NFL reveals kickoff time for Seahawks-49ers showdown for NFC's No. 1 playoff seed

A Seattle Seahawks' season that begin with a dramatic game against the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers will end the same ... this time for the division championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs.

After the Niners' 42-38 last-play victory over the Chicago Bears Sunday night at Levi's Stadium, the NFL announced that the Week 18 showdown between the 13-3 Seahawks and 12-4 San Francisco will be played Saturday night at 5 p.m.

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The winner of the game will win the division and clinch the top seed in the NFC Playoffs. The loser will be a Wild Card and start the playoffs on the road against a division winner. The Seahawks were one play away from inching closer to clinching the division Sunday night, but a final-play pass by Bears' quarterback Caleb Williams short-hopped receiver Jahdae Walker in the end zone.

The Seahawks-49ers showdown will be on ABC/ESPN, and preceded by a game for the NFC South champion between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Since the Seahawks played early Sunday and the Niners late Sunday night, Seattle could a litle rest advantage. But head coach Mike Macdonald's team did have to fly back from the east coast in Charlotte, and will have to travel south to San Francisco.

MORE: Mike Macdonald's Seahawks continue record road success in dominating Panthers

The first game between the two rivals in Week 1 - played way back on Sept. 7 - came down to the Seahawks' final possession. Cornerback Riq Wooen was beaten to a jump ball for a touchdown by Niners' rookie tight end Jake Tonges with 1:34 remaining. But Sam Darnold drove Seattle to the San Francisco 9-yard line, only to lose a fumble when defensive end Nick Bosa shoved tackle Abe Lucas into his lap and jarred the ball loose.

The Niners escaped, 17-13. Since then the Seahawks are 13-2, including Sunday's romp over the Panthers.

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