While the majority of American sports are on a hiatus due to the coronavirus, the NFL is the gift that keeps on giving. Following the draft, the next most anticipated thing on the offseason schedule is the release of the schedule, which is now finally upon us.
Here is the official 2020 NFL regular-season schedule for the Seattle Seahawks, which includes four primetime games.
By nature of playing in the NFC West and their strong 11-5 record last year, the Seahawks will once again be playing one of the more difficult schedules in the NFL.
Although there are no slouches the Seahawks will play, there are some games that will mean more than others. Here are the top 5 biggest games for Seattle in 2020.
No. 5 – @ Atlanta Falcons (Week 1)
The Falcons may have finished 7-9 last season, but right off the bat this looks like a potential trap game for the Seahawks. Matt Ryan has seemingly had Seattle’s number for years now, and coach Dan Quinn still knows how to attack his former team’s weaknesses.
Even last year the Falcons gave Seattle troubles in Atlanta, as they nearly managed to claw their way out of a 24-0 halftime hole to fall by only a score in a 27-20 loss. That was with backup quarterback Matt Schaub filling in for an injured Matt Ryan as well.
Seattle is 2-9 in their road openers under Pete Carroll, and only have a single road win when it’s the season opener, which came in 2013. The Seahawks have gotten to slow starts early in September before, but they need to set the tone against a winnable opponent early and not risk losing ground in a tough division race so soon, especially considering the following week’s opponent . . .
No. 4 – vs New England Patriots (Week 2)
Tom Brady or not, the Patriots are still going to be a force to be reckoned with. The Seahawks welcome their hated rival back to CenturyLink for the first time since 2012, where Russell Wilson cemented himself as the bonafide starting quarterback when he rallied Seattle from a 13-point hole to earn a 24-23 upset victory.
New England isn’t likely to be an offensive juggernaut in 2020, but they still have the league’s top coach, a bevy of talented running backs, and a suffocating secondary led by 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. This is a team that will win games keeping the score low, controlling the ball, and not making mindless mistakes.
With all eyes on the Seahawks, they need to be able to take care of business at home on Sunday Night Football.
No. 3 – vs Los Angeles Rams (Week 16)
The Rams have been a perpetual thorn in the Seahawks’ side for years and is one of the only teams to have a winning record over Russell Wilson.
The Rams may be looking at a rebuilding year, but talent or not has never stopped them from giving Seattle serious trouble. Head coach Sean McVay has the secret sauce to scoring often and early versus Seattle. In his last five games, his offense has scored no less than 28 points against the Seahawks.
Last year the Seahawks split with the Rams, losing a blowout in Los Angeles and narrowly escaping with a 30-29 win at home due to a missed field goal. Seattle needs to bring its A-game no matter what to avoid another Week 16 dud at home during the playoff stretch.
No. 2 – vs Arizona Cardinals (Week 11)
The Seahawks will once again play a home game on Thursday Night Football. While the Seahawks have done exceptionally well on these nights, they haven’t been so hot when the Cardinals make the trip up north.
CenturyLink Field is one of the most hostile environments in the NFL and has flummoxed plenty of great teams, but for whatever reason, the Cardinals have cracked the code when it comes to stealing home wins from the Seahawks. Arizona has won five out of the last seven games in the Emerald City, including last year’s 27-13 blowout.
Now Arizona has stocked up and looks to make a name for themselves as an NFC dark horse contender. Acquiring the sensational DeAndre Hopkins will bolster an offense that has aspirations of being dynamic. This just might be a game the Seahawks have to win shoot-out style.
No. 1 – @ San Francisco 49ers (Week 17)
Was there any doubt? The San Francisco 49ers have reclaimed their title as the biggest rivals to the Seahawks. As reigning division and conference champions, any road to where Seattle wants to go runs directly through them.
Last year the Seahawks lost an opportunity to claim their first division title since 2016 when they were inches away from upsetting the Niners in a heartbreaking 26-21 loss in Week 17 at home.
Now the Seahawks have a golden opportunity to potentially repay the favor and have typically done well when it comes to playing in Santa Clara.
However, the Niners still look to be every bit as formidable in 2020, even after their humiliating Super Bowl LIV defeat.
