Facing a gauntlet of elite opponents and a target on their backs, Seattle must navigate a grueling schedule to prove their championship mettle in the 2026 season.
The path back to the top of the NFL will not be easy for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. According to a recent strength-of-schedule breakdown from Sporting News, Seattle enters the 2026 season with the league’s 14th-toughest schedule based on opponents’ combined winning percentage from last year.
At first glance, landing in the middle of the pack may not sound especially daunting. But for the Seahawks, it means there will be very few weeks where they can afford to coast. Coming off a 14-3 season and a Super Bowl title run, Seattle is no longer sneaking up on anybody. Every opponent on the schedule will view games against Mike Macdonald’s team as a measuring-stick matchup.
And now we know the official schedule.
Preseason
- Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys, August 15, 5 p.m., KING 5
- Week 2: at Tennessee Titans, August 23, 5 p.m., FOX
- Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs, August 28, 5 p.m., KING 5
Regular Season
- Week 1: vs. New England Patriots, September 9, 5:20 p.m., NBC
- Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals, September 20, 1:25 p.m., FOX
- Week 3: at Washington Commanders, September 27, 10 a.m., FOX
- Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, October 4, 1:25 p.m., CBS
- Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers, October 11, 1:25 p.m., FOX
- Week 6: at Denver Broncos, October 15, 5:15 p.m., Amazon
- Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, October 25, 5:20 p.m., NBC
- Week 8: vs. Chicago Bears, November 2, 5:15 p.m., ESPN
- Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals, November 8, 1:25 p.m., FOX
- Week 10: at Las Vegas Raiders, November 15, 1:05 p.m., CBS
- Week 11: BYE
- Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers, November 29, 1:25 p.m., FOX
- Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys, December 7, 5:15 p.m., ESPN
- Week 14: vs. New York Giants, December 13, 1:25 p.m., FOX
- Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles, December 19, 2 p.m., FOX
- Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Rams, December 25, 5:15 p.m. FOX
- Week 17: at Carolina Panthers, January 3, 10 a.m., FOX
- Week 18: at Los Angeles Rams, date/time/TV TBD
The Seahawks’ opponent win percentage sits at .514, placing them directly in the tougher half of the league entering the year. The challenge starts within the NFC West, where divisional games are rarely easy regardless of records.
Seattle also draws difficult interconference matchups against AFC West teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Seahawks will have nine games against teams that had 11 or more wins in 2025, and they will have just six games against teams that had six or fewer wins.
But here's the thing: one of those teams they are facing who had six or fewer wins in 2025 is the Kansas City Chiefs. And playing against Patrick Mahomes and company is anything but an easy win.
Seattle’s slate is challenging enough to keep the team sharp without being overwhelming on paper.
That balance could matter for a roster trying to defend a championship. The Seahawks proved throughout last season they could handle high-pressure situations, especially during a dominant postseason run that ended with a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.
Now the focus shifts toward sustaining that success. With Sam Darnold coming off the best year of his career and the defense continuing to establish itself as one of the league’s most physical groups, Seattle has the roster to navigate a demanding schedule.
The NFL schedule release has provided clarity, and one thing is already obvious: the Seahawks will have to earn every win in 2026.