Ranking the Seahawks' schedule from best to worst | Analysis

The NFL unveiled what might be the most unusual schedule for the Seahawks in the team's 51-year history Thursday.

They will open the season on a Wednesday night at Lumen Field against the New England Patriots in the NFL season opener, a rematch of the Seahawks' 29-13 Super Bowl win in February.

The Seahawks are scheduled for a team-record six prime-time games - a number that could grow if later games are flexed - and will play their first-ever game on Christmas, as well as five games on days other than Sunday.

Now that the full schedule is out, it's time for our annual ranking of the matchups.

1. Dec. 25 (Friday) vs. L.A. Rams: The Seahawks were one of just six teams not to have played on Christmas. And for those who wish the NFL could take this day off, the TV ratings for and stadium attendance at Christmas games the past few years have shown that if they schedule it, people will come. From a game standpoint, this one is likely to be as big as it gets for the Seahawks as the first of two meetings against the Rams in the final three weeks - and maybe the first of three overall. The Seahawks will have a chance to strike the first blow at home.

2. Sept. 9 (Wednesday) vs. New England Patriots: An interesting choice by the league to place the Pats in the opening-game slot given Mike Vrabel's situation and the conventional wisdom that this might just be another blowout. But for Seahawks fans, seeing the second Super Bowl banner raised and beginning defense of the title is more than enough.

3. Jan. 9-10 (Saturday or Sunday) at L.A. Rams: The date will be set later for the season-ender. Obviously, a lot can change between now and then. But for now, this certainly has the appearance of a game in which an awful lot could be on the line, similar to the season-ender last year against the 49ers. And maybe a foreshadowing of one more game to come at SoFi (where the Super Bowl will be held Feb. 14).

4. Oct. 25 (Sunday) vs. Kansas City: The return of Kenneth Walker III and what will be Patrick Mahomes' second career appearance at Lumen Field if he is recovered from his knee injury (he lost the first, 38-31, in 2018) make this one worth the price of admission in the Sunday night NBC game.

5. Nov. 29 (Sunday) at San Francisco 49ers: It almost feels like the return to the scene of one of the two biggest wins in franchise history should rank higher. It'll be even more appetizing if a lot is again riding on the game.

6. Dec. 7 (Monday) vs. Dallas Cowboys: Games against America's Team are always fun, and prime time on Monday night makes it all the better. It's the first time Dallas has played at Lumen in front of fans since 2018 and only the fourth time since 2007.

7. Nov. 2 (Monday) vs. Chicago Bears: The Seahawks' other MNF game this year features Coby Bryant, Caleb Williams and an intriguing coaching matchup between Chicago's Ben Johnson and Mike Macdonald. Seattle interviewed Johnson in 2024 before getting Macdonald, with the Bears landing Johnson a year later. Both teams appear to have gotten a good one.

8. Dec. 19 (Saturday) at Philadelphia Eagles: One can only imagine how juiced the crowd will be for a 5 p.m. start in Philly, technically a prime-time game, especially assuming the Eagles are also playing for something. A matchup of the last two Super Bowl champs will be fun regardless not to mention seeing Riq Woolen go against Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

9. Oct. 11 (Sunday) vs. San Francisco 49ers: The first of two meetings with the 49ers will serve as an early test of NFC West supremacy. The biggest question - if the Seahawks get the ball first, will the 49ers kick it to Rashid Shaheed?

10. Oct. 15 (Thursday) at Denver Broncos: Seahawks will have a quick turnaround from the 49ers game to traveling for a Thursday night game against the Broncos, who will be projected as one of the favorites to come out of the AFC this year. The Seahawks haven't played in Denver since 2018.

11. Dec. 13 (Sunday) vs. New York Giants: This might not be the most interesting game on paper, but the matchup of Macdonald against his coaching mentor, John Harbaugh, will make it worth watching.

12. Nov. 15 (Sunday) at Las Vegas Raiders: Seahawks have played in Sin City only in the preseason (in 2021), so this figures to be a fun one for the fans who make the trip, anyway. If Kirk Cousins is still the Raiders' QB by this point, he'll have a chance to lose to the Seahawks in a fourth different uniform (previously dropping games against the Seahawks starting for Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta).

13. Oct. 4 (Sunday) vs. Los Angeles Chargers: What the Seahawks hope will be the first of at least three trips to SoFi this season (the later game against the Rams and maybe the Super Bowl?) will reunite Macdonald with his other coaching Harbaugh mentor, Jim.

14. Sept. 27 (Sunday) at Washington Commanders: If Jayden Daniels is healthy and Washington rebounds from last season's faceplant, this game - the first of only two 10 a.m. games for the Seahawks - might deserve to be higher on the list. That this is the second consecutive year making the long trip to Washington takes some of the shine off this game.

15. Sept. 20 (Sunday) at Arizona Cardinals: Who knows what to expect out of Arizona this year under rookie head coach Mike LaFleur and no more Kyler Murray to kick around (he was 2-9 in 11 starts against Seattle for Arizona). But knowing what we know now this should be an easy win for the Seahawks. That would make for a fun trip for the voluminous number of Seahawks fans who usually make the trek, though they might have preferred it to come later in the season.

16. Jan. 3 (Sunday) at Carolina: Another year, yet another trip to Charlotte for the Seahawks, the eighth in the regular season since 2012. and the last of two 10 a.m. games. This comes in between two games against the Rams, similar to how last year's game against the Panthers was also in Week 17 in between games against the Rams and 49ers. the Seahawks will hope for a similar result to last year's 27-10 win.

17, Nov. 8 (Sunday) vs. Arizona: The Seahawks will likely be the biggest favorite all season in this game, making this mostly one to try to get through with a W easily and move on. This is the final of three straight at home, the other two prime-time games against the Chiefs and Bears, so they will need to avoid a letdown.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 6:37 AM.