The Seahawks got a modest bump in the Week 5 power rankings after getting past the Los Angeles Chargers, and the move has them closing in on the top of the national conversation. Across five outlets - NFL.com, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Talk and ESPN - Seattle climbed from an average of 4.6 entering Week 4 to 3.6 heading into Week 5.
Three of those sites landed in the same place: No. 3.
NFL.com moved Seattle up one spot from fourth, noting that the Seahawks took their foot off the gas too early against the Chargers but still managed to bounce back after the loss to the Washington Commanders. Bleacher Report also bumped Seattle to third, pointing to Sam Darnold’s rough stretch with three interceptions in two games while also highlighting a defense that kept producing, with four sacks and 10 hits on Justin Herbert.
ESPN slotted Seattle at No. 3 as well, using four words to sum up the first month of the Seahawks’ 2026 season: “ Eventful - not always positive.” Brady Henderson’s breakdown at ESPN pointed to the injuries to Sam Darnold and Jadarian Price, the franchise-record 150 penalty yards against the Chargers in Week 4, and Mike Macdonald’s interview mishap involving Sean Payton.
CBS was a little lower on Seattle, moving the team up from fifth to fourth and crediting the defense for helping secure the win over the Chargers. Pro Football Talk was the most conservative of the group, placing the Seahawks fifth, one spot higher than last week, and offering only: “Let Rashid cook.”
The next test is a big one. Seattle heads into a Week 5 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, who were ranked No. 1 in all five national media power rankings. A win there would make it hard for anyone to keep the Seahawks out of the top spot.
In Other News...
Seahawks Have A Real Chance To Add Another Defensive Game Changer
Khalil Macks name is already starting to surface as the kind of midseason trade chip that can shake up the market, and Seattle makes plenty of sense as a possible landing spot. The Chargers 0-4 start has only added to the speculation, while the Seahawks have built enough of a pass rush to at least imagine how another proven edge presence could fit into the mix.
For Seattle, the appeal is easy to see: a contender looking to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks could use another defensive difference-maker, especially if the price comes in the form of draft picks. The question now is less about whether the Seahawks would have interest than whether the Chargers decide to listen, and how much it would take to pull a player like Mack out of Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fan Crossed A Line With Justin Herbert Heckle
The Chargers 0-4 start has already put Justin Herbert under the microscope, with the quarterback fighting through an uneven opening month under Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel. Herberts early numbers have reflected the turbulence, and when Los Angeles came to Lumen Field in Week 4, the frustration around the offense spilled beyond the field and into the stands.
One Seahawks fan was caught on video directing a food-related insult at Herbert during the game, an example of how thin the line can get when a star quarterback is struggling and a road crowd senses it. It was the kind of heckle that can travel fast because of who it was aimed at, and it added another odd footnote to a Chargers season that has already been short on comfort and long on scrutiny. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Tough Elijah Arroyo Question
Elijah Arroyo entered the season with the kind of draft pedigree and internal praise that usually signals a real role, but the Seahawks have barely had him involved through four games. The tight end has only one catch on one target, and his snap count has been limited enough to make him more of a background note than a featured piece of the passing game.
For a Seattle offense still sorting out its weekly identity, Arroyos quiet start raises a practical question as much as a developmental one. John Schneiders public confidence in him suggested the organization saw a bigger future ahead, yet the current usage says the staff is still deciding how, or even whether, to fold him into the game plan in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]