The San Francisco 49ers’ improbable postseason run is still alive – but the road is about to get much steeper. After battling injuries to multiple stars throughout the season, San Francisco has somehow pushed into the playoffs and even managed to steal a win. Now comes the ultimate test: a Divisional Round showdown with the Seattle Seahawks and the most suffocating defense in football.
And if you ask Brock Purdy, the respect is very real.
Ahead of the matchup, the 49ers quarterback offered glowing praise for Seattle’s defensive unit and the impact of first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, whose arrival has transformed the Seahawks into a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Purdy on Seahawks defense: “You have to earn every single yard”
Purdy didn’t sugarcoat what awaits him on the other side of the ball. Speaking via the Associated Press, he described Macdonald’s system as disciplined, relentless, and mentally exhausting for quarterbacks.
“He just does a good job of making the quarterback have to earn everything,” Purdy said. “I feel like there’s not a lot of easy gimme plays out there. You have to play quarterback for four quarters, be smart with the ball and go through your progressions truly.”
Purdy went further, explaining that it’s not just a scheme, it’s execution across every level of the defense.
“Then on top of that, the front, how they coach up the front with the push in the pocket, playing pretty deep to short on a lot of things, and not allowing you to have a lot of explosive plays across the board. You have to go earn every single yard.”
That kind of respect isn’t handed out lightly, especially in a rivalry game with postseason stakes.
Macdonald, who took over in Seattle in 2024 after building elite defenses in Baltimore, has quickly established a similar identity in the Pacific Northwest. The Seahawks don’t just stop teams, they frustrate them. Quarterbacks hold the ball longer. Reads become muddled. Explosive plays disappear. And eventually, mistakes follow.
The last meeting was a wake-up call for San Francisco
Purdy’s praise is also rooted in experience – and not the good kind.
Just two weeks ago, the 49ers and Seahawks met with the NFC’s top seed on the line. The result was brutal for San Francisco. Seattle dominated the matchup, holding the 49ers to just three points while completely neutralizing their offensive rhythm.
Purdy managed only 127 passing yards and an interception in that loss. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was also bottled up, finishing with just 23 rushing yards. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just cost you a game – it forces you back to the film room with uncomfortable questions.
That loss also cost the 49ers a first-round bye, forcing them to take the longer, more exhausting road through the playoffs. Now, they get a second chance, but this time, the margin for error is gone.
San Francisco’s hope lies in preparation and coaching. If anyone is capable of countering a defense like Seattle’s, it’s Kyle Shanahan, one of the most respected offensive minds in the NFL. Expect adjustments. Expect new wrinkles. Expect a more aggressive plan designed to avoid falling into the same traps.
Still, the challenge remains enormous.
The Seahawks defense has consistently erased top-tier offenses this season. They disguise coverages, collapse pockets, and tackle with discipline. They don’t beat themselves, and that’s exactly what makes them so dangerous in January.
For Brock Purdy, this isn’t just another game. It’s a test of growth, resilience, and quarterback maturity.
He knows the standard. He’s acknowledged the threat. Now, he has to prove he can overcome it.
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