NFC West title, playoff seeding online in 2019 finale

SEATTLE — Even before the transactions of theweek, the hype was building. Heated rivals playing the fifinal game of the NFL regular season with massive implications for the playoffs all centered around the winner claiming the NFC West title.

And then for an added layer of drama to tonight’ s match up between Seattle and San Francisco, the Seahawks brought back Marshawn Lynch this week for one more ride in a Seattle uniform.

A big game? You bet. “This is defifinitely a week you don’t have to try at all to get your team up for the game,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’ll be the same thing for them. Just thetimes I’ve been in this situation in the past, it’s extremely funto coach. Youhave everyone’s attention, everyone is completely into it. No stone goes unturned by anyone. You don’t have to push anyone on that. Everyone’s going to be locked in and that’s all you can do.”

After a memorable Week 10 matchup in which Seattle prevailed in over time, the encore between the Seahawks and 49ers has evermore at stake.

The 49ers will claim the division and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs if they can win in Seattle for the fifirst time since 2011.

A Seattle victory will give the Seahawks their fifth division title in Pete Carroll’s 10 seasons in charge and ensure at least the No. 3 seed and a home playoffgame. Depending on what happens earlier in theday, Seattle could move up to No. 2 or No. 1.

The loser has a date with an NFC East host — currently Philadelphia— in the opening round of the playoffs.

“We know it’s going to be fun. We know it’s going to be super intense,” Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright said. “But we’re not looking too far ahead.”

The return of Lynch was a positive jolt to a Seattle locker room that needed one after last week’s loss to Arizona that also saw running backs Chris

Carson (hip) and C.J. Prosise (arm) lost for the season to injuries. He hasn’t played in 14months, his last game coming in Week 6 of last season with Oakland. The last time he took a carry for Seattle was its NFC divisional round playoffloss to Carolina in January 2016.

“The fun part about playing with him is he can make any play a great play,” Seattle QB Russell Wilson said.