The Tennessee Titans’ search for a general manager has led them to hire Ran Carthon, the 49ers’ director of player personnel, ESPN first reported.

His departure would send the 49ers compensatory picks in the third round of the next two drafts.

This is the third year since the NFL enacted its incentive program, yielding the 49ers multiple third-round picks with the hiring of Robert Saleh (2021 New York Jets, head coach), Martin Mayhew (2021 Washington Commanders, general manager), and Mike McDaniel (2022 Miami Dolphins, head coach).

In 2021, the 49ers selected cornerback Ambry Thomas with their compensatory pick. Last year, they had two such picks, and after trading away one to Miami as part of the 2021 package to move up and draft Trey Lance. The 49ers used their other pick on wide receiver Danny Gray to close out the third round.

The 49ers will have three compensatory, third-round picks on April 28, for the combination of losing Saleh/Mayhew, McDaniel and Carthon. The 2024 draft would include one more third-round pick, for Carthon’s exit.

If defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is hired elsewhere as a head coach — he’s set to interview with the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans on Thursday and Friday — the 49ers would have a pair of compensatory third-round picks over the 2024 and ’25 draft for his and Carthon’s departures.

Carthon replaces Jon Robinson, who was fired Dec. 6 as the Titans were en route to losing their final seven games in a 7-10 season.

Carthon joined the 49ers’ personnel department in 2017, serving four years as the director of pro personnel and the past two as director of player personnel. Carthon formerly worked in the Falcons’ and the Rams’ front offices after his NFL playing days as an Indianapolis Colts running back. His father, Maurice, played for the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts before becoming an assistant coach.

Time now for Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott to join the pantheon of quarterback duels in this epic, postseason rivalry.

Come Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in a divisional-round game at Levi’s Stadium, they’ll follow such matchups as John Brodie vs. Roger Staubach (and Craig Morton), Joe Montana vs. Danny White, Steve Young vs. Troy Aikman, and, as recently as last January, Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Prescott.

Defenses will have their say, of course. They’ll have the ultimate say, and they’re enjoying stellar seasons. Dallas’ Micah Parsons leads the way for America’s Team, and Nick Bosa keys, shall we say, Great America’s Team (in a nod to the 49ers’ neighboring, amusement park).

Quarterbacks. Pass rushers. Legacies. Winner advances to next the NFC Championship Game, to keep alive a generational pursuit of a sixth Lombardi Trophy, and that goes for either the 49ers or Cowboys.

Sure, their playoff history is rich, but how do their current editions compare? Here is the tale of the tape:

QUARTERBACKS

Cowboys: Prescott infamously ended last season’s playoff loss at Dallas by scrambling and sliding in the final precious seconds against the 49ers, who won 23-17. His rushing (and bootleg) ability resulted in a fourth-and-goal touchdown in Monday’s playoff return, a 31-14 win over Tampa Bay. This season, he tied for the NFL-high with 15 interceptions, including at least one in seven straight games entering the playoffs. After fracturing his right thumb in their opener, Prescott had a five-game hiatus, and questions about his accuracy have followed in his comeback. Well, up until Monday (305 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions).

49ers: Purdy’s seventh career start comes amid his deification, which grows week by week, win by win. In beating the Seahawks 41-23 in Saturday’s playoff debut, Purdy became the first rookie quarterback in an NFL playoff game to produce four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). Purdy’s completion percentage (67.1) tied with Patrick Mahomes for seventh-best in the regular season, just behind Purdy’s injured predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo (67.2).

RUNNING BACKS

Cowboys: A tremendous tandem exists with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, with the latter having made the Pro Bowl. They combined for 1,831 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground in the regular season. Elliott hasn’t had a 100-yard game since October 2021, and his average of 3.8 yards per carry was the lowest of his seven-year career. In last year’s playoff loss, he had just 31 yards (12 carries), and Pollard just 14 yards (four carries).

49ers: Christian McCaffrey has been a godsend to the 49ers’ offense, and while his receiving ability is unmatched among NFL running backs, he’s run for over 100 yards in four of the past six games. The 49ers can spell him with Deebo Samuel, Elijah Mitchell, and, perhaps rookie Jordan Mason. Samuel’s 26-yard touchdown run seized control for the 49ers’ in last year’s playoff win at Dallas, and he finished 72 yards (10 carries) while Mitchell had 96 (27 carries). Mitchell had just 2 yards (nine carries) on Saturday, and Samuel had 32 yards (three carries).

RECEIVERS

Cowboys: They’ve got a Pro Bowler in CeeDee Lamb (107 catches, 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns). Limited by the 49ers to one catch on five targets in last year’s playoff debut, Lamb couldn’t catch Prescott’s first two passes Monday night (then T.Y. Hilton dropped the third to spoil the opening series.) Tight end Dalton Schultz had two touchdown catches in Monday’s first half, and he was their leading receiver (seven catches, 89 yards) against the 49ers in last year’s playoffs. Michael Gallop and Noah Brown are other options, as are the running backs.

49ers: Samuel, on the eve of his 27th birthday, tallied 133 yards Saturday that were the 49ers’ most in a playoff game since 2014 (Anquan Boldin, 136 at Carolina). All of Brandon Aiyuk’s 73 yards Saturday came in the first half, and he dropped a potential fourth touchdown pass by Purdy, but Aiyuk’s first 1,000-yard season has been the aerial complement needed for this offense. George Kittle caught his only two targets Saturday (37 yards), but he’s been a fabulous target for Purdy, including on improvised plays. Of Kittle’s career-high 11 touchdowns, seven came in the four games entering the playoffs. No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings is battling an ankle issue, and Ray-Ray McCloud lurks as a speedy option from the slot.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Cowboys: Right guard Zack Martin is an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Left tackle Jason Peters tapped out with a hip injury just before halftime Monday night, and Tyler Smith replaced him, rather than immediately shift Tyron Smith back over from right tackle. Center Tyler Biadasz is battling through a recent high-ankle sprain.

49ers: Preseason concerns have been replaced by strong confidence in this cohesive unit. The 49ers boast the NFL’s best lineman in left tackle Trent Williams, who’s flanked to his right by Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford and Mike McGlinchey. Burford has rotated with Daniel Brunskill most of the season, and that’s yielded mixed results.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Cowboys:  Parsons entered Monday night’s game with the league’s best pass-rush win rate (29.8 percent). He opened the playoffs with a tackle-for-loss on his first snap, but he limped into the locker room at halftime, so he might not be at full strength Sunday. Demarcus Lawrence is a ninth-year veteran with 49 ½ career sacks. Keep an eye on the interior for Osa Odighizuwa and Johnathan Hankins, the latter of whom just came off injured reserve.

49ers: Bosa runs this show, as evident by his league-leading 18 ½ sacks and 48 hits. But he had neither sacks nor quarterback hits in the playoff opener, so that showed just fierce the rest of the defensive front can be. Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and T.Y. McGill are stout on the interior. The versatile Charles Omenihu had two sacks in the opener, including the play of the game with a strip sack. Samson Ebukam (ankle) and Jordan Willis round out the rotation unless Drake Jackson gets activated for pass-rush help.

LINEBACKERS

Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch has returned from a neck injury to patrol the middle of their defense. Anthony Barr has the veteran experience to snuff out screen passes. Parsons is technically a linebacker but he’s best used as an edge rusher.

49ers: The NFL’s best unit is led by All-Pro Fred Warner both as a tackler and vocal leader. Dre Greenlaw has been a more electric play-maker with his speed, range and guts (see: asking Tom Brady to autograph the football he intercepted last month). Greenlaw had 11 tackles in the playoff opener, Warner had six and Azeez Al-Shaair three.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Cowboys: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs gambles but, “I love the kid and he makes plays,” former Cowboys and 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders said on ESPN’s “ManningCast” Monday night. “If you continually play with him, he’s going to get you sooner or later.” DaRon Bland gave up a 30-yard touchdown catch as Monday’s third quarter ended. Jayron Kearse made an end zone interception Monday night, but he hurt his left knee late in the third quarter. Fellow safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker are potential play makers.

49ers: Charvarius Ward has been the 49ers’ best cornerback since Richard Sherman in 2019, although Ward struggled Saturday and in their last loss three months ago to Kansas City. Deommodore Lenoir’s interception in his playoff debut likely won’t stop him from being targeted but his confidence hasn’t wavered all season. At safety, the 49ers have an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in Talanoa Hufanga, while Tashaun Gipson Sr. has been a tremendous complement all season. The further the 49ers go, the better return that Jimmie Ward might get in his contract year.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cowboys: Brett Maher missed four point-after kicks Monday night, so that position is a glaring concern for Dallas. KaVontae Turpin is a Pro Bowl return specialist. Punter Bryan Anger, a Cal product, had a 42.8 net average in his 11th season.

49ers: Robbie Gould has been historically automatic in 14 career playoff games, making all 25 of his field-goal attempts and 37 point-after kicks. The 40-year-old kicker feels stronger than his younger days and that shows on touchbacks as a kickoff specialist. Mitch Wishnowsky only punted once Saturday, a 57-yard gem. Ray-Ray McCloud has been sure-handed and on the verge of busting a big return.

COACHING

Cowboys: Mike McCarthy, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator in 2005, is 0-3 against them in the playoffs as a head coach. That includes two meetings as the Packers’ coach before he took over the Cowboys in 2020. McCarthy’s produced back-to-back 12-5 seasons. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is to interview Friday for the Denver Broncos’ post; he got his NFL start as a 49ers assistant in 2001-04 and eventually went 43-42 as coach of the Atlanta Falcons, whom he took to the 2016 season’s Super Bowl with Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator.

49ers: Shanahan’s sixth season has been his best with the 49ers, seeing how they’re on an 11-game win streak and on their third quarterback. Shanahan’s offensive wit is also showing through with McCaffrey joining the air-and-ground assets. DeMeco Ryans, in his second year as defensive coordinator, oversees the NFL’s stingiest unit and that’s set him up for head-coaching interviews this week with the Broncos and Houston Texans, with the Arizona Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts also requesting a shot.

SERIES HISTORY 

Cowboys: All due respect to “The Catch” Dwight Clark made to launch the 49ers’ dynasty in the January 1982 NFC Final, the Cowboys’ playoff history includes wins in the Bay Area. Monday marked the Cowboys’ first road playoff win since January 1993 at Candlestick Park; they’ve also beaten the host 49ers in the 1970 and ’72 playoffs.

49ers: Levi’s Stadium is offering its best home-field advantage yet in nine seasons. The 49ers have won 13 of their past 14 appearances, although that followed a calendar year between home wins. A year ago, the 49ers ousted the host Cowboys in the wild-card round, 23-17.

The No. 2-seed 49ers (14-4) will host Sunday’s divisional-round game at 3:30 p.m.

The No. 5 Cowboys (13-5) advanced with Monday night’s 31-14, wild-card win over seven-time champion Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were the No. 4 seed but also 2 ½-point underdogs.

At stake Sunday is a spot in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29, and, ultimately, the chance to win what would be either franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz.

The 49ers’ last Super Bowl win came in the 1994 season, after they knocked off the two-time reigning champion Cowboys 38-28 for the NFC Championship. The Cowboys rebounded to win the next season’s Super Bowl, and they haven’t been back on that stage since then.

The Cowboys’ first road playoff win since January 1993 at Candlestick Park finally came on Monday. A year ago to the day, the Cowboys lost 23-17 in the wild-card round at home — to the 49ers.

“They took us out last year. We know what we have ahead of us,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said after Monday’s win on ESPN.

The 49ers are riding an 11-game win streak, which they extended with Saturday’s 41-23 wild-card win at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

Here are the pros and cons of a rematch, from the 49ers’ perspective:

PROS

1. LINE SHUFFLE: Left tackle Jason Peters left the Cowboys’ win before halftime because of a hip injury, and that could intensify the 49ers’ pass rush from Nick Bosa (NFL sack king), Charles Omenihu (two sacks Saturday), Arik Armstead, Jordan Willis and others. Do the Cowboys keep Tyler Smith as Peters’ replacement, or shift Tyron Smith back there from right tackle? Regardless, it’s not a healthy line, not to mention center Tyler Biadasz is battling through a recent high-ankle sprain.

2. KICKER DIFFERENCE: Brett Maher missed four point-after kicks Monday night for the Cowboys, who surely will look for an upgrade this week. In stark contrast, the 49ers’ Robbie Gould has been historically automatic in 14 career playoff games, making all 25 of his field-goal attempts and 37 point-after kicks.

3. HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: Not only do the 49ers get the benefit of an extra day of rest and no travel, they get to play on a home field where they’ve won 13 of their past 14 appearances. This will be the Cowboys’ fourth straight game on the road since Dec. 29; they’re 5-4 away from AT&T Stadium, 8-1 at home. Of course, the 49ers Faithful gladly will recall home playoff wins over the Cowboys en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl crown (1981 season) and their last one (1994).

CONS

1. DEFENSIVE MOMENTUM: As prolific as the 49ers have become in scoring over 30 points (eight times in this 11-game win streak), it will take a dominant defense to stop them. Could that defense be the one that smothered Brady and the Bucs? Micah Parsons limped off the field just before halftime but otherwise served as a menace all game. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who got his NFL coaching start with the 49ers 20 years ago, is expected to interview for the Denver Broncos’ head-coaching post on Friday, a day after 49ers counterpart DeMeco Ryans. Parsons and other defensive starters stayed in to finish off Monday night’s rout, which may be ill-advised when they need to keep up Sunday with the 49ers’ fresher legs.

2. RED-HOT DAK: Dak Prescott opened with three incompletions on Monday night’s three-and-out opener, then caught fire in “the best game of his career,” ex-Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman said on ESPN’s broadcast. Prescott avoided his regular-season penchant of throwing interceptions (NFL-high 15) and instead spun four touchdown passes and totaled 305 yards for a 143.3 passer rating. Tight end Dalton Schultz had two touchdown catches, and the 49ers have struggled at times this season against quality tight ends. Prescott could look to him again while the Niners’ cornerbacks focus on CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallop, each of whom had a touchdown against the Bucs.

3. RUSHING THREAT: Tony Pollard has burst, and he has a Pro Bowl spot that the 49ers believe should have gone to Christian McCaffrey. Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott form a 1-2 punch, one that the 49ers shut down to the tune of 57 yards on 16 carries in last season’s playoff game. That Cowboys’ duo combined for over 100 yards before the fourth quarter Monday night. Prescott ran for a fourth-and-goal touchdown to remind everyone of his mobile capabilities, though his scramble and slide ate up the final seconds of last year’s playoff loss to the 49ers. Although these 49ers had the NFL’s No. 2-ranked run defense in the regular season, they gave up 54 yards to Kenneth Walker III before halftime Saturday, they looked vulnerable two weeks earlier against the Raiders, and they give up lanes to mobile quarterbacks.

“Whoever they put in front of us, it’s another step, another test,” left tackle Trent Williams said after Saturday’s wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The No. 2-seed 49ers (14-4) will host a divisional-round game Sunday at 3:30 p.m., against the winner of tonight’s game between the No. 5-seed Dallas Cowboys (12-5) and No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9).

It’ll be a rematch one way or another. The 49ers clobbered the Bucs 35-7 last month, when Brock Purdy became the first rookie quarterback to win his first start against Tom Brady. A year ago, the 49ers won at Dallas 23-17 in a wild-card playoff game.

Who to root for if you are a 49ers’ fan? It may seem obvious (“Back for more already, Bucs?!”) or historical heartstrings could tug at you (“The Catch” and much more).

Let’s scout out what intriguing storylines await for each matchup:

49ERS VS. COWBOYS

This would be their ninth playoff meeting, and second in as many years.

The 49ers barely escaped Dallas last January en route to their next playoff win In Green Bay. It came down to the wire, with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott scrambling 17 yards up the middle and sliding down at the 49ers’ 24-yard line. It ate up precious seconds, and an ensuing spike killed the final second, to which Cowboys’ fans threw trash on the field in their disgust.

Home playoff wins over Dallas carved the 49ers’ path to their first Super Bowl triumph in the 1981 season (see: “The Catch” by Dwight Clark for the go-ahead touchdown in the NFC Championship Game), as well as their most recent Super Bowl-winning season back in 1994 (see: Steve Young’s victory lap around Candlestick after dispatching the two-time reigning champs).

The Cowboys won the other five playoff matchups, but that won’t inspire your rooting interest tonight, so onward to look at the here and now.

Two of the NFL’s best defenders this season would share the field: the 49ers’ Nick Bosa and the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, both of whom made AP First Team All-Pro last week. Bosa was forced out of last year’s playoff matchup by halftime with a concussion.

When it comes to other honors, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey can take out frustrations over his Pro Bowl snub by outperforming the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard, who is one of the NFC’s three Pro Bowl backs.

No 49ers-Cowboys contest can by hyped without acknowledging the quarterbacks. Prescott’s counterpart this time around would be Purdy, who’s been amazingly efficient, mobile and cunning in seven wins since replacing the still-injured Jimmy Garoppolo.

49ERS VS. BUCS

Um, about that reception line of 49ers who gathered postgame Dec. 11 to shake Brady’s hand — and, in Dre Greenlaw’s case, get him to autograph footballs that he and Tashaun Gipson intercepted. Yeah, thanks for that. Now welcome back to play more ‘ball.

Could this truly be Brady’s grand finale, a year after he tested out retirement before returning to the Bucs?

Brady is a San Mateo native, and like any good Bay Area son, he despises the Cowboys. If he beats them tonight, he’ll own an 8-0 record against them.

The 49ers and Bucs have met only once in the playoffs: the 2002 season’s divisional round. That 31-6 loss at Tampa Bay marked the end of Steve Mariucci’s coaching tenure. It took nine seasons for the 49ers to return to the playoffs.

Last month, the 49ers raced to a 28-0 halftime lead against a Tampa Bay squad coming off a Monday night win. Brady was 34-of-55 for 253 yards, but he had passes intercepted by Gipson and Greenlaw on the Bucs’ first two series after halftime.

Purdy won over skeptics (16-of-21, 185 yards) but he also got hurt (ribs), as did Deebo Samuel (ankle, knee). Offensively, the 49ers had 404 yards, with 209 coming on 36 carries. Their touchdowns came from McCaffrey (27-yard catch, 38-yard run), Samuel (13-yard run), Purdy (2-yard run), and Brandon Aiyuk (32-yard run).

Look, if the Bucs make it back to Levi’s Stadium, this will speak not only to Brady’s seven-ring collection but the Bucs’ playoff persistence. Their 2020 team won three road games in the NFC playoffs before dethroning the Chiefs in the Super Bowl; last season, the Bucs downed the Eagles before falling 30-27 to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Rams.

Right tackle Tristan Wirfs is the only Bucs’ player to earn All-Pro honors (second-team). In comparison, the Cowboys saw Parsons and right guard Zack Martin make first-team All-Pro, and that duo was among their seven Pro Bowl selections (Pollard, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, cornerback Trevon Diggs, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, return specialist KaVontae Turpin).

That is the tweet NBA superstar LeBron James sent out as Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ sudden superstar, closed out a 41-23 win in his playoff debut against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

“LeBron said that? Oh, that’s sweet. That’s awesome,” Purdy responded.

Left tackle Trent Williams, Purdy’s blind-side protector, isn’t jealous at the praise Purdy is drawing seven games — seven wins — since replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, when the 49ers’ season could have taken a drastic U-turn.

“I love the fact Brock is getting the attention he deserves,” Williams said. “He is a good player, man. Anybody who watches football can see that.

“I’m not saying he is the next Aaron Rodgers or Pat Mahomes, but he does everything we need him to do, and more. We can continue to win with him, obviously.”

The 49ers (14-4) have won 11 straight. Three more and they’ll raise their first Lombardi Trophy since the 1994 season. Purdy was born in 1999, so states his bio way back on Page 402 of the team’s media guide.

His 332 passing yards were third-most in 49ers playoff history, topped only by Joe Montana (357 yards in Super Bowl XXIII, 347 yard in January 1984 NFC Championship Game).

His rookie year escalated from the draft’s Mr. Irrelevant to training-camp long shot to QB3 to QB2 to Mr. Invincible.

“Brock did a really good job staying alive,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I don’t know why we couldn’t sack the guy. We chased him all over the place and he’s not noted for being the greatest scrambler, but he looked like Fran Tarkenton out there today.”

Winning his first start against Tom Brady, his first road game in prime time at Seattle, his first comeback in Las Vegas’ raucous den, and, now his first playoff game has teammates insisting they’re not surprised anymore by Purdy’s success. “I could feel his confidence in the huddle, and that felt like old Brock,” tight end George Kittle said.

More on Old Brock Purdy can be found below as we delve into the 10 things that caught my eye in the 49ers’ weekly win:

10. SHANAHAN’S ‘BRILLIANCE’

It’s the playoffs, so when the 49ers blew a 10-point lead, it conjured flashbacks of the 2019 team’s Super Bowl exit and last season’s NFC Championship Game fade. Is Shanahan snakebit, some wonder? His team had time to recover Saturday and did so in splendid fashion.

“He’s the most brilliant offensive mind that the game has to offer, and he has some of the most dangerous weapons that the game has to offer,” said Williams, who began his career in 2010 with Shanahan in Washington.

It’s not just the X’s and O’s, as Williams praised how Shanahan “reads players” so well, how he meticulously studies opponents to find their tendencies. He also lives vicariously through them. When they were irate that Johnathan Abram tugged late at Deebo Samuel’s ankle, Shanahan said he “borderline blacked out” at how mad he got, too. “The playmakers that the front office has put at his disposal, that’s probably an offensive coach’s dream,” Williams added.

Shanahan now has five postseason wins, matching Jim Harbaugh for third-most in 49ers coaching history. That is half as many as Bill Walsh and George Seifert en route to their collection of five Lombardi Trophies.

9. McCAFFREY’S RETURN

McCaffrey had to wait a series before getting his first playoff touch since his 2017 rookie season in Carolina, and he responded with a 68-yard run. He capped that drive with a 3-yard touchdown catch — on a play-action fake to him out of the backfield.

McCaffrey (119 yards on 15 carries, 17 yards on two catches) called it “damn fun” to win a playoff game at home, all as he adapts to an offense he joined three moths ago. “A lot of times you’re playing against the tape. You want to just put good things on tape,” McCaffrey said. “You want to wake up Monday morning, and when you watch it on the iPad, you want to be proud of what you put out there. There’s always stuff – ‘I might have made wrong cut here or did the wrong thing here.’  That’s what makes football so fun, that constant pursuit for perfection. Everyone on our team has that.”

Added Williams: “Ever since he stepped on the field with us, it’s made us more dangerous.”

8. CORNERBACKS RESPOND

Jimmie Ward should not have hammered Geno Smith as he slid to draw a penalty that led to a 56-yard field goal and halftime deficit.

Charvarius Ward should not have let D.K. Metcalf get past him for a 50-yard touchdown catch.

Deommodore Lenoir should not have, well, he gave up a few catches early on that didn’t help matters.

But all three of those cornerbacks responded positively one way or another. Lenoir made a great interception to highlight his NFL playoff debut, and Charvarius Ward broke up another potential touchdown grab to Metcalf (who did eventually get another).

“We don’t freak out when we give up the big play,” Shanahan said, speaking for his team, not a freaked-out fan base.

7. AIYUK’S BLOCK

Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout season continued into the playoffs, and not just because of his three big gains near midfield (19 yards, 23, 31) before halftime. When Aiyuk blocked on Deebo Samuel’s 74-yard touchdown for a 38-17 lead, teammates noticed.

“People don’t do that. Receivers don’t do that. That’s a huge play in the moment that people aren’t talking about,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “That’s why I know he’ll be a big-time player in the league for a long time, because he’ll do the little things to play at a high level.”

Aiyuk was apologetic to Purdy when he dropped potentially the rookie’s fourth touchdown pass. Purdy would have none of that talk. “I was excited we had a scramble drill on and he kept it alive. I was, ‘Dude, that was good,’ ” Purdy said. “He’s hard on himself and said, ‘Man, I should have caught it. It hit my hands.’ It’s all good, man. I love that dude. He blocked for Deebo on that long touchdown. B.A. gives everything for this team.”

6. MUDDERS WITH NO MUD 

Kudos to the groundskeeper Matt Greiner and his crew (and reportedly the Seahawks, too) for making rainy weather a non-issue on what could have been a muddy track. The 49ers did not put a tarp over the grass until Thursday night, after the end zones were painted red as a historical nod to past playoff games.

After an overnight downpour that carried over to Saturday morning, sporadic showers during the game didn’t distract the 49ers. “I didn’t really notice it. It would rain and stop, but honestly I didn’t even think about it,” linebacker Dre Greenlaw said. “I slipped one time on the goal line. But I was still able to make the play.”

The 49ers also emerged relatively healthy, aside from ankle injuries to defensive end Samson Ebukam and wide receiver Jauan Jennings.

5. RACKING UP POINTS

Only five other playoff games in 49ers history have seen them score more than the season-high 41 points they put on the Seahawks. The 49ers scored 55 and 49 points in the two most recent Super Bowl wins (1989, ’94 seasons), and this team looks capable of doing more damage.

In this 11-game win streak, the 49ers have scored over 30 points in eight games, and this was the sixth time they’ve done so in Purdy’s seven games since relieving an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.

Williams’ explanation for it: “Just good, complementary football. The defense got a turnover and we made points out of it. When they made a stop, we got points. It’s a whole team effort when you light up the scoreboard.”

4. OMENIHU’S PLAY

Omenihu delivered the defensive play of the game when, on third-and-14 from the 49ers’ 19-yard line, he sacked Smith and forced a fumble that Bosa recovered, all of which preserved a lead (23-17) the 49ers had just reclaimed. A few plays earlier, Smith escaped Omenihu’s clutches on a near-sack.

“Those type of plays in the playoffs, when you miss that, it can weigh on you,” Omenihu said. “… I had to re-center my mind. Coach told me another opportunity would come and it did.”

Omenihu, who had 1 1/2 sacks in the 49ers’ playoff-opening win at Dallas last season, took a seat on the bench after this game’s heroics, and when the video board displayed an image of Nick Bosa, he pointed to Omenihu sitting next to him.

“Bosa’s a team guy,” Omenihu said. “He’s an incredible player but also is unselfish. He said yesterday and today that he doesn’t care who gets it done, he just wants to win. That energy goes around toward everybody.”

Bosa, after a NFL-best 18 1/2 sacks in the regular season, had no sacks and no hits on Smith. Omenihu finished with two sacks, and Arik Armstead had a sack on the game’s first third-down play.

3. WE GOT YOUR BACK

“It wasn’t the smartest move,” Warner said of when Seahawks safety Johnathan Abram tugged and twisted Samuel’s left ankle after a 21-yard, catch-and-run to the Seahawks’ 16-yard line.

Samuel stayed down on the ground, not just in pain but to avoid losing his temper.

“I don’t know why you’d want to piss off Deebo,” George Kittle said. “But if you’re going to do that to him, you’re going to piss off Trent Williams, who’s one of the scariest people on a football field. You’re going to fire up our defense and get our entire team fired up. They gave us another reason to flip the switch even higher, and that’s what we did.”

Five plays later, the 49ers took the lead with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Purdy, who said the team rallied around Samuel and “showed Deebo we got his back.”

This was made for a storybook turning point. But, honestly, when you’re headed toward a blowout of an overmatched opponent, let’s not overhype it. “It’s playoff football, man. A lot of tempers are flaring and it’s intense,” Williams said. “I don’t know if that sparked everything but it dang sure lit a fire, especially under Deebo.”

2. PURDY’S MOBILITY

What’s made Purdy such a fascinating watch is his escapability. He’ll contort his 6-foot-1 body to get out of the pocket and buy time to unleash a last-ditch pass. It worked for a 7-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Mitchell to take command with 14:02 to go.

“It’s great to see the things he does back there, when you think he’s sacked and his slitheriness to get out of stuff,” Samuel said. “It kind of makes us a little tired, because we’ve got to run around and try to get open, but it worked. So as long as Brock’s doing his thing, we’re going to ride with him.”

Before rightfully praising that mobility, it’s worth noting how he put himself and the 49ers’ playoff hopes in a hazardous spot on a fourth-quarter scramble. Purdy spent 12 seconds rolling to his right before unleashing that near-touchdown pass to Aiyuk, only for Purdy to get drilled by Quinton Jefferson into the left ribs Purdy broke just last month.

Purdy called it a clean hit, but added: “It was one of those situations where, man, if we can get one more touchdown and put the final nail in the coffin … but a field goal was just as good. I have to be smart and throw it away if it’s not there.”

1. WHO’S GOT NEXT

The 49ers maintain they’re not surprised by Purdy, and Williams’ rationale Saturday was that the Seahawks were a familiar foe who Purdy just faced last month.

Well, the 49ers’ next opponent won’t be a stranger, either.

If the Minnesota Vikings win Sunday against the New York Giants, they’ll advance to visit the 49ers. Back in August, the Vikings hosted the 49ers in joint practices before their exhibition game. As the Vikings seemed to dominate those practices — aside from Bosa’s sneak preview to his dominant season — the 49ers’ offense wasn’t showing all its cards.

If the Vikings lose, then the 49ers will likely play next Sunday against the winner of Monday night’s winner, between the Dallas Cowboys and the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last year, the 49ers eliminated the Cowboys 23-17 in the wild-card round. Last month, the 49ers beat Tom Brady and the Bucs 35-7 at Levi’s Stadium.

“Whoever we play, that’ll be who we prep hard for,” Warner said. “It’s all about taking one game at a time. We talk about the end game but you don’t get there unless you win one, and I’m proud of the guys we won one today.”

PASS OFFENSE: A

Brock Purdy stepped it up big time after halftime when he completed 9-of-11 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns. That added to his incredible mystique through seven games since replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy finished with 18-of-30 for 332 yards with three touchdown passes, as well as the go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown run. He had A LOT of help from his friends, most notably Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and running backs Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. Samuel’s 74-yard, catch-and-run touchdown (with Aiyuk assisting via a block) made it a 38-17 ballgame, and Samuel finished with 133 yards (six catches, nine targets). Aiyuk added 73 yards on three catches, and he dropped Purdy’s potential fourth touchdown pass after a lengthy scramble in which Purdy absorbed a big, dangerous hit to his still-tender ribs. The offensive line – Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey – fended off a Seattle front that wasn’t particularly feisty as Purdy got sacked once.

RUN OFFENSE: A

Christian McCaffrey ripped off a 68-yard run on this first playoff touch since his 2017 rookie season, when the Carolina Panthers got bounced by the New Orleans Saints. Trent Williams helped open that chasm for McCaffrey’s first run on a 15-carry, 119-yard day (plus two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown). Elijah Mitchell gained just 2 yards on nine carries, and the Seahawks’ run defense proved surprisingly difficult on carries up the middle. Deebo Samuel (three carries, 32 yards) had a 22-yard, first-series run bolstered by the blocking of Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. The fanciest run: Purdy’s 13-yard scramble into Seahawks’ territory, complete with a high-step move that he’s previously shown. “The high-step just sort of comes in the moment,” Purdy said. “It’s not, ‘Dude, I’m going to high step this linebacker.’ I try to get him to stop a little bit so I can get a couple of more yards.” He had four carries for 16 yards.

PASS DEFENSE: B-

This is not a historically great defense if it continues to yield a big play, such as D.K. Metcalf’s 50-yarder against Charvarius Ward for the first of Metcalf’s two touchdowns. But it’s an extremely strong defense that can go down as one of the 49ers’ all-time best with three more wins. And it took a defensive play to recapture the mojo, as Kyle Shanahan said, about Charles Omenihu’s red-zone strip sack of Geno Smith, with Nick Bosa pouncing on the fumble to preserve a just-reclaimed lead. Omenihu had two sacks, and Arik Armstead came through on the first series with one on third-and-2. Deommodore Lenoir’s fourth-quarter interception boosts his stock going forth, even if he’ll still be quarterback’s No. 1 target like he was in Saturday’s first half.

RUN DEFENSE: A

Rookie Kenneth Walker III got 9 yards on the game’s first snap, and he had 54 yards by halftime. But the Seahawks shifted to a pass-oriented attack and Walker got just two carries after halftime and finished with 63 yards. Dre Greenlaw overcame a quadriceps issue and finished with a team-high 11 tackles. Five players made a tackle for loss: Bosa, Omenihu, Armstead, Tashaun Gipson Sr. and Javon Kinlaw, who was thrilled to win his NFL playoff debut.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A- 

Remarkable Robbie Gould made all four of his field-goal attempts (34 yards, 33, 46, 31) and is 25-of-25 in his playoff career. Mitch Wishnowsky made the most of his only punt, as it soared 57 yards before Danny Gray made a tackle at the 16-yard line. One cause for concern were the Seahawks’ kick returns. Then again, the 49ers rallied to make some big tackles later, by Janoris Jenkins, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks and Charlie Woerner.

COACHING: A

Kyle Shanahan notched his fifth career playoff win, and he did so by delivering the right message, not just on play calls but halftime advice. Said Purdy: “Coming into halftime, Kyle was straight up and like, ‘Hey, man, the plays were there. The opportunities were there. We have to keep it simple and get it to the guys.’ We knew our plan for the second half, we executed everything and we finished off drives, where we didn’t stall and overthink things.” DeMeco Ryans could have a busy week ahead, and he can begin interviewing Tuesday for head-coaching posts with the Denver Broncos, the Arizona Cardinals, the Houston Texans and, perhaps, the Carolina Panthers. 

The 49ers let a 10-0 first-half lead evaporate Saturday, then they rallied to dispatch the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 in their wild-card opener.

A second-half surge allowed the No. 2-seed 49ers (14-4) to recapture the lead, their confidence, and their momentum. They’ll take an 11-game winning streak into next weekend’s divisional round, where they’ll host either the No. 2 Minnesota Vikings, the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the No. 5 Dallas Cowboys.

It will be the Vikings if they win Sunday against the No. 6 Giants. If the Vikings lose, the Tampa Bay-Dallas winner will come to Levi’s Stadium, most likely next Sunday.

“We talk about the end game (of a Super Bowl quest), but you don’t get there unless you win one, and I’m proud of the guys that we won one today,” linebacker Fred Warner said.

But Saturday’s scoreboard didn’t reflect how tense things got, especially as the 49ers humbly and foolishly entered halftime trailing 17-16. The Seahawks had taken that lead – their last one – when Jason Myers booted a 56-yard field goal as the first half expired, set up by a Jimmie Ward penalty for hitting Geno Smith as he slid on a scramble with 1 second to go.

“Coming into halftime, Kyle (Shanahan) was straight up and like, ‘Hey, man, the plays were there. The opportunities were there. We have to keep it simple and get it to the guys,’” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “We knew our plan for the second half, we executed everything and we finished off drives, where we didn’t stall and overthink things.”

All went the 49ers’ way after that, however. They scored over 30 points for the eighth time in this 11-game win streak, and for the fifth time in Purdy’s six starts.

Click Here to read the full story by Cam Inman

The 49ers let a 10-0 first-half lead evaporate Saturday, then they rallied to dispatch the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 in their wild-card opener.

A second-half surge allowed the No. 2-seed 49ers (14-4) to recapture the lead, their confidence, and their momentum. They’ll take an 11-game winning streak into next weekend’s divisional round, where they’ll host either the No. 2 Minnesota Vikings, the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the No. 5 Dallas Cowboys.

It will be the Vikings if they win Sunday against the No. 6 Giants. If the Vikings lose, the Tampa Bay-Dallas winner will come to Levi’s Stadium, most likely next Sunday.

“We talk about the end game (of a Super Bowl quest), but you don’t get there unless you win one, and I’m proud of the guys that we won one today,” linebacker Fred Warner said.

The 49ers won, as expected, in only their third-ever playoff game at Levi’s Stadium, and they won comfortably on the scoreboard, just as their 2019 team did here twice en route to the Super Bowl.

But Saturday’s scoreboard didn’t reflect how tense things got, especially as the 49ers humbly and foolishly entered halftime trailing 17-16. The Seahawks had taken that lead – their last one – when Jason Myers booted a 56-yard field goal as the first half expired, set up by a Jimmie Ward penalty for hitting Geno Smith as he slid on a scramble with 1 second to go.

“Coming into halftime, Kyle (Shanahan) was straight up and like, ‘Hey, man, the plays were there. The opportunities were there. We have to keep it simple and get it to the guys,’” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “We knew our plan for the second half, we executed everything and we finished off drives, where we didn’t stall and overthink things.”

All went the 49ers’ way after that, however. They scored over 30 points for the eighth time in this 11-game win streak, and for the fifth time in Purdy’s six starts.

Retaking a lead proved a better recipe than giving away a lead. (They lost Super Bowl LIV by blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and falling 31-20 to Kansas City; they lost the NFC Championship Game by blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and falling 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams.)

Purdy, attempting to become the first rookie quarterback to make a Super Bowl, overcame a rocky start. He had over 300 yards with three touchdown passes once the lead reached 38-17 on Deebo Samuel’s 74-yard touchdown catch-and-run with 10:51 remaining.

Purdy finished 18-of-30 for 332 yards with those three touchdowns and no turnovers, with a 131.5 passer rating. It was only the 10th playoff game in the Super Bowl era in which a quarterback produced over 330 passing yards, four touchdowns (passing and rushing) and no interceptions, according to The Associated Press’ Josh Dubow.

Christian McCaffrey ran for 119 yards, and one of his two receptions went for a touchdown. Samuel finished with 133 yards on six receptions, and Brandon Aiyuk added 73 yards on six catches.

This affair turned in the 49ers’ favor once they emerged for the second half and went on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Purdy’s 1-yard sneak for a 23-17 lead.

It was a precarious lead, at least for a few minutes.

Soon, Levi’s Stadium’s video board showed Nick Bosa sitting on the 49ers bench after their biggest defensive play of the game, and he pointed to the man sitting next to him, Charles Omenihu. It was Omenihu who stripped Geno Smith of the ball that Bosa recovered at the 49ers’ 30-yard line, dominating a third-and-14 play and protecting the lead 2:25 until the fourth quarter.

A few plays earlier, Smith escaped from a near-sack by Omenihu, who said of that sequence: “Those type of plays in the playoffs, when you miss that, it can weigh on you. I had to re-center my mind. Coach told me another opportunity would come and it did.”

Added Shanahan: “Once our defense did that, they got their mojo back.”

Then points from the 49ers’ offense kept coming, along with some light rain, the latter of which was nothing like the downpour overnight and into Saturday morning on the tarp-protected field.

The 49ers’ lead swelled to 31-17 when Purdy magically escaped pressure and threw across the field to Elijah Mitchell for a 7-yard touchdown catch, followed by George Kittle’s two-point conversion grab.

After Samuel’s 74-yard touchdown sprint down the left sideline, Deommodore Lenoir got the ball back for the 49ers with an interception, and the 49ers converted that into Robbie Gould’s fourth field goal in as many attempts; Gould is 25-of-25 for his career in the playoffs.

Prior to that Gould kick that gave them a 41-17 lead, Purdy scrambled 12 seconds and found Brandon Aiyuk for a potential, 13-yard touchdown pass, only to have Aiyuk drop it.

The go-ahead drive that opened the second half featured plenty of big plays: a third-and-1 sneak by Purdy, a 23-yard completion to George Kittle, and a 21-yard catch-and-run by Deebo Samuel. That tackle-breaking play by Samuel got them to the 16-yard line, and when safety Johnathan Abram tugged at Samuel’s once-injured ankle after the play without penalty, it enraged the 49ers, and Samuel.

“I stayed down a little because I almost lost my temper,” Samuel said. “It hurt, for sure, but I was about to lose my mind.”

Said Kittle: “I don’t know why you’d want to piss off Deebo. But if you’re going to do that to him, you’re going to piss off Trent Williams, who’s one of the scariest people on a football field. You’re going to fire up our defense and get our entire team fired up. They gave us another reason to flip the switch even higher, and that’s what we did.”

The mood eventually transitioned to a cascade of smiles, fist pumps, celebratory poses and successful plays . The 49ers had time to recover from their second-quarter slumber, in which the Seahawks scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions (7-yard run by Kenneth Walker III, 40-yard catch by D.K. Metcalf). Metcalf scored again with 1:48 remaining, but it merely made the Seahawks’ losing score more respectable as they finished their still-surprising season with a 9-9 record.

“I’m not going to put too much stress into who we’re playing,” Williams said of their next foe. “One thing we know for sure is they’ll have to be here Saturday or Sunday next week. Whoever they put in front of us, it’s another step, another test.”

Williams added that he wasn’t worried how Brock would respond to his playoff debut, because it was against a familiar foe the 49ers had twice beaten this season, including last month in prime time in Seattle.

After a few passes sailed off target early, Purdy settled down, and his teammates noticed. “After that, he played really good football,” Kittle said. “I could feel his confidence in the huddle, and that felt like old Brock.”‘

Old Brock, the 23-year-old rookie who just entered the fray six games ago for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo?

Kittle’s response: “He did exactly what we needed to do to win that game.”

Indeed, that game and the previous six. Three more to go.

About three hours before kickoff, the grounds crew took off a tarp that only went onto the field Thursday evening, after the end zones were painted red to mirror not only the 49ers’ Candlestick Park days but also their 2020 playoff games at 9-year-old Levi’s Stadium.

About an inch of rain fell overnight and before water was squeegeed off the tarp before its removal.

Sporadic showers are forecast to return for the game, more likely toward the fourth quarter. That won’t be a new factor in the 49ers’ season, which opened in a Chicago downpour and resurfaced in November in Mexico City, as well as last month when the 49ers beat the Bucs. The wettest conditions ever at Levi’s Stadium came last season when the 49ers lost to the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 24, 2021.

The National Weather Service expects temperatures in the high 50s, with south-southeast wind 9 to 14 mph, with potential gusts of 28 mph.

Tarp is coming up with 3-plus hours until #49ers vs #Seahawks at #LevisStadium.
Rain taking a break until 1:30 pm kickoff pic.twitter.com/xp3Y0dJBMn

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 14, 2023

49ERS INACTIVES

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) is out his sixth straight game, and it’s unknown whether his rehabilitation will have him ready to return later in the playoffs. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Garoppolo would only comeback as a backup to Brock Purdy, possibly for the NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl, if they make it that far. Garoppolo has been seen the past month, and as recently as this week, riding a knee scooter with his foot in an orthopedic boot.

Jimmy Garoppolo is eager to get back but Brock Purdy will remain as the starter. The 49ers flew out the Seahawks groundskeeper, Sean Vanos, to help with the wet field conditions in Santa Clara. @JayGlazer has the latest pic.twitter.com/OJ2F5iRx77

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 14, 2023

Also out are:

Defensive end Drake Jackson

Running backs Ty Davis-Price and Tevin Coleman

Tight end Ross Dwelley

Cornerback Ambry Thomas

Offensive lineman Nick Zakelj

SEAHAWKS INACTIVE

Out for the Seahawks are seven reserves:

Cornerbacks Artie Burns and Xavier Crawford

Wide receiver Penny Hart

Linebackers Vi Jones and Joshua Onujiogu

Running back Tony Jones Jr.

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Then again, they’re 3-0 all-time hosting a wild-card game, so that history is on their side when the No. 7-seeded Seattle Seahawks (9-8) visit Levi’s Stadium, where the No. 2-seeded 49ers (13-4) are 12-1 since November 2021.

Those past four wins came with Brock Purdy piloting a high-scoring offense. Three more wins and he’ll be the first rookie quarterback to reach a Super Bowl.

“I’m not trying to think about this storybook ending or anything like that,” Purdy said this week.

Purdy and the 49ers prevailed 21-13 in Seattle last month to sweep the season series and lock up the NFC West title with three regular-season games to spare.

“The more times you play, the more chances they have to beat you,” defensive end Nick Bosa said, before adding: “We put on some pretty good performances against them, so we have a good idea how to beat them.”

The Seahawks lost six games by a touchdown or less this season, so Shanahan has reason to predict a tight finish at Levi’s Stadium. The Seahawks have lost only twice in eight visits, the last being a 27-7 defeat in the 49ers’ home opener Sept. 18.

The 49ers haven’t lost since a 44-23 wake-up call to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 23. Then came this 10-game win streak to the playoffs. This will be only the third playoff game in Levi’s Stadium’s nine-year history, the others coming in their 2019 team’s wins over Minnesota and Green Bay.

“I’m just happy we’re playing at home, to be honest” defensive back Jimmie Ward said. “We don’t have to travel and put that on our bodies, and we get to play in front of our fans.”

Here are five ways the five-time Super Bowl champs can win the opening of four legacy-defining rounds:

5. WEATHER THE STORM

The 49ers’ postseason is forecast to open in the rain, just as their regular season did in a Sept. 11 quagmire at Chicago. That initial experience did not go well, as a 10-0 lead dissolved amid penalties and turnovers for a 19-10 loss against the Bears, who finished a NFL-worst 3-14.

A couple of the 49ers’ home games included portions of showers, and they have since practiced in the rain more time than any season in recent memory, including Wednesday’s biggest session of the week.

Shanahan acknowledged that “bad weather slows the game down and equalizes stuff,” which seemingly could help the underdog Seahawks.

Then again, the 49ers led the NFL with a plus-13 turnover ratio, and their ball security has been outstanding, even in slick spots. Seattle, of course, might be more familiar with rainy elements than any team.

How might it impact defensive players? Well, one making his playoff debut will be cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who countered: “I played at Oregon, so it was raining 90 percent of the time or it was cold. It’s going to feel the same for me.”

4. CHUCK AND COVER

The Seahawks will be on the lookout for Lenoir, assuming he starts his 13th straight game since Emmanuel Moseley’s season-ending knee injury.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to get a lot of targets. They’ve been targeting him a lot lately,” fellow cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “I just tell him: step up to the opportunity, be ready, and make the play when it comes to you.”

Lenoir made such a play last meeting, when he returned an apparent interception for a touchdown, only to have it nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Nick Bosa. Lenoir was inactive as a rookie in last season’s playoffs, but his encounters with the Seahawks have him prepared for what D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett might bring, physically and verbally.

“If I feel you’re talking trash, that means you’re telling me you want me to make a play, so I will,” Lenoir said.

Neither Metcalf nor Lockett have scored against the 49ers this season, combining for 27 receptions and 265 yards. Geno Smith has completed 31-of-41 passes in third-and-10 or greater, so neither rain nor the 49ers’ pass rush might sway him from taking deep shots. Then again, Bosa did lead the NFL in sacks with 18 ½, including three against Smith, who got hit nine times overall by the 49ers last game.

3. STOP THEIR ROOKIE

The Seahawks’ strong rookie class is headlined by their leading rusher, Kenneth Walker III. He’s  been a non-factor, however, against the 49ers, partly because of his health. He’s earned their respect, nonetheless.

“His elusiveness is crazy,” defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw said. “His strong suit is making cuts an making people miss in the open field.”

Since gaining just 47 yards on 12 carries in Seattle’s home loss to the 49ers on Dec. 15, Walker has reeled off three consecutive 100-yard games (against the Chiefs, the Jets and the Rams).

The 49ers, meanwhile, finished the regular season allowing the second-fewest rushing yards (77.7 per game, just off the Titans’ pace of 76.9.)

What likely will help the 49ers reinforce their defensive interior with Arik Armstead are Kinlaw and Kevin Givens, who missed last month’s game with knee issues. Kinlaw, the 49ers’ top draft pick in 2020, also did not play in last season’s playoffs, so, “I’ve been longing to be a part of this.”

2. UNLEASH RUSHING TRIO

Neither Deebo Samuel nor Elijah Mitchell were in the 49ers’ lineup for that 21-13 win last month in Seattle. Christian McCaffrey was, and he ran for 108 yards and a touchdown, plus he had 30 yards on six catches.

That McCaffrey-Mitchell-Samuel trifecta is healthy and raring to go, which should be especially comforting in Purdy’s playoff debut.

The Seahawks lost Jordyn Brooks, the NFL’s fourth-leading tackler, to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago, but Pete Carroll’s defensive scheme still is reason for concern.

“You have to be on point with how you block them,” 49ers run-game coordinator Chris Foerster said. “It’s not just enough to say, OK, we got a guy for him.’ It’s not just having a guy for him. It’s how you’re going to get him blocked, because they have some challenging guys with Al Woods back. He wasn’t there the first game.”

McCaffrey hasn’t been in the playoffs since a wild-card loss at New Orleans in his 2017 rookie season with the Carolina Panthers. “I know what it means to be here and what’s at stake and the urgency that’s needed to win these kinds of games,” McCaffrey said. “I was thankful we got to the playoffs that (2017) year. As a rookie, and obviously everything (from then) is a little foggy, but when we lost, it was extremely disappointing. I haven’t been back since, so it’s good to be here.”

1. WIN FIRST PLAYOFF START

NFL pundits might suggest betting on a 10th-year quarterback who led the league in completion percentage (69.8) and posted the fifth-best passer rating (100.9). Smith, 32, indeed has plenty more experience than Purdy, 23.

Only one of them will win their first-career playoff start. The 49ers have shown the past month reason to be confident in Purdy, who’s delivered six wins since replacing Jimmy Garoppolo, and he’s done so by combating all-out blitzes as well as pocket pressure that’s showcased creativity and mobility.

“He’s very genuine. He’s himself and that’s what matters,” McCaffrey said. “He’s doesn’t do anything that’s fake.” That includes working diligently, but also being highly critical of his own mistakes, to which McCaffrey added: “I have the utmost respect for him.”

So, too, does George Kittle, who’s caught two touchdown passes from Purdy in three of the past four games, including a pair in Seattle. “He’s getting better, but he’s still the same Brock,” Kittle said. “He goes out there, knows what he’s doing, he’s confident,  he’s delivering, getting us in the right checks. He’s having fun out there, which you can really see.”

No one’s seen a rookie quarterback reach a Super Bowl, much less win one. Purdy expects to see new things in the playoffs, at least in terms of defensive schemes, starting with Carroll’s. “I feel like I see something new almost every week, so obviously there’s six games of film out there on me,” Purdy said. “There’s still things that I’m sure coordinators are going to try to dial up and try to get me to do something different.”

What he’ll try duplicating is the winning formula of past 49ers’ quarterbacks. That includes down-to-the-wire wins in the wild-card round, where Steve Young found Terrell Owens at the goal line (“The Catch II”) in a January 1999 win over Green Bay at Candlestick Park, which is where, four years later, Jeff Garcia threw a last-minute touchdown pass in a 24-point comeback win over the Giants.

Time to write the next chapter in 49ers’ playoff history.