The Seattle Seahawks weren’t anyone’s idea of a playoff contender entering the 2022 season, but a surprising performance from Geno Smith and contributions from several young players propelled Pete Carroll’s team into the postseason. Can they make another playoff run in 2023? Here’s what the Seahawks’ schedule looks like for the upcoming season.
Seattle Seahawks Schedule and Opponents
- Week 1: vs. Rams
FOX | 4:25 p.m. ET (Sunday, Sept. 10) - Week 2: at Lions
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Sept. 17) - Week 3: vs. Panthers
CBS | 4:05 p.m. (Sunday, Sept. 24) - Week 4: at Giants (MNF)
ESPN | 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday, Oct. 2) - Week 5: BYE
- Week 6: at Bengals
CBS | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 15) - Week 7: vs. Cardinals
FOX | 4:05 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 22) - Week 8: vs. Browns
FOX | 4:05 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 29) - Week 9: at Ravens
CBS | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 5) - Week 10: vs. Commanders
FOX | 4:25 p.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 12) - Week 11: at Rams
CBS | 4:25 p.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 12) - Week 12: vs. 49ers (Thanksgiving)
NBC | 8:20 p.m. ET (Thursday, Nov. 23) - Week 13: at Cowboys (TNF)
Prime Video | 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday, Nov. 30) - Week 14: at 49ers
FOX | 4:05 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 10) - Week 15: vs. Eagles
FOX | 4:25 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 17) - Week 16: at Titans
CBS | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 24) - Week 17: vs. Steelers
FOX | 4:05 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 31) - Week 18: at Cardinals
TV and Time TBD (Sunday, Jan. 7)
Seattle Seahawks Strength of Schedule
Based on 2023 win-total projections, the Seahawks project to have the 16th-easiest NFL schedule next season. However, PFN’s strength of schedule model, which accounts for other factors beyond win-total projections, thinks Seattle has the 11th-hardest slate in the league.
As usual, Seattle will play each of its NFC West rivals at home and on the road. They’ll also face the entirety of the NFC East and the AFC North. Games against the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bengals, Browns, and Ravens stand out as particularly difficult contests on the Seahawks’ schedule.
Additionally, the Seahawks will play the two remaining NFC teams that finished in second place in their respective divisions: the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions. Lastly, Seattle will round out its schedule by playing the Tennessee Titans, who finished second in the AFC South in 2022.
Seattle Seahawks Record Prediction
The Seahawks’ offense ranked ninth in scoring and 13th in efficiency a season ago. In 2023, they’ll bring back almost all of their key pieces while adding a few more.
Seattle re-signed Smith to a three-year contract following his Comeback Player of the Year campaign. He’ll return as the club’s starter and will be aided by fellow holdovers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Kenneth Walker III, the latter of whom nearly won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.
However, the Seahawks aren’t relying on the status quo. They used their first-round pick on Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who figures to start immediately in the slot between Metcalf and Lockett. In the second round, Seattle used yet another early pick on a running back by adding Zach Charbonnet to the mix.
The Seahawks are expecting tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas — both of whom shined during their rookie seasons — to take another leap forward in 2023. Meanwhile, Phil Haynes is being elevated to a starting role at guard, while former Lions OL Evan Brown will take over at center.
There were more changes on defense. After a one-year stopover in Los Angeles, Bobby Wagner is back in Seattle’s linebacking corps, where he’ll be joined by fellow signing Devin Bush. Former Broncos defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones will buoy the Seahawks’ front after inking a $50+ million contract, while ex-Giants safety Julian Love came to town on a modest deal.
Seattle then used the fifth overall pick in the draft on Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon, who is expected to start opposite Tariq Woolen from Day 1. With Coby Bryant in the slot and safeties Love, Jamal Adams, and Quandre Diggs roaming the back end, the Seahawks boast one of the deepest and most productive defensive backfields in the NFL.
While Seattle will face tough games against the 49ers, Bengals, Eagles, and Cowboys, they’ll also get to play the cellar-dwelling Cardinals and Rams twice in 2023. With a schedule that ranks near the middle of the pack, and a warehouse full of incoming rookies, there’s no reason the Seahawks can’t surpass its 8.5-win total, end the year with double-digit victories, and make another trip to the playoffs.
Projected Record: 10-7