/li>\n<li>Playoff consequences: Winner earns the NFC West title and No. 1 seed with a first-round bye; the loser would drop to the 5-seed and travel for a wild-card game next weekend.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>This Week 18 matchup on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2026, carried outsized importance: the winner would claim the NFC West crown and the conference&#8217;s No. 1 seed, earning a bye into the divisional round. Both franchises entered the game with playoff berths already secured, but seeding and home-field advantages were still at stake. Seattle sought its first division title since 2020 and the franchise\u2019s fourth No. 1 seed historically; San Francisco aimed to protect home-field hopes and the advantage of higher seeding for its postseason push.<\/p>\n<p>The game also featured roster storylines that shaped expectations. San Francisco was missing veteran left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring), a significant absence for an offensive line that had been tested by injuries. Seattle countered with Josh Jones stepping in at left tackle after Charles Cross was ruled out with a hamstring injury; Jones\u2019s availability was monitored closely during pregame warmups. Coaches and media framed the matchup as a classic clash of Seattle\u2019s revitalized running game and defensive front against San Francisco\u2019s high-powered offense led by Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>The Seahawks received the ball to begin the game after the 49ers won the toss and deferred. Seattle\u2019s first drive reached the 1-yard line following a pass-interference call but stalled when Sam Darnold was sacked and the Seahawks declined to kick on fourth-and-goal, turning it over on downs from the 4. The decision set up a dramatic sequence: two plays later, Seattle forced a three-and-out, gained excellent field position and turned it into a three-play touchdown drive.<\/p>\n<p>Zach Charbonnet finished that sequence with a 27-yard rushing touchdown to give Seattle a 7-0 lead with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Seattle continued to run effectively, and the first half statistics reflected the physical nature of their attack: a dominant advantage on the ground and a higher yards-per-play mark. Jason Myers had a rare miss from 47 yards early in the second quarter but rebounded with a 45-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 10-0.<\/p>\n<p>San Francisco finally put points on the board with Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro\u2019s 48-yard field goal just before halftime, cutting the deficit to 10-3. Through the first half the 49ers struggled to generate chunk plays: Christian McCaffrey had only nine touches and 38 scrimmage yards through two quarters and part of the third, well below his recent production. Seattle\u2019s defense continued to apply pressure in the second half: Jarran Reed recorded a sack on Brock Purdy and the 49ers repeatedly faced short-yardage and third-down challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Injury developments included Josh Jones being rolled up on mid-third-quarter play after pre-existing ankle and knee issues; he walked to the medical tent but was replaced on the line by Amari Kight, a recent elevation from the practice squad. For San Francisco, Austen Pleasants continued to fill in at left tackle for the inactive Trent Williams, a substitution with clear matchup implications for the game\u2019s tempo and pass-protection battles.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>At this stage, Seattle\u2019s approach \u2014 leaning on the run and winning the line of scrimmage \u2014 has been effective both to control the clock and to blunt San Francisco\u2019s offensive rhythm. The Seahawks\u2019 ground attack (115 first-half rushing yards) not only produced the game\u2019s first touchdown but also set up manageable third-down situations, improving long-term offensive efficiency for the team. If Seattle sustains that identity into the fourth quarter, it will limit Brock Purdy\u2019s possessions and the 49ers\u2019 ability to mount a comeback.<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, Seattle\u2019s game plan to take away big plays has paid dividends: San Francisco entered the week as the league leader in third-down conversions, yet the 49ers were held without a third-down conversion in several early series. Winning that matchup mitigates San Francisco\u2019s playmaking weapons and forces longer drives, which increases the Seahawks\u2019 opportunities to win the time-of-possession battle. The performance to this point suggests Seattle\u2019s defensive front and corner rotation have found the right mix to handle Green Bay-style pressure on intermediate routes.<\/p>\n<p>For the 49ers, the absence of Trent Williams and a limited Christian McCaffrey workload indicate two layers of stress: protection issues that affect the pocket for Purdy and a diminished ground complement that usually opens the play-action passing game. San Francisco will need to adjust play calling to create quick passes and take advantage of mismatches in space if they hope to overcome Seattle\u2019s front. Conversely, a Seattle inability to convert red-zone opportunities \u2014 the opening-drive turnover on downs is a cautionary example \u2014 could leave points off the board and invite a late comeback.<\/p>\n<p>Playoff ramifications remain straightforward but consequential. The winner secures the NFC West title and a first-round bye; the loser drops to the 5-seed and must travel for a wild-card game next weekend, with the specific opponent (Carolina or Tampa Bay) dependent on the NFC South outcome. That reality increases the margin for error for both coaching staffs: conservative play to avoid turnovers may be as important as aggressive attempts to close out the opponent.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Seahawks<\/th>\n<th>49ers<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Total yards (1H)<\/td>\n<td>196<\/td>\n<td>69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rushing yards (1H)<\/td>\n<td>115<\/td>\n<td>23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yards-per-play (1H)<\/td>\n<td>5.8<\/td>\n<td>3.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Score (late 3Q)<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Context: the Seahawks\u2019 115 rushing yards in the first half matched their best early-season ground production and followed recent games of 163 and 171 rushing yards over the prior two weeks. San Francisco\u2019s 23 first-half rushing yards underline how Seattle\u2019s front has contained Christian McCaffrey and limited the run-to-pass balance that typically fuels the 49ers\u2019 offense. These box-score edges explain why Seattle leads despite some red-zone miscues.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Coaches and beat writers framed the game around execution and seizing matchup advantages; the tone among Seattle\u2019s reporters emphasized the defense\u2019s control and the offense\u2019s effectiveness on the ground.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;It should be 10-0 Seattle at the very least,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Tim Booth, reporter<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That assessment followed multiple missed opportunities on Seattle\u2019s opening drive and highlights how early-game decisions\u2014like going for it at the 4-yard line\u2014shaped the scoreboard despite Seattle\u2019s statistical dominance.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He was making progress,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Mike Macdonald, Seahawks coach (on Josh Jones)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Coach Macdonald\u2019s comment during the week explained Jones\u2019s activation and clarified why the team trusted him to start at left tackle despite ankle and knee questions.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We\u2019ve contained the chunk plays so far,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Chris Cole, sideline reporter<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Reporters pointed to sustained defensive pressure and disciplined tackling as reasons San Francisco struggled to produce explosive gains against Seattle\u2019s unit.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: how a Week 18 division-decider affects playoff seeding<\/summary>\n<p>The NFC West winner receives the conference\u2019s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, which grants two fewer playoff rounds and home-field advantage through the divisional round. The loser of this game would become the No. 5 seed and travel to a wild-card game next weekend, facing the NFC South champion (either Tampa Bay or Carolina, depending on Sunday\u2019s result). Tiebreakers across divisions can be complex\u2014head-to-head records, division records and conference records are used in sequence\u2014but in this matchup the outcome directly determines the No. 1 seed for the NFC.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Long-term status of Josh Jones: he walked to the tent after being rolled up on his right leg; final imaging and an official timetable for his return are pending.<\/li>\n<li>Trent Williams recovery timeline: Williams was inactive with a hamstring injury; the precise recovery window and whether he will be available in the divisional round (if San Francisco advances) remain unclear.<\/li>\n<li>Exact wild-card opponent for the Seahawks if they lose: while the loser becomes the No. 5 seed, the precise opponent (Carolina or Tampa Bay) depends on the NFC South outcome on Sunday and subsequent tiebreakers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Seattle\u2019s game plan\u2014dominate on the ground, control third downs defensively and limit San Francisco\u2019s big plays\u2014has produced a lead and clear statistical advantages. The early turnover on downs at the 1-yard line is a reminder that red-zone execution still matters; if Seattle converts those chances consistently, the margin for late-game variance shrinks dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>For the 49ers, adjustments to protect Brock Purdy and more creative ways to involve Christian McCaffrey are urgent priorities as they try to overturn the deficit. The absence of Trent Williams and San Francisco\u2019s inability so far to make explosive gains put additional pressure on play calling and personnel adjustments. With playoff seeding on the line, both teams must balance risk and conservatism down the stretch to secure the outcome that best positions them for January\u2019s postseason.<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/sports\/seahawks\/seahawks-49ers-live-updates-scores-how-to-watch-nfc-west-title-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Seattle Times<\/a> \u2014 media coverage and live updates (primary source for in-game reporting)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seahawks.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> \u2014 official team communications and roster status (team site)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.49ers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a> \u2014 official team communications and inactive list (team site)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN\/ABC<\/a> \u2014 broadcast partner and game coverage (broadcaster)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL.com<\/a> \u2014 official league statistics and game summaries (official league)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the Week 18 regular-season finale at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday night, the Seattle Seahawks built an early lead over the San Francisco 49ers in a high-stakes NFC West showdown. Seattle opened with a drive that stalled at the 1-yard line, then struck on a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Zach Charbonnet to &#8230; <a title=\"Live: Seahawks take 7-0 lead over 49ers on Charbonnet rushing TD\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/seahawks-49ers-charbonnet-td\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Live: Seahawks take 7-0 lead over 49ers on Charbonnet rushing TD\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Seahawks take early lead vs. 49ers \u2014 SportsBeat","rank_math_description":"Live: Seahawks lead 10-3 late in the third after Zach Charbonnet\u2019s 27-yard TD in the NFC West finale at Levi\u2019s Stadium. Read live updates, analysis and injury notes.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Seahawks,49ers,Zach Charbonnet,NFC West,Jason Myers","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}