The climax of the NFL regular season is set for a dramatic finale, headlined by a colossal winner-takes-all confrontation in the NFC West. On Saturday, 7 September 2025, the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) will travel to face the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) at Lumen Field, with the conference's coveted No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye on the line.
West Coast Showdown Decides NFC Supremacy
Both franchises enter this high-stakes Saturday night showdown in scintillating form, each riding a six-game winning streak. The tension is palpable, as a defeat would force the loser to forfeit a week of rest and embark on a difficult wildcard road trip. While other final-week fixtures will decide the last playoff berths, this clash between the NFC's elite is the undisputed game of the week.
The season's first meeting between these bitter rivals was a tense, low-scoring affair, with San Francisco edging a 17-13 victory. The game was ultimately sealed by a last-gasp strip-sack from 49ers star Nick Bosa, snuffing out a late Seattle comeback. That result adds an extra layer of intrigue to this decisive rematch.
Seahawks' Formula: Defence and Deep Threat
Seattle's path to victory appears straightforward: trust a defence that has been among the league's best. The unit has conceded just 18.1 points per game this season, the second-fewest in the NFL, and their 44 sacks rank eighth overall. This fierce pass rush could exploit a potentially vulnerable 49ers offensive line, with future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.
Offensively, the Seahawks can afford to play with confidence. The 49ers' secondary has been unusually generous, managing a mere six interceptions all season. The key will be utilising the deep threat of receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba to open up the field, while relying on the potent running back duo of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. In the season opener, San Francisco's defence successfully contained them, holding Charbonnet to 47 yards and Walker to just 20.
49ers' Mission: Stop the Run, Pressure Darnold
For the 49ers, the game plan must start with stifling Seattle's ground attack. Run defence has been the most consistent strength of their unit, and a repeat of their week one performance is essential. The larger concern is a pass rush that has been abysmal without Nick Bosa, generating a league-worst 18 sacks. For context, the Denver Broncos lead the league with 64.
This lack of pressure is critical when facing Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who leads the NFL with 20 interceptions. San Francisco must sell out to stop the run, forcing Seattle to place the burden of securing the No. 1 seed squarely on Darnold's shoulders—a daunting prospect for a quarterback known to retreat under the spotlight, as evidenced in last season's wildcard loss to the Rams.
Playoff Picture: Texans Surge, Rams Slide
Elsewhere in the league, the Houston Texans are the NFL's form team, riding a league-best eight-game winning streak to an 11-5 record. Led by quarterback CJ Stroud and a ferocious defence, they remain strangely under the radar as Super Bowl contenders. They can still clinch the AFC South if they beat the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars lose.
In stark contrast, the Los Angeles Rams' season is unravelling. Successive defeats have seen them fall from the top of the NFC West to the sixth seed. Their offence has stalled badly in the absence of key players like receiver Davante Adams, and quarterback Matthew Stafford's MVP hopes evaporated after a three-interception performance against Atlanta. Their playoff hopes now hinge on beating the Arizona Cardinals and hoping Seattle defeats San Francisco.
The race for the No. 1 overall draft pick, meanwhile, tips toward farce. The Las Vegas Raiders (2-14) need only lose to the Kansas City Chiefs to secure the top selection, actively incentivising defeat. Four teams sit at 3-13 in a messy scramble for the second pick: the New York Jets, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Arizona Cardinals.
If the season ended today, the current playoff seeds would be:
- AFC: 1) Denver (13-3); 2) New England (13-3); 3) Jacksonville (12-4); 4) Pittsburgh (9-7); 5) Houston (11-5); 6) LA Chargers (11-5); 7) Buffalo (11-5).
- NFC: 1) Seattle (13-3); 2) Chicago (11-5); 3) Philadelphia (11-5); 4) Carolina (8-8); 5) San Francisco (12-4); 6) LA Rams (11-5); 7) Green Bay (9-6-1).
