The Seahawks are hosting the NFC championship game this weekend thanks to a dominant divisional round win over the 49ers. Thanks to that 41-6 victory, the Seahawks will be hosting the NFC championship game for the fourth time in franchise history, having reached the Super Bowl in each of the previous three instances (2005, 2013, 2014). Up next is another NFC west matchup with the Rams coming to town, but before we turn our attention to that game it's time once again to open up the mailbag and answer some questions from you, the fans.

As always, thanks to everyone who asked questions this week, and apologies if I wasn't able to get to yours this time around. And remember, the mailbag is always open for submissions at Seahawks.com/mailbag.

@ValeKunDo asks, "Kearse catch in overtime, Ryan's TD pass or the onside kick, what's your favorite?"

A: With the Seahawks hosting the NFC championship game, we might as well take a look back at the last one played in Seattle, a wild, overtime win over the Packers that sent the Seahawks to Super Bowl XLIX.

As the question notes, there were plenty of famous plays in that game, from punter Jon Ryan's touchdown pass to tackle Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal, to Russell Wilson's improbable cross-field heave to Luke Willson for a 2-point conversion, to the onside kick recovered by Chris Matthews, to Marshawn Lynch's go-ahead touchdown run, to, of course, Jermaine Kearse's game-winning 35-yard touchdown reception in overtime.

Given the stakes of the game, I'm not sure I've ever witnessed a more improbable win considering how out of sorts the Seahawks looked on offense, turning the ball over five times, and as outlined above, it took a lot going right for that comeback to happen. As for my favorite, it's impossible to top a walk-off touchdown pass that sends a team to the Super Bowl, so that's No. 1, and despite how that Super Bowl turned out, it's right up there with plays like Richard Sherman's tip the previous year and Marshawn Lynch's Beast Quake run for the most memorable plays in franchise history.

Aside from the Kearse catch, the other one that really stands out to me from that win over the Packers is the Matthews onside kick recovery. This was before Matthews' breakout performance in the Super Bowl, and to that point, only the most diehard fans knew who he was, so for him to make such a massive play when the Seahawks needed it was, in a way, the moment that such an improbable comeback felt truly possible. The Seahawks had done a lot of work to get back into the game, but it wouldn't have been enough had Stephen Hauschka's kick not taken a perfect bounce, gone through Brandon Bostick's hands, and found its way to Matthews.

@segdeha.com on BlueSky asks, "To what do you credit this team being so seemingly locked in mentally? It's been a dozen years since a Seahawks team felt this focused and this much camaraderie. Makes the games fun to watch!"

A: To me, it's starts with the way Mike Macdonald is running his team. A phrase you hear a lot both from him and his players to describe their style is "loose and focused," meaning they are having fun, but also locked in and focused when they need to be. A team that is too serious and all about business might tighten up in the playoffs and not play its best, just as a team that goofs off too much and isn't focused enough might be sloppy in a playoff game. The Seahawks seem to have struck a perfect balance all season and it showed in a big way against the 49ers.

The players also deserve a ton of credit. General manager and president of football operations John Schneider has built a roster that is not only very talented, but has the right type of personalities and love for the game to fit in well and build a level of cohesion that helps get the most out everyone. And as Julian Love and Leonard Williams noted when talked about their messaging back in training camp to young players, including rookie Nick Emmanwori, there's also something to be said for players knowing they have a chance to do something special. Every football team is trying its best to win, but when players truly know they have a chance to be Super Bowl contenders, it can help up the intensity and focus a bit.

@darnold2jsn asks, "Was DeMarcus Lawrence the biggest Seahawks defensive signing in the last 10 years?"

A: I hadn't thought about this, but yeah, he's definitely in the discussion for best defensive free-agent signing since the Seahawks added Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril on back-to-back days in March of 2013. I might, for, now, give the slight edge to Julian Love, who signed in 2023 just for the fact he has been in Seattle for longer, but both of those players have been fantastic additions, earning Pro Bowl honors with the Seahawks, taking on leadership roles and being playmakers on defense. Uchenna Nwosu, a 2022 signing, is right up there as well, and if not for a couple of injury-shortened seasons in 2023 and 2024, he very well might have joined Love and Lawrence in earning Pro-Bowl honors as a Seahawk by now.

And while this wasn't the question, this might also be the best free-agent class the Seahawks have had in recent memory considering it produced two Pro-Bowl selections in Lawrence and quarterback Sam Darnold, as well as another starter and big contributor in receiver Cooper Kupp.

Seattle's defense overall highlights the roster building Schneider has done, with top-notch talent being acquired in recent years via the draft (Devon Witherspoon, Byron Murphy II, Nick Emmanwori, Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, etc.), trades (Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones IV), free agency (Love, Lawrence, Nwosu, Jarran Reed, Josh Jobe, Ty Okada, etc.) and waiver claims (Drake Thomas).

@dripdoesthings asks, "After that 41-6 statement win over the 49ers, what's been the best celebration moment in the locker room this playoff run?"

A: While there was a bit of a celebration after the regular-season finale in which the Seahawks clinched both the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed, the Seahawks have been more focused on what's next rather than celebrating what they just accomplished. The division title and No. 1 seed were season-long accomplishments that deserve recognition, so yes, there were cigars in the locker room, NFC West Champion shirts and hats, and plenty of loud music and dancing, but even as that was going on, players were also talking about how there was still work to do.

And after Saturday's dominant win over the 49ers, the postgame locker room didn't feel any different than it would have after a regular-season win, which is to say that the music was loud and players were excited for the win, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.

@hermanator.bsky.social asks, "You are charged with organizing a pregame feast and concert on Saturday before Sunday's big game. Your budget is unlimited, and all music acts are at your disposal. What's for dinner and who is headlining?"

A: You must be new to the mailbag if you're asking this not knowing that the answer is definitely Pearl Jam. Not only are they my favorite band, so they're local, which makes it all the more appropriate for a Seattle party. And while I realize this might not be a popular choice with a younger crowd, you put me in charge, so we're going with Pearl Jam, who, by the way, are a fantastic live band, so even the non-fans will be converted. If we're allowed openers, I'll have some of my younger co-workers pick those to balance it out.

As for food, let's keep it Northwest/locally themed and go with a big seafood spread. Salmon, crab, halibut, scallops, oysters, etc. We can do some pasta and other meat options too for the non-fish eaters since, again, you're telling me budget is no option. We'll also keep it local with drinks from wineries and breweries from Washington.

@thegreatestoat9 asks, "Will George Holani be able to come off IR this week?" And @vb_kevo asks, "Can we activate Holani?"

A: With Zach Charbonnet unfortunately done for the season due to a knee injury, the Seahawks will need running back help behind Kenneth Walker III. Seattle currently has veteran backs Cam Akers and Velus Jones Jr. on the practice squad, and it seems likely one or both will be signed to the roster and/or elevated from the practice squad for the game. Another possibility, as the questions above suggest, is George Holani, who has been on injured reserve since late November due to a hamstring injury. On Monday, Macdonald was asked about Holani and said it is a possibility this week.

"George is an option," Macdonald said. "We'll see how it goes this week."

@TheCrappyTotals asks, "Does the injury to Zach Charbonnet change the Seahawks' approach to Kenneth Walker III in free agency?"

A: I get this thought process—if Charbonnet's injury lingers into next season, running back is more of a need next year—but I really don't think an injury affecting one player's availability for part of one season has a huge impact on the way a team views a potential multi-year contract for another player. If the Seahawks are going to bring Walker back, it's going to be on a pretty lucrative multi-year deal, one that is made to help the team win games for years to come, not a couple of months or however long Charbonnet is out, if he isn't ready for the start of the season. Also, Schneider and company are also looking years into the future, not just at the upcoming season, and Charbonnet is only signed through 2026 on his rookie deal, so a decision on Walker will likely be more about Walker and what his free-agency market looks like independent of Charbonnet. Walker has played really well down the stretch, with Macdonald praising his play this week, so it seems like the Seahawks would love to have him back. The question, as always, is going to be how much it takes to make that happen and how the Seahawks decide to allocate their dollars this offseason with free-agent signings and contract extensions for players heading into the final year of their deals.

@TheImmortal2275 asks, "Will the team wear their throwback uniforms if they go to the Super Bowl?" And @muffin_war9428 asks, "Can we get the throwbacks at home in the playoffs pretty please?"

A: I've been getting this question a lot lately, but I'm happy to keep answering it, because I get it, the throwbacks are awesome. Unfortunately, however, teams can't wear alternate uniforms in the playoffs and Super Bowl, so we won't be seeing the throwbacks until next season. That being said, if we get a Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl, I might start a petition to get the league to allow both teams to wear their throwbacks, the Seahawks in blue and the Patriots in red, because that would be an elite uniform matchup.