Where Seahawks’ strength of schedule ranks for 2026

NFL schedule release week has arrived.

By Thursday evening, the NFL’s full 2026 regular-season schedule will be unveiled in its entirety, complete with the dates and times of every matchup. And certain details are sure to trickle out before then – including who the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will open their title defense against on Sept. 9.

But due to the NFL’s scheduling format, we already know every team’s slate of opponents, as that’s been set in stone since the conclusion of the 2025 regular season.

So, based solely on who the Seahawks are facing, how difficult is their 2026 schedule?

One way to measure that is by looking at the combined 2025 win percentages of a team’s opponents. It’s obviously an imperfect measurement, as teams can vary greatly from year to year due to roster turnover, injuries and a whole slew of other factors. However, it can provide at least a general ballpark view of a team’s approximate strength of schedule.

According to Sporting News, the Seahawks’ 2026 schedule ranks as the 14th-hardest out of 32 teams, with a combined .514 opponents’ win percentage from last season. For context, Seattle’s 2025 schedule was tied for the 17th-hardest with a .498 opponents’ win percentage, according to NFL GSIS.

Looking a bit closer, the Seahawks’ 2026 schedule is filled mostly with teams that were either among the best in the NFL last season or among the worst – with not much in between.

If we break last year’s leaguewide regular-season standings into thirds – the top 11 teams (11-plus wins), the middle 11 teams (7 to 10 wins) and the bottom 10 teams (6 or fewer wins) – here’s a snapshot of where Seattle’s 2026 opponents land.

Games vs. teams with 11-plus wins in 2025

The Seahawks play nine games against teams that finished the 2025 regular season with 11-plus wins. That includes seven games against teams that reached the divisional round of the playoffs.

• vs. Patriots (14-3)
• at Broncos (14-3)
• vs. Rams (12-5)
• at Rams (12-5)
• vs. 49ers (12-5)
• at 49ers (12-5)
• vs. Bears (11-6)
• at Eagles (11-6)
• vs. Chargers (11-6)

Games vs. teams with 7 to 10 wins in 2025

The Seahawks play just two of the 11 teams that finished the 2025 regular season with seven to 10 wins.

• at Panthers (8-9)
• vs. Cowboys (7-9-1)

Games vs. teams with 6 or fewer wins in 2025

The Seahawks play six games against teams that finished the 2025 regular season with six or fewer wins – including four games against teams that finished with four or fewer wins.

• vs. Chiefs (6-11)
• at Commanders (5-12)
• vs. Giants (4-13)
• vs. Cardinals (3-14)
• at Cardinals (3-14)
• at Raiders (3-14)

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