My favorite Christmas present came a little bit early.

Two days before the holiday, I was lucky enough to attend the Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers football game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Nolan Soete, one of my best friends from childhood, and I landed tickets about four rows from the top of the Hawks Nest, where the most boisterous and rabid Seahawks fans congregate.

We have been attending Seahawks games since 2004, but this was probably the farthest we have ever been from the action.

Despite our nosebleed seats (I posted a photo from our seats on Twitter), we agreed afterward it was the most enjoyable regular-season game of all time. The Seahawks didn’t just defeat the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, they dismantled them, 42-13, in front of a national television audience.

The Seahawks clinched a playoff berth with authority and are arguably the hottest team in the National Football League right now.

The atmosphere was indescribable. I have been to many games in the past, including the 2005 Divisional playoff game against the Washington Redskins, the 2006 Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys and the 2007 Wild Card game against Washington. All were loud, but I can’t remember CenturyLink Field being any louder than it was against the 49ers on Dec. 23.

The weather conditions were very Seattle-like, as rain fell hard throughout the majority of the second half. My Jordan jacket, Old Navy jeans and Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat were water logged as I made my way to the Sounder to catch the train back to Puyallup.

The truth is, I didn’t even realize how soaked I was until I made my way out of the stadium.

That is the definition of a focused football fan!

Sports editor Shaun Scott can be reached at 253-552-7002 or by email at shaun.scott@puyallupherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @herald_shaun.