Breaking Down All 16 Games on the Seahawks' 2016 Schedule

The NFL released its regular season schedule last week, including a Seahawks schedule that includes five primetime games, as well as their first trip to Los Angeles in 22 years. Let’s take a game-by-game look at all 16 games on Seattle’s 2016 schedule Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins, September 11, 1:05 p.m. Analysis: The Seahawks are opening at home for just the sixth time since 2000, and will look to get their season off on the right foot against a Dolphins squad that is trying to improve upon last year’s 6-10 record. This is the first meeting between these teams since Miami’s 2012 victory over Seattle at Sun Life Stadium (there shouldn’t be any sprinkler delays this time around with the game in Seattle). Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams, September 18, 1:05 p.m. Analysis: Not only is this the Rams’ first home game since relocating from St. Louis this offseason, it will also be something of a homecoming for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll who coached USC for nine seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams’ current home. This game could feature a rookie quarterback, as the Rams recently traded up to acquire the first pick in the draft, but regardless of who is under center for Los Angeles, the Seahawks’ biggest test could be how they handle a Rams defense that has given them trouble in recent years. Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers, September 25, 1:05 p.m. Analysis: The Seahawks have won seven of the past eight meetings with San Francisco, postseason included. Over the past two years, Seattle has swept the season series while holding the 49ers to a total of 26 points in four games, but San Francisco hopes things will be different this year with Chip Kelly taking over the head coaching job. Week 4: at New York Jets, October 2, 10:00 a.m. Analysis: The Seahawks close out the first quarter of their schedule with their first game at MetLife Stadium since their Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Broncos. The Jets went 10-6 last year in their first season under Todd Bowles, a coach who should know the Seahawks well having served as Arizona’s defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014. These teams last faced off in 2012, with Seattle winning 28-7 at home.Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons, October 16, 1:25 p.m. Analysis: Following an early bye week, the Seahawks host the Falcons, led by head coach Dan Quinn, who was Seattle’s defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014, and its defensive line coach in 2009 and 2010. Quinn’s Falcons started fast last season, winning their first five games, but struggled down the stretch on the way to an 8-8 record. Seattle won the last meeting between the teams, a 33-10 victory in Atlanta in 2013, but prior to that the Falcons had won four straight over the Seahawks, including a playoff victory in the 2012 postseason. One of Atlanta’s top young players to watch in this game will be Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant, the younger brother of former Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant. Week 7: at Arizona Cardinals, October 23, 5:30 p.m. Analysis: Last year’s NFC West champions will be looking to end Seattle’s three-game winning streak at University of Phoenix Stadium, a stretch of games that includes 29 and 30-point Seahawks victories in the past two seasons. This Sunday night contest is the first of five primetime games for Seattle, matching the most in franchise history. Week 8: at New Orleans Saints, October 30, 10:00 a.m. Analysis: Last year the Seahawks had played back-to-back road games on three separate occasions, but this year they only do that once, traveling to Arizona and New Orleans in consecutive weeks. Another scheduling positive for the Seahawks this year is that this is one of just two games kicking off at 10 a.m. PT after playing four or five such games in recent seasons. The Saints, who not long ago were one of the top teams in the NFC, are looking to rebound after back-to-back 7-9 seasons. The Seahawks have won three straight against the Saints, but all of those came at home, and their last game in the Superdome was a 34-19 loss in 2010. Week 9: vs. Buffalo Bills, November 7, 5:30 p.m. Analysis: The Seahawks, who have won 10 straight on Monday Night Football, have three primetime home games in the second half of the season, beginning with this Monday night contest. It’s the first time Seattle has played Buffalo since a 50-17 win in Toronto that was part of a dominant closing stretch to the 2012 season, but the Bills have changed a lot since then, including a switch at the top, with Rex Ryan now serving as head coach.Week 10: at New England Patriots, November 13, 5:30 p.m. Analysis: This matchups of Super Bowl XLIX opponents represents one of the toughest challenges on Seattle’s schedule. Not only have the Patriots been one of the league’s best teams for more than a decade, they’ll also be coming off their bye for this game, while Seattle is traveling across the country with one day less rest than a usual week. Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, November 20, 1:25 p.m. Analysis: The Eagles will look a lot different than the Chip Kelly-coached squad Seattle beat in 2014. Philadelphia made a coaching change this offseason, replacing Kelly with Doug Pederson, and the Eagles have also made a number of changes to their roster. If Pederson, a Ferndale High School graduate with a background coaching quarterbacks, can get a healthy and productive season out of Sam Bradford, then the Eagles could contend in the NFC East. Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, November 27, 1:05 p.m. Analysis: Seattle’s longest trip of the season is to face a team that made significant improvements last year, going from 2-14 in 2014 to 6-10 in 2015 with No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston leading the offense. With Winston, Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin, and an upgraded line that includes former Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy, the Bucs hope to continue their upward trend in 2016, and could be a dangerous team come December. Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers, December 4, 5:30 p.m. Analysis: The Panthers beat the Seahawks in a thriller at CenturyLink Field last season, then again in the postseason on their way to a Super Bowl appearance, and it’s very possible this game will also have big postseason implications. The Seahawks and Panthers have played six times in the last four seasons, postseason included, so they will be very familiar with each other in this late-season clash.Week 14: at Green Bay Packers, December 11, 1:25 p.m. Analysis: Seattle’s second trip to Lambeau in as many years could be considerably colder than last year’s meeting, which took place in Week 2. But after playing in sub-zero tempuratures in Minnesota in January, it would take a lot to faze the Seahawks from a weather perspective. More important than the weather forecast for this game could be the playoff implications for two teams that have been regulars in the postseason in recent years. Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Rams, December 15, 5:25 p.m. Analysis: A Thursday night game means a short week for two of the NFC’s most physical teams. This is the first of three straight divisional games to end the season, and the Seahawks will be looking to avoid a second straight home loss to the Rams, who have proven to be one of Seattle’s toughest opponents since 2012 despite a losing record in each of those seasons. Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals, December 24, 1:25 p.m. Analysis: The benefit of a Thursday game in Week 15 for Seattle will be a little extra rest for a game that could have big NFC West implications. After Seattle won two straight NFC West titles on the way to back-to-back Super Bowls, Arizona took the crown last year and is looking to not just repeat as division camps, but get over the hump and return to the Super Bowl. Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers, January 1, 1:25 p.m. Analysis: The Seahawks close their season in a stadium that they so far have enjoyed visiting, winning their two games at Levi’s Stadium by a combined 39-6 margin. If Kelly gets the 49ers offense going in his first season, however, the Seahawks should expect a much tougher on this trip to the Bay Area.

Breaking Down All 16 Games on the Seahawks' 2016 Schedule

Taking a game-by-game look at the Seahawks' 2016 schedule.