The Seahawks will host the 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday night, a rematch of the Week 18 game between these teams that saw the Seahawks win 13-3 to clinch the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed. While the Seahawks will be beginning their postseason on Saturday, the 49ers are coming off a comeback win over the Eagles in the wild card round.

To help you get ready for Saturday's game and learn more about the 49ers, we once again reached out to 49ers.com team reporter Briana Jeannel with five questions about this week's opponent.

What did the 49ers show you with Sunday's gritty comeback win?

Jeannel: Don't doubt the depth of San Francisco's defense. The unit has been without stars DL Nick Bosa and LB Fred Warner for months and entered Sunday already missing LB Dee Winters and LB Luke Gifford before losing S Ji'Ayir Brown to a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Yet veterans Eric Kendricks and Garrett Wallow, neither of whom were on the active roster five weeks ago, stepped in seamlessly, combining for 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Rookie S Marques Sigle came off the bench and immediately made his presence felt, a key tackle that forced Philadelphia to settle for a field goal. Robert Saleh's defense shut the Eagles out in the second half of Wild Card Weekend, forced four three-and-outs, and sealed the game with Kendricks knocking down QB Jalen Hurts' final fourth-down pass. No matter who's called up, the 49ers defense has continued to answer the bell.

What will the 49ers need to do better/differently on offense after scoring three points and being held to 173 yards against Seattle in Week 18?

Jeannel: If the 49ers can't establish an efficient run game against Seattle, the offense risks another outing like Week 18, when the running backs combined for just 32 yards on 10 carries. RB Christian McCaffrey needs to be the engine of the offense on Saturday night. If McCaffrey can find rhythm early, create positive gains, and ultimately reach the end zone, the 49ers will put themselves in position to avoid playing from behind.

Unfortunately, the 49ers are no stranger to injuries this season, and they suffered another big one on Sunday. What does the loss of George Kittle do to the offense, and who needs to step up in his absence?

Jeannel: Losing TE George Kittle as a run blocker and playmaker is massive, but the 49ers have shown all season they're not broken by adversity. Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in the second quarter against Philadelphia, yet even while heading to the locker room he was clapping and encouraging teammates, embodying the energy McCaffrey later called the "heart and soul" of the team. On the field, others will need to step into bigger roles, starting with TE Jake Tonges, who delivered in Week 1 against Seattle with three catches and the go-ahead touchdown after Kittle exited early. QB Brock Purdy's connections with Tonges and WR Ricky Pearsall in the season opener will need to resurface in the divisional round, pending Pearsall's return. I'd expect FB Kyle Juszczyk to be featured more as well, both as a run blocker and receiver, as Kyle Shanahan leans into creative looks to keep the offense on schedule.

Other than the obvious big names, what player or players could you see being an X-factor in this one?

Jeannel: One name to watch is Bay Area native Tonges, a reliable backup to Kittle who finished the season with 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns and has proven he can deliver in big moments. Wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson could once again play a major role after stepping up last week with six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown while Pearsall and Kittle were sidelined. Defensively, I'll have my eye on rookie linemen C.J. West and Alfred Collins, as stacking strong performances against the Seahawks' Walker–Charbonnet run game combo will be critical in this matchup. 


What matchup or matchups are you most looking forward to seeing play out in the second meeting between these teams in the past three weeks?

Jeannel: The key battle is the 49ers offensive line versus the Seahawks defensive front. That matchup will largely determine whether McCaffrey can operate at full capacity. Left tackle Trent Williams, who missed the Week 18 loss in Seattle, gives San Francisco a massive boost in down blocks and double team scenarios. Without Williams in Week 18, the 49ers were limited to 180 total yards; with him in Week 1, they totaled 386 yards in Seattle. His presence is a huge factor for this offense, and how the line handles Seattle's front could decide the game.