Not many people in the NFL had a more fun season than Geno Smith last year.
The quarterback won the starting job over Drew Lock and proceeded to lead the Seahawks to a 9-8 record in a season that began with a win over Russell Wilson and the Broncos. In doing so, Smith earned a nice three-year $75 million deal with $40 million guaranteed from Seattle.
With the quarterback situation figured out for the time being, Seattle now has turned its attention to other needs. It turned some heads by drafting Devon Witherspoon in the first round before turning around and picking Jaxon Smith-Njigba to shore up the receiving corps of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
This season, the Seahawks play the AFC North and the NFC East, a difficult draw all things considered. They'll also play the Titans and their fellow second-place NFC teams, the Panthers and Lions.
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Seattle has aspirations of reclaiming the NFC West, but will need to get through the always-formidable 49ers and a Rams team looking to rebound from an injury-ridden year. Here's what to know about the Seahawks schedule in 2023.
Seattle Seahawks schedule 2023
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep. 10 | vs. Rams | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
| 2 | Sep. 17 | at Lions | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 3 | Sep. 24 | vs. Panthers | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 2 | at Giants | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct. 15 | at Bengals | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | vs. Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. | Fox |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | vs. Browns | 4:05 p.m. | Fox |
| 9 | Nov. 5 | at Ravens | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | vs. Commanders | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | at Rams | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | vs. 49ers | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| 13 | Nov. 30 | at Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | at 49ers | 4:05 p.m. | Fox |
| 15 | Dec. 18 | vs. Eagles (MNF) | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | at Titans | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | vs. Steelers | 4:05 p.m. | Fox |
| 18 | TBD | at Cardinals | TBD | TBD |
Seahawks strength of schedule
The Seahawks finished last year at 9-8, and needed all 18 weeks to know they were in the postseason. They were in a three-team race with the Lions and Packers for the final wild card spot, but clinched a playoff berth with a Week 18 victory. This year, they're hoping a more well-rounded roster can challenge San Francisco, which was 13-4 last year. If the 49ers can off to a slow start this year, the Seahawks may well have a chance.
They face the 16th-toughest schedule in the NFL this year, per Sharp Football, putting them right around the league median.
Toughest tests: With the Rams disappointing last year and the Cardinals expecting a down season, the toughest test for the Seahawks on paper is going to be taking on the AFC North. The Bengals and Ravens are looking to legitimately contend for the AFC, while the Steelers and Browns are hoping to improve upon tumultuous 2022s. On top of that, the Seahawks' other divisional battles come against the NFC East, which had its fourth-place team finish 8-8-1 last year. That is to say, the Seahawks have an extremely difficult schedule this season.
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Biggest breaks: The Seahawks' "extra" game coming against a Titans team in flux certainly qualifies as a break, and if the Rams struggle against this year, they could get some help from an easy division. Although the Seahawks are primed for a potential regression, if they're the real deal, this will be a season to prove it.
Bottom line: The Seahawks have a lot to prove this season. Their roster is seemingly better than the team that made the playoffs last year, but their schedule projects to be difficult. The NFC East and AFC North doesn't have many pushovers between them, so if the Seahawks are to take a step in the right direction with Smith at the helm this year, they're going to have to prove it early and often.
Record prediction: 9-8