The defending champion Seahawks opened Week 1 with a win that said plenty about where they stand in the NFC. It wasn’t clean.
It wasn’t easy. And when Sam Darnold went down five plays into the game, it looked like Seattle might be headed for trouble in its home opener.
Instead, the Seahawks leaned on their defense and found a way to survive. Drew Lock stepped in and was willing to push the ball downfield, but the real story was Seattle’s ability to absorb a major early setback and still finish the job. That kind of response is why they remain the team everyone else is chasing.
Behind Seattle, the rest of the NFC power picture already has a little of everything after Week 1 - a couple of teams that looked dangerous, a few that flashed big-time upside, and one or two that left plenty to clean up.
The San Francisco 49ers come in at No. 2 after handling their opener with a defense that looked scary, even with a couple of pieces going down. Kyle Shanahan has built a reputation for making things work when the injury list grows, and that showed again.
The result may be a little misleading, and the score might not have looked so lopsided in a more normal game, but the 49ers still looked like a serious problem. The one thing hanging over them, as usual, is health.
And they also have to live with the fact that Shanahan’s teams couldn’t score a single touchdown in their last two games vs. the Seahawks. For now, Mike Macdonald gets to keep those bragging rights.
Chicago landed at No. 3 after putting together one of the loudest offensive performances of the week. The Bears dropped 59 points on Carolina, with Caleb Williams accounting for four of their eight touchdowns, including two on the ground.
Ben Johnson’s group looked like it could pile up points all season long, especially since it did all that without Colston Loveland catching a pass, even though he led the team in receiving yards in 2025. The warning sign came on the other side of the ball: Chicago gave up 37 points and made Bryce Young look Tom Brady-ish.
The secondary has work to do, though Kyler Gordon’s eventual return should help.
Minnesota checks in at No. 4 after surviving its opener without Kyler Murray, who left with a concussion. Carson Wentz took over and steadied the offense, looking poised even while the Vikings were behind.
Then Brian Flores’ defense took over by blitzing Jordan Love again and again, wearing down the Packers’ shaky IOL and forcing multiple turnovers on the way to a 22-point fourth quarter. The quarterback situation still hangs over this team, and that could matter, but the defense and skill talent make Minnesota dangerous as long as J.J.
McCarthy doesn’t play.
The Rams round out the top five despite looking flat and unprepared in their opener. Even with Myles Garrett set to miss the next month-plus, there’s still enough talent here to keep them dangerous, and Sean McVay should have his team ready for Monday Night Football against the New York Giants.
Matthew Stafford’s streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass ended down under, but the expectation is that he should find more success against John Harbaugh’s defense. The Rams have earned the benefit of the doubt, even after a rough start.
In Other News...
Three Former Seahawks Are Still Waiting For Their Next Chance
As the new NFL season begins, three familiar names tied to Seattle are still on the open market. Will Dissly, Tyler Lockett and Bobby Wagner are all unsigned right now, a reminder of how quickly even established veterans can find themselves in an uncertain spot once roster cuts and cap decisions settle in. Each left a different mark on the Seahawks, and each has a recent team story that helps explain why the next step has not come as quickly as expected.
Dissly was released by the Chargers after a failed physical, though he is now healthy. Lockett moved on from the Titans and joined the Raiders, only to wind up without a roster spot as the season approached. Wagner, meanwhile, was cut by Seattle in a salary-cap move, making his current status especially notable for a player who long defined the middle of the Seahawks defense. None of the three has landed yet, but with experience and proven production on their side, it would not be a surprise if their waiting ends before long. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Got A Crucial Sam Darnold Timeline Update
Sam Darnolds glute injury has already put the Seahawks into an early-season adjustment, and the initial timeline gives Seattle at least one more week to plan without its presumed starter. He is expected to miss Week 2 against the Cardinals, with Week 3 against the Commanders still very much in play as a possibility, which means the Seahawks are working through the kind of quarterback uncertainty that can shape the first month of a season.
Ian Rapoports update at least gave Seattle a clearer frame on the wait, suggesting Darnold could be back as soon as Week 3 and might miss only one or two games. In the meantime, Drew Locks strong showing in Week 1 bought the Seahawks some breathing room, but the bigger question now is how long the team has to keep that backup momentum going before it can hand the offense back to Darnold. [Read more 🡒]
Kenneth Walker's Chiefs Debut Gave Seahawks Fans Mixed Feelings
Kenneth Walkers first game in a Chiefs uniform gave Seattle fans plenty to process. After leaving the Seahawks in the offseason, the former Seattle back made an immediate impression in Kansas City, piling up 173 rushing yards on 23 carries and adding three catches for 18 yards. It was the kind of debut that reminded everyone in Seattle just how much burst and balance Walker brought to the backfield during the Seahawks Super Bowl-winning run last season.
For Seahawks fans, the reaction was bound to be mixed. There was satisfaction in seeing a former title contributor land in a prominent role with another contender, but there was also the familiar sting of watching him thrive somewhere else so quickly. Playing alongside Patrick Mahomes, Walker set a rushing standard for a back in that offense right away, and it only sharpened the question of what Seattle will miss most after his departure. [Read more 🡒]