The Seahawks had one of those losses that can linger. A Week 3 trip to Washington slipped away against a Commanders team led by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, and now Seattle sits at 2-1 instead of 3-0 with a difficult run ahead.
That setback matters because the schedule is about to tighten fast. Five of the next six games are at Lumen Field - with Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals also in Seattle - but after that, only three home games remain the rest of the way.
If the Seahawks shake off the Commanders game and handle business before the Week 11 bye, 8-2 is there. If not, the playoff picture gets messy in a hurry.
Week 4 brings the Chargers to Lumen Field on Sunday, October 4 at 1:25 p.m. PT on CBS.
What looked like one of the league’s marquee early games has lost some shine, because Los Angeles has stumbled to 0-3. Justin Herbert is still capable of strong stretches, but he has not become a top-five quarterback, and the consistency just isn’t there yet.
There’s also the coaching angle, with Mike Macdonald facing Jim Harbaugh after spending one season as Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator, sandwiched between his work for Jim’s brother John with the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers may actually need this one more, and they can absolutely make it uncomfortable if Seattle gives the ball away again.
Los Angeles has already forced six turnovers, third-most in the league, and the Seahawks’ three-turnover night against Washington is the exact kind of mistake that could swing this game.
The following Sunday, October 11, the 49ers come to town for another 1:25 p.m. PT kickoff on FOX.
Seattle handled San Francisco last season, especially once Mike Macdonald got a better read on what Kyle Shanahan wanted to do, but these teams don’t look the same now. The 49ers remain battered, yet they keep winning behind strong coaching, a sharp scheme and Brock Purdy playing elite football.
Seattle is still good, but not as talented as it was a year ago, and the loss of Boye Mafe and replacement by Dante Fowler Jr. is cited here as a step down. With the talent level now basically even, this matchup tilts to Shanahan in the first meeting, even if a later rematch could go differently.
Then comes a short week and a tough trip to Denver on Thursday, October 15 at 5:15 p.m. PT on Amazon Prime.
The Broncos are an odd team, built around Bo Nix fitting Sean Payton’s offense more than standing alone as an elite quarterback. Their defense is solid, especially in coverage, where Denver ranks third in the NFL with a 74.3 quarterback rating allowed.
That creates a problem for Seattle, which cannot run the ball effectively right now. Brian Fleury needs that ground game for his offense to click, and this is a rough matchup for it.
Two losses in four days would be a tough ask, but this is the kind of spot where Denver’s home field and defensive structure can make the difference.
After that, the Seahawks get a chance to reset before hosting the Chiefs on Sunday, October 25 at 5:20 p.m. PT on NBC.
Patrick Mahomes against Mike Macdonald is enough to sell the game on its own, and it should have been a primetime showcase no matter what happened last season. Seattle will also have had 10 days off before kickoff, which could help if the team enters this one banged up or frustrated.
There’s another layer too: running back Kenneth Walker returns to Lumen Field, and the crowd should welcome him back warmly. The hope here is that rookie Jadarian Price makes the kind of statement that cements him as Seattle’s RB1 for the foreseeable future.
The stretch continues on Monday, November 2, when the Bears visit Lumen Field at 5:15 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Chicago has the look of a team that is built the right way. Ben Johnson has the offense humming, the defense is strong, and even with Caleb Williams out a bit longer, the Bears showed what they can do without him by rolling past the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 with third-string quarterback Case Keenum.
That kind of win says plenty about where Chicago is right now. This one gives fans a Ben Johnson-Mike Macdonald matchup under the lights, and Seattle will want to use the national stage to show it still belongs in the conversation at the top of the NFC.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Questions Make One Veteran Trade Idea Worth Watching
Seattles backfield remains one of the more interesting spots on the roster as the season moves along, and the conversation around possible upgrades has started to widen beyond internal options. A veteran Tennessee running back is part of that discussion, along with names like Tony Pollard, David Montgomery and Rachaad White, all of whom bring different combinations of production, contract status and fit. For a team trying to sort out its ground game, the appeal is easy to understand, especially with run blocking still a concern and the margin for error shrinking.
The Seahawks are not being linked to a confirmed move, and this is still firmly in the speculative stage, but the idea is worth monitoring because the choices come with real tradeoffs. Some options would add proven production, while others would require a bigger commitment and raise questions about cost, ball security or how quickly they could settle in. For now, it is less about a deal being close than about which kind of back Seattle would actually want if it decides the room needs another jolt. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Quietly Addressed A Fan Frustration That Matters Right Now
After hearing from fans who had a hard time making out questions during press conferences, the Seahawks are making a small but noticeable change to how those sessions sound. New owner Neal Khosla said the team plans to add two additional microphones, a simple fix aimed at improving audio clarity for the people following along at home.
It is the kind of behind-the-scenes adjustment that does not change the standings, but it does speak to a team trying to pay attention to the details around it. The move comes as Seattle works through the aftermath of a close loss to the Washington Commanders and turns its attention to the Los Angeles Chargers, with every bit of communication carrying a little more weight right now. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have A Growing Concern At Right Tackle
The Seahawks have spent real resources trying to build something sturdier up front, and Abraham Lucas has been central to that plan at right tackle. Since arriving as a former third-round pick, he has offered the kind of run-blocking the team wants, but his work in pass protection has been a different story, with pressure issues showing up early and often in the opening games of the season.
Seattles coaching staff knows the problem is there and is already trying to patch it with extra practice work and scheme help. The question now is whether those fixes are enough to steady one of the lines most important spots, or whether right tackle becomes an even bigger concern as the season moves deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]