The Seattle Seahawks are going into next season as defending Super Bowl champions to repeat, but history isn't on their side, if what happened over a decade ago means anything for today. The last time the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, they returned the following year but lost.
Now, all these years later, the Seahawks will be in the same position, and their chances of at least getting back to the big game are high. That said, the level of competition won't make it easy, as the Seahawks have a bevy of tough opponents on their schedule for next season, including the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Denver Broncos, just to name a few.
In their own division, the NFC West, the Seahawks also have to deal with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. In that light, considering that the 49ers are getting a handful of healthy players back, and the Rams got much better on defense, what's in the cards for the Seahawks as far as wins and losses in their division go?
NFC West division gauntlet could spell trouble for the Seattle Seahawks if these predictions come true
Arizona Cardinals: Weeks 2 & 9
Not that any NFL opponent is easy, the Seahawks' easier, should-be, and expected wins will come against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are going into next season with no true answer at quarterback (Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew), a first-time head coach (Mike LaFleur), and a franchise rebuilding and not expected to contend for a while yet.Â
The Seahawks have won nine straight against the Cardinals since 2021. The level of competition here is simply not equal, or close to it. Unless the Seahawks are unprepared in the worst way or the Cardinals happen to be the most surprising sleeper team in the league, there's no reason not to expect two wins here for the Seahawks.Â
San Francisco 49ers: Weeks 5 & 12
Things should get tougher for the Seahawks when they face the 49ers. Seattle fans should not expect the walkovers they saw in the final two matchups last season, considering that the 49ers will be getting back Fred Warner, Mykel Williams, Trent Williams, and Nick Bosa on defense.
On top of that, Dre Greenlaw is also back in a 49ers uniform. Simply put, their defense should be a whole lot better, and they were already pretty good last season without them.
The Seahawks went 1-1 against the 49ers last season, and there's a good chance both teams will split again. The 49ers will be seeking some revenge after getting clobbered in the playoffs, and the Seahawks will be looking to carry that momentum.
As far as who got better this offseason, you have to take into account who the 49ers are getting back on defense. Another 1-1 split next season seems reasonable.
Los Angeles Rams: Weeks 16 & 18
This is where it could get tricky for the Seahawks, because there is a real chance they go 0-2 against the Rams next season, as opposed to last season, when they split their games, 1-1. The Rams' additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson on defense were massive moves, and they could be division-altering moves, unless the Seahawks' offense can find a way past them.Â
The Rams should be equally favored to win the division with the Seahawks. There's just something about the Rams' offense, though; the potential of it being Matthew Stafford's final year, and last season's epic loss in the playoffs to Seattle, that moves the needle more in the Rams' favor. Sorry, Seahawks faithful, but the Rams don't lose to the Seahawks next season, going 2-0.Â
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