Confetti barely swept off the field, and the Seahawks already started losing pieces. Three defensive starters walked in free agency, the roster that beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX got carved up, and Seattle’s front office responded by paying Rashid Shaheed $51 million instead of patching the defense. Now ten opponents stand between the champs and a repeat — counting down from “expected danger” to “the matchup nobody saw coming.”
10. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans Power Echols (44) runs through drills during the Titans Rookie Camp Day 1 at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2026.
The least surprising name on the slate. Seattle visits Nissan Stadium in the preseason on August 23, a tune-up that doubles as a chemistry test for a defense breaking in new pieces. The Titans don’t bring a grudge or a stylistic riddle. They’re the warm-up act on a year-long tour of contenders.
9. Carolina Panthers
Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) reacts in the fourth quarter in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Seattle hits Bank of America Stadium in Week 17 on January 3 in the early Sunday window, a road trip that reads like a get-right game on paper. But road games against young teams trying to prove something have a habit of turning into traps, and a Week 17 visit one game before the season finale is exactly where playoff seeding can leak away.
8. New York Giants
May 21, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese (52) participates in a drill during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
A Week 14 home game against the Giants on December 13 reads like a layup. But Seattle’s offensive continuity and developmental pipeline are the things New York’s pass rush has the talent to disrupt. The surprise here isn’t the result — it’s the toll. Pass rushes like New York’s are how repeat champions lose starters before the playoffs.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
May 20, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The Raiders are an inflection point on the schedule — a Week 10 road trip to Allegiant Stadium on November 15, the last game before Seattle’s Week 11 bye. Seattle drafted Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at pick 32 in the first round, signaling commitment to a ground-game identity. Vegas is where that identity either holds up on the road or starts looking stubborn.
6. Dallas Cowboys
May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Kevin Gilliam (94) on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
A Week 13 Monday Night Football matchup at Lumen Field on December 7 is exactly the kind of game ESPN’s Football Power Index loves and locker rooms quietly dread. The Cowboys travel well, score in bunches, and force defenses to commit on every snap. For a Seahawks unit still learning each other’s names, prime time amplifies every blown coverage.
5. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) huddles with his teammates during rookie mini-camp practice on May 8, 2026, at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe.
Every NFC West opponent posted a winning record in 2025, and Arizona is the divisional foe most likely to be underestimated. Seattle visits State Farm Stadium in Week 2 on September 20, before the new defense has had time to gel, then hosts the Cardinals again in Week 9 on November 8. Two divisional matchups against a rival quietly closing the gap is exactly how repeat campaigns derail.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Feb 1, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; NFC coach Jerry Rice talks with Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during practice at the Flag Fieldhouse Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
San Francisco knows Seattle’s blueprint better than any team in football. The 49ers visit Lumen Field in Week 5 on October 11, the first of two divisional matchups against a roster built specifically to negate Seattle’s strengths, with the Week 12 rematch at Levi’s Stadium on November 29. The surprise isn’t that the games are hard — it’s how much they dictate seeding when every NFC West team finishes above .500.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
May 1, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jamari Butler (51) and defensive tackle Uar Bernard (93) during rookie minicamp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Riq Woolen now wears Eagles green, and Seattle visits Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, December 19 in Week 15. A former starter facing his old team, in his new building, with a Super Bowl-caliber roster around him — that’s not a regular-season game. That’s a referendum on whether the Seahawks’ development model can outpace the talent it lets walk.
2. Los Angeles Rams
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to inside linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during the second half against Los Angeles Rams at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021.
The Rams enter 2026 as one of the league’s Super Bowl LXI co-favorites, just ahead of Seattle in the futures market — and they let Cooper Kupp go before he won another ring with the Seahawks. Two games against the team now openly chasing Seattle’s blueprint, including a Christmas Day showcase at Lumen Field in Week 16 and a Week 18 finale at SoFi Stadium, with the player they discarded as the symbolic centerpiece. The Rams aren’t just a divisional opponent. They’re the mirror.
1. New England Patriots
May 9, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (4) and wide receiver Kyle Dixon (83) run drills during the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The biggest surprise on the slate. New England spent the entire offseason stewing over a 29-13 Super Bowl LX loss, and the Patriots built their dynasty on defensive excellence — the same blueprint Seattle is now running back at them. The NFL chose this rematch as the league’s first Wednesday season opener since 2012, slotting it for September 9 at Lumen Field on NBC. No team has repeated as Super Bowl champions since the 2003-2004 Patriots, and the franchise that holds that distinction is the one Seattle has to handle to start the title defense. A Super Bowl rematch this early, with three new defensive starters still learning the playbook, is the kind of opening chapter that decides whether the championship window cracks open or slams shut. Which game on this list scares you most — and which one is Seattle sleeping on? Drop your ranking in the comments.
