Ending the NFL regular season as a No. 1 seed with a first-round playoff bye always comes with a caveat: facing a first-place schedule in the following season. The Seattle Seahawks will fall victim to this as they are the NFC champions, but who are we kidding? Whose complaining?
The Seahawks wouldn't trade their current status or position for the sake of next year's schedule; they're ready for a deep playoff run that hopefully leads to a Super Bowl win — an achievement this team can definitely achieve.
But that is now, and next year, the Seahawks will indeed face tougher opponents, and that's not including the two rivals in their own division. Seahawks fans will watch their home team face not one, not two, not three, and not four, but five division winners, and it only builds up the excitement and anticipation, no matter how these playoffs end for Seattle.
Seattle Seahawks face a daunting 2026 schedule
Let's get the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers out of the way, firstly, because they are a given on Seattle's schedule. Both division rivals will be expected to be top NFL teams again next year. For the 49ers, provided they return fully healthy, or very close to it, they could be one of Seattle's toughest matchups in general, especially with a fully complemented defense.
The same goes for the Rams, who should be expected to have Matthew Stafford back, unless he pulls off a surprise offseason retirement move. Considering how well he played this year, and if he does in fact win the MVP (which he should) and the Rams reach the Super Bowl (which they could), it's hard to imagine him not going out there for at least one more year.
Or, if they win, he could walk, and this topic is moot.
So that takes care of the Seahawks' two toughest opponents next year, leaving us with the rest of the NFC and the AFC. In their own conference, the Seahawks will be tested by the other division rivals: the Philadelphia Eagles, the Carolina Panthers, and the Chicago Bears. Of those three teams, Seattle played Carolina this year — a win for the Seahawks — so playing them again will be familiar.
As for the AFC opponents Seattle will face, they will take on the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. Both teams had spectacular seasons. Drake May and Bo Nix are clearly each franchise's future quarterbacks, and they both have a chance to make deep playoff runs in their second year.
The Seahawks will have a lot to handle against both squads, but it should be fun to watch, nevertheless, and a test of mettle.
Putting aside the Panthers, because let's be honest, no one really knows about Bryce Young, and who knows what type of season the Panthers will have next year. The focus should be on the Eagles, Bears, Patriots, and Broncos, outside of the NFC West.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, they only have to travel to two of these teams' home fields on the road. Here is Seattle's schedule broken down by home and road games:
Home
San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears (NFC North division winner), and the New England Patriots (AFC East division winner).
Away
San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East division winner), Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos (AFC West division winner), and the Carolina Panthers (NFC South division winner).
It should be noted that even though the Chiefs are not division winners, depending on Patrick Mahomes's status next year, Kansas City could be a tough matchup for the Seahawks. The same can be said for the Chargers and the Cowboys.
Looking at this schedule, the Seahawks will, without question, face higher competition and more heat in 2026. All the more reason for Seattle to make the best of these playoffs, here and now, so they can walk into the next with the absolute most confidence available.