2026 Washington Commanders Opponent Preview: Seattle Seahawks

After the Washington Commanders kick off the 2026 regular season against a pair of divisional opponents on the road, they will return home to host the defending Super Bowl champs Seattle Seahawks for the home opener in week three. Can Washington pull out the win? Taking a look at what to expect and one matchup to watch:

2025 Record: 14-3, First in NFC West, Won Super Bowl

Key Players: QB Sam Darnold, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Cooper Kupp, OT Charles Cross, DL Byron Murphy, DB Devon Witherspoon, DL Leonard Williams, DB Nick Emmanwori

Key Losses: RB Kenneth Walker, edge Boye Mafe, DB Coby Bryant, DB Riq Woolen

Key Additions: edge Dante Fowler, DB Noah Igbinoghene, DB D’Anthony Bell

How They Fared: the Seahawks won the NFC West, secured the number one seed, and kept the Patriots scoreless until the fourth quarter in their 29-13 win in Super 60. Quarterback Sam Darnold proved to everyone that he was not a one-season wonder, passing for over 4000 yards and 25 touchdowns. The team finished top 10 in both passing and rushing yards and was tied for the fifth-fewest sacks given up. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards, while Kenneth Walker took home Super Bowl MVP. The only weakness in the team was protecting the ball, as they finished with the second-most giveaways in 2025. Darnold himself had 14 interceptions and led the league with 11 fumbles. They were arguably better on defense, finishing in the top 10 in total, passing, rushing, and takeaways. Leonard Williams, Ernest Jones, and Devon Witherspoon each earned Second-Team All-Pro selections, while Nick Emmanwori finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Despite no one finishing with double-digit sacks, they still finished tied for seventh-most with 47. 

2026 Expectations: Despite being the defending Super Bowl Champions, Seattle has the second-best odds to win the NFC West, according to FanDuel, behind the Rams at +230. They have the fourth-best odds at repeating as champions at +1200. The three teams ahead of them are the Rams, Bills, and Ravens.

Key Matchup: Seattle Run Defense vs Washington Run Game:

The Seahawks gave up the third-fewest yards on the ground last year and brought back almost everyone on their front seven from 2025. While Boye Mafe’s presence will be missed, Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy are game-wreckers on the defensive line, with veteran Jarren Reed manning the nose spot. Demarcus Lawrence was named a Pro-Bowler at outside linebacker, while Uchenna Nwosu was tied for the team lead in sacks. On the inside, Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas finished first and second on the team in tackles, respectively. This will be a big test for the Commander offensive line, as they will need to be at their best to open up holes in the run game. The Interior, in particular, will be up against two of the best defensive linemen in the entire league. Communication will be a big factor. This could also be where fans start to see the hierarchy at running back. While Jacory Crowsey-Merritt and Rachad White are expected to be the top two backs going into 2026, nothing is set in stone just yet. Could one of them stand out from the other, or will someone surprising step up early on? 

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