The NFL is nearing closer to kicking off its latest season, with the league releasing its schedule for 2026 on Thursday. All 32 teams unveiled their opponents alongside dates and times, including the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is gearing up for another run at the ultimate prize and looks to have the talent necessary to do so. But how does the schedule stack up with their lofty aspirations?

The Seahawks newest season begins the same way the last ended, with a date against the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl LX rematch kicks off the NFL season on Thursday, September 9 from Lumen Field in primetime. Without Kenneth Walker III, Seattle could face problems generating offense on New England's defense. However, it is hard to see the Patriots making the ultimate turnaround just months after a decisive win for the Seahawks. The champs start the season 1-0.

Week 2 brings the first NFC West showdown for Seattle, with a trip to Phoenix on the agenda. The Seahawks swept through the rival Arizona Cardinals last year, but walked away with a narrow 23-20 win on the road. While Arizona has taken steps to improve, it seems unlikely that they'll pull the stunner that eluded them in the prior two meetings. Expect this one to be closer than many will predict, but Seattle still most likely comes out on top.

Another intriguing matchup to start the year, Washington enters the season as one of the NFL's biggest wild cards. The Commanders are two years removed from an NFC title game appearance but missed the postseason entirely last season after a bout with injuries. If Washington can stay healthy through the first two weeks, especially quarterback Jayden Daniels, it can beat anyone in the league. This a true toss-up, in my opinion. For argument's sake and the fact that Seattle won't have its home crowd to lean on, let's give the Commanders the win.

Back in the friendly confines of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle squares off with another of the league's solid squads. The less familiar of the Los Angeles teams heads up to Lumen Field looking to get the big win. However, the Chargers have boasted one of the NFL's worst offensive lines the past few seasons and that is never a good sign for anyone taking on the newly-minted "Dark Side" defense from the Seahawks. Seattle bounces back in a big way in front of the 12.

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From one Golden State resident to another, the 49ers make their annual trek to Seattle in the renewal of one of the best modern rivalries in the NFL. Despite the rich history between the teams, the Seahawks had the mighty upper-hand over San Francisco last year. In three meetings, Seattle took two of them, including a 41-6 thrashing in the NFC Divisional round. The Niners battled injuries late in the season, which has proven to be a common theme for the group recently. San Francisco will be vying for revenge over the embarrassing loss, and with their health restored, they will do just that.

Wow. It's almost like Seattle won the Super Bowl or something with the schedule it was given. All jokes aside, the Seahawks do find themselves matched up with a team it was one game away from playing in the Super Bowl in the Denver Broncos in their first and only Thursday Night Football appearance of the year. Much like with the 49ers, Denver suffered what proved to be season-ending injury to QB Bo Nix ahead of the AFC Championship Game. The Broncos were arguably the better team than New England and had folks feeling they would have given the Seahawks more of a run for their money. Well, they'll get their chance now. Not to be a broken record, but this profiles as a showdown down to the final minutes maybe even into overtime. In the face of all that, it is highly unlikely Seattle drops back-to-back games four days apart. Seahawks win a thriller.

Again, this schedule is a gauntlet early, if it was not already evident. The NFL's golden child, Kansas City had its first down year in nearly a decade after losing superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes II to an ACL-tear. Even before Mahomes' exit, the Chiefs showed glimpses of mortality and had to address serious concerns in the offseason. By Week 7, it will become clear if these were properly taken care of or if Kansas City is headed for the pits of a greater rebuild. Since there's no way to tell now, let's assume they turn back into the Chiefs that are expected, which is more fun anyways. Fresh off tough outing after another, Seattle will assuredly be feeling the effects at this point. However, the saving grace for the Seahawks is the fact that this game is at Lumen Field, which will carry them toward victory.

Once again Seattle draws an opponent that made the playoffs last season. The Chicago Bears were one of the surprises of the NFL and fell an overtime-loss short of seeing Seattle in the NFC Championship. Chicago will get the chance in what will probably be a low scoring affair on Monday Night Football. Based on the stretch Seattle has been through heading into it, the Bears pull off the win. There's nothing really leading toward this prediction except a gut feeling, which is the greatest form of analysis.

The first break for Seattle since, well, they last saw the Cardinals in Week 2. While everything can not go exactly how it did for the Seahawks last season, this seems like one of the cases where it will. Arizona got blown out in its visit to Lumen Field in 2025 and not much changes here this time around. Big win for the hometown Seahawks to get back in the win column and sweep an NFC West foe.

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After a brutal span of opening opponents, Seattle has reached the less intense portion of its slate, at least based on recent history. The Las Vegas Raiders have been bad, to put to plainly. So bad that they took home the No. 1-overall pick in the NFL Draft, which they used on Fernando Mendoza. He may turn the Raiders around but with all the uncertainty, it is easier to predict off what has happened in the past. The Seahawks need to get to next week's bye-week and Las Vegas unfortunately gets caught in front of them.

Hope you enjoyed the time off, Seattle because it's right back to business. The Seahawks head to the Bay Area for the first time since winning the Super Bowl looking to payback the 49ers. Another instance where it seems last season is the blueprint, Seattle gets it done and splits with their bitter rival in their final meeting, potentially. Although, this one should be more exciting than the 13-3 finale from a year ago.

America's Team is in town looking to take one the team that actually won the Super Bowl. While jokes about this really being the year are a dime-a-dozen for Dallas, this Cowboys squad may actually be able to live up to those expectations. They have completely overhauled their defense, including hiring Christian Parker from the Eagles, and profile as a much more physical unit. However, Seattle is still the top-dog when it comes to defense. If Dallas can not keep them away from Dak, it could be a long Monday night in Seattle. Don't be surprised if Dallas gets the win, as it seems like one of those games it should not win that somehow will go its way.

For the back half of an NFC East doubleheader, the Seahawks welcome the Giants to Seattle. Much like Washington, New York is a giant (no pun intended) question mark heading into the year. They have a new head coach that is a proven winner in John Harbaugh and seemed to find their core in Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabors. The Giants could easily be the NFC's darling this season and there's no better way to announce that arrival than by knocking off the conference champion in their stadium. Unfortunately for New York, not everything has a storybook ending. Part of the blame also goes to the oh-so-loved Cowboys for knocking off the Seahawks one week prior.

Wrapping up a long stint of NFC East foes, Seattle heads to Philadelphia for a battle of the birds on Saturday, December 19. There is no team more unpredictable than the Eagles over the past few seasons, as they can go from winning the Super Bowl to looking completely inept down the stretch of another season. Regardless of how the year ends, Philly is always a tough group and an especially unsavory place to play. This feels like a possible NFC Championship preview and a passing of the torch if Seattle can notch a win. Spoiler alert: They do.

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Took long enough for them to show up but the Los Angeles Rams have arrived. The arguable main contender to the throne of Seattle, the Rams went blow-for-blow in three thrilling matchups against their divisional rival. This latest meeting takes place on Christmas Day and is sure to be a gift to every NFL fan. While it promises to be an exciting clash and the most-likely preview of the NFC Championship Game, someone has to take the loss. And that someone is Los Angeles.

The reigning NFC South champs are poised to make a run toward their division crown once again, but can Carolina stack up with the king of the conference? Short answer: Probably not. Long answer: The Panthers would need to make serious strides toward protecting Bryce Young and being able to challenge the physicality of the Seahawks. Carolina probably still makes the postseason but it isn't getting the victory this week.

Long time, no see. While Week 18 has become somewhat anti-climatic, and still could be here, the Rams and Seahawks should have everything left to play for in an ideal finale. Despite Seattle's earlier win, Los Angeles could very much be alive for the NFC West crown and potentially No. 1 seed, if last year is any indication. With so much possibly riding on the game, it may seem controversial, the Seahawks can not get it done on the road. They split with the Rams to close the season, which may only be the second of three meetings between the two.

There you have it, the exact layout of Seattle's regular season on a quest toward back-to-back Super Bowls with no wrong takes whatsoever. In all seriousness, it is impossible to know how the Seahawks will shake out in a few months, especially with the level of competition they are set to face week in and week out.

However, with the experience that few other teams in the NFL hold, Seattle seems primed to handle any challengers that come their way. Only time will tell if the Seahawks can defend their crown or it will become too heavy to take flight to the highest reaches of the league once again.