Seahawks clinch NFC’s No 1 seed as Buccaneers cling to playoff hopes | NFL

Zach Charbonnet scored on a 27-yard run in the first quarter and Seattle shut down San Francisco's potent offense in a 13-3 win over the 49ers on Saturday night that clinched the Seahawks' No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Seattle (14-3) won its first division title since 2020 and is now two home wins away from returning to Levi's Stadium for the Super Bowl next month after defeating San Francisco (12-5) in just the fourth final game of the season in which the winner was guaranteed a top playoff spot.

The loss sends the 49ers into next weekend's wild card round against an opponent to be determined after Sunday's games.

Coach Mike McDonald's defensive unit has confounded a 49ers offense that has been the most potent in the NFL since Brock Purdy returned from injury in Week 11.

The Seahawks didn't allow a first down in the first quarter, had three sacks and had their biggest defensive play early in the fourth quarter when Drake Thomas intercepted a pass at the Seattle 3 that went out of the hands of Christian McCaffrey.

Sam Darnold did enough for the Seahawks, winning the Week 18 contest this season after a bad loss a year ago for Minnesota against Detroit that cost the Vikings a shot at the No. 1 seed. Darnold went 20 of 26 for 198 yards and didn't turn the ball over once as Seattle relied heavily on the running game.

Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards, Charbonnet had a long touchdown and the Seahawks finished with 180 yards on the ground, their second-most in a game this season.

Purdy was 19 of 27 for 127 yards and an interception, and McCaffrey was held to 23 yards on eight carries as the 49ers had their highest scoring game since they lost 23-3 to Carolina in coach Kyle Shanahan's 2017 debut.

Carolina Panthers 14-16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton, Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and Tampa Bay avoided elimination with a sloppy win over Carolina.

The Buccaneers (8-9) need New Orleans (6-10) to beat or tie Atlanta (7-9) on Sunday to clinch their fifth straight NFC South title.

If the Falcons win, the Panthers (8-9) will secure the Division I championship since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.

The Buccaneers hold a two-team tiebreaker over the Panthers. But Carolina will hold the three-team tiebreaker over Tampa Bay if Atlanta also finishes 8-9.

Before the Buccaneers faced New Orleans in October, Mayfield accused the Saints of playing dirty and said, “I don't like them.”

Now Tampa Bay's playoff hopes depend on the Saints beating the Falcons on the road on Sunday.

The Buccaneers were 0-8 in games where Mayfield threw an interception before throwing his ninth pick in his last eight games.

After McLaughlin's 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked with just over five minutes left, Carolina got within 16-14 on Bryce Young's 8-yard pass to Jalen Coker with 2:27 left.