The NFL has officially announced the kickoff time for the San Francisco 49ers' Divisional Round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.
On Sunday, the league revealed that the 49ers—fresh off a Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles—would travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks on Saturday, January 17. At the time, the exact kickoff time had not yet been announced, with two possible windows—1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT.
That uncertainty ended Monday night, when the NFL confirmed the 49ers-Seahawks game will kick off at 5:00 p.m. PT (8:00 p.m. ET) at Lumen Field. It will be broadcast on FOX.
Saturday, January 17
1:30 p.m. — Bills at Broncos (CBS, Paramount+)
5:00 p.m. — 49ers at Seahawks (FOX)
Sunday, January 18
12:00 p.m. — Texans at Patriots (ESPN/ABC)
3:30 p.m. — Rams at Bears (NBC, Peacock)
* All times Pacific
The winner of the NFC Divisional Round matchup will advance to the NFC Championship Game. If Seattle prevails, the Seahawks will host the winner of Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears. If the 49ers pull off a second consecutive road upset, they will travel to face the winner of that contest.
Sunday, January 25
12:00 p.m.— AFC Championship Game (CBS, Paramount+)
3:30 p.m. — NFC Championship Game (FOX)
Seattle enters the matchup with San Francisco as a 7.5-point favorite. Saturday's game will mark the third meeting of the season between the longtime NFC West rivals. The 49ers opened the year with a 17-13 win at Lumen Field in Week 1, while the Seahawks responded with a 13-3 victory at Levi's Stadium in the regular-season finale in Week 18.
Not everyone is pleased with the short-week turnaround. NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that some—presumably within the 49ers organization—are unhappy with the Saturday scheduling.
The #49ers got back at 2am Monday morning local time today from the East Coast, have a late start on prep today & have to play on Saturday. I hear there are some folks who are understandably not thrilled about that.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 12, 2026
NBC Sports Bay Area beat writer Matt Maiocco was even more blunt, calling the NFL's scheduling decision "asinine."
This makes ZERO sense.
Both the Rams and Bears played on Saturday. That should be the Saturday game.
It's asinine the NFL would schedule the 49ers on a short week when they could have avoided a short week for all of the NFC teams. https://t.co/0uA9z2dt0r
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 12, 2026
If it really is a thing that the No. 1 seed gets a Saturday game, the NFL needs to be up-front with that and bake it into the schedule.
Kyle Shanahan after the game: "I'm expecting it to be Saturday, but hopefully if the NFL is cool and understanding, they'll make it Sunday."
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 12, 2026
In '23, under the same playoff format, the 49ers had the top seed and opened Saturday against GB, which had a Sunday game in the first round. That made sense because the Bucs had a Monday game in the first round and there was no other choice but for them to face the Lions on Sun.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 12, 2026
Regardless of the frustration, the situation is now set. The 49ers will face the Seahawks on Saturday and must make the best of the circumstances.
More pressing than the schedule is San Francisco's health entering the game. After enduring a season filled with injuries, the 49ers lost another key contributor in the Wild Card round, as All-Pro tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles against the Eagles. The team will now push forward without one of its most influential leaders and offensive weapons.
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