Seahawks 2021 Schedule Announced, Includes Five Prime-Time Games

The 2021 NFL schedule was released on Wednesday, and the Seahawks' 17-game schedule includes five prime-time games, a Week 9 bye, and a tough early-season slate of road games.

Seattle's five prime-time games marks the ninth straight season the Seahawks have played at least four prime-time games, and three of those will be played under the lights at Lumen Field. Since Pete Carroll and John Schneider took over in 2010, the Seahawks are 33-8-1 in prime-time games giving them a .798 winning percentage that is the best in the NFL over that span.

The defending NFC West champs open their regular season at Indianapolis, an 11-win playoff team last year, then Seahawks return home to host the Tennessee Titans in what will be their first game in front of the 12s since the end of the 2019 season.

The Seahawks then head back on the road for their next two, facing Minnesota in Week 3 and the 49ers in Week 4, giving them three road contests in their first four games. While an early road stretch might seem daunting, the Seahawks will feel confident wherever they're playing, having gone 12-4 on the road over the past two seasons, including an 8-1 record in the once dreaded 10 a.m. PT time slot.

The Seahawks' first prime-time game of 2021 will be at Lumen Field, with the Rams coming to Seattle for Thursday Night Football in Week 5, then it's back on the road for Seattle in Week 6 with a trip to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night game. That game against the Steelers is the extra non-conference game the league added when going to a 17-game schedule, and leads to the Seahawks and every other NFC team playing one more road game than home game this year, though next year that will switch, with NFC teams getting a ninth home game.

The Seahawks will host the Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 7, giving them three straight prime-time games, then stay home the next week to host the Jacksonville Jaguars and No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

The Seahawks' bye comes in Week 9, giving them some extra rest ahead of what should be a matchup of two of the NFC's top teams when Seattle plays at Green Bay in Week 10. The Seahawks return to NFC West play in Week 11 when they host the Arizona Cardinals, then head east again in Week 12 for a Monday night game at Washington.

Seattle's fifth and, barring a flex into Sunday Night Football later in the year, final prime-time game comes in Week 13 with the Seahawks hosting the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. In Week 14 Seattle travels to Houston for one of only two 10 a.m., PT games, the other being the opener at Indianapolis.

Week 15 has the Seahawks in Los Angeles to face the Rams, then the Seahawks will be home for Christmas, hosting the Bears in Week 16 on Dec. 26. Seattle's final home game of the regular season comes in Week 17 when the Detroit Lions come to town, then the Seahawks close out the regular season with a trip to the desert to face the Cardinals.

The NFL also put out the preseason schedule on Wednesday, though exact dates and times are still TBD, except for the final game. All three preseason games will be broadcast on Q13 FOX. The Seahawks will open preseason play with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders between August 13-16, then will host the Broncos in Week 2 of the preseason (August 20-23) before wrapping up preseason play with a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, August 28th. The league is cutting down the preseason from four games to three this year with the addition of a 17th regular-season game.

Here's the Seahawks' full 2021 schedule:

Week 9 - BYE