Brock: Another team’s brutal schedule benefits Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 schedule is no cakewalk – which is to be expected for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Seven things that stand out about Seahawks’ 2026 schedule

In particular, the Seahawks have a tough stretch from Week 4 through Week 8 where they’ll host the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers in back-to-back weeks, then head to Denver on a Thursday before returning home for a big Sunday Night Football showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

There’s something that should ease the burden on the Seahawks in that stretch, according to Brock Huard, and it’s that their only road opponent in those four games has perhaps an even more brutal start to their schedule.

“My goodness gracious – the Denver Broncos,” Huard said during Friday’s Blue 88 segment during Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “… You’re going to go to Arrowhead and play (the Chiefs) on Monday night to begin the year. Then you get the playoff Jacksonville Jaguars. Oh, and then you get the Rams. And then you’re going to go to San Francisco. And then you’re going to go to the Chargers, who have been your nemesis. And then you get the Seahawks on Thursday night. That is their first six.”

Seattle’s schedule doesn’t look so bad now, does it?

Denver Sports: Five things that matter about Broncos’ schedule

“You talk about the gauntlet that the Seahawks have in October, and it is a gauntlet for the Super Bowl defending champs, but four of those five (games) are at home,” continued Huard, a longtime FOX football broadcast analyst and former NFL quarterback. “Three of these six (games for the Broncos) are on the road. And your (opponents at) home are the Jags, the Rams and the Seahawks. Yeah, we’re going to see how good you are.”

The Broncos very well could have been the Seahawks’ opponent in the Super Bowl in February, but quarterback Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle in Denver’s AFC divisional round win over Buffalo, ruling him out for the AFC Championship that the Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots. Nix has since undergone not one but two surgeries on the ankle, and this isn’t the first time he’s had ankle problems in his football career.

Surely there is hope in Denver that the team can make another deep run in the playoffs, but Huard isn’t so sure it’s lining up as well for the Broncos as a potential return to the Super Bowl is for the Seahawks. Part of that is the possibility of growing pains with head coach Sean Payton handing over play-calling duties to his 31-year-old first-year offensive coordinator, Davis Webb.

“We’re going to see how good you are, Davis Webb, first time play-caller. We’re going to see how long that lasts. Sean Payton turning over play-calling duties for the first time – we’ll see how long that lasts if there’s going to be some struggles out the gate with a QB that’s going to try to get healthy,” Huard said.

“That could benefit the Seahawks on that Thursday night if (the Broncos) are sitting there at 1-4 and there’s chaos.”

Brock Huard answers three football questions during Blue 88 at 7:45 a.m. during each edition of Brock and Salk. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Seattle Seahawks sign Bud Clark, leaving just one unsigned draft pick
• Brock Huard: Seahawks’ addition comes with a good sign on D-Law
• Bump: Undrafted Seattle Seahawks edge is one to watch

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