It's certainly fair to admit the San Francisco 49ers were done few favors when the 2026 regular-season schedule came out. Aside from (again) being the NFL's most-traveled team this season, the Niners will have to participate in two international games—notably a Week 1 tilt against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia—while also facing a challenging late-season stretch against top opponents from Weeks 14 through 17.
That could ultimately doom San Francisco's hopes of recapturing the NFC West this season.
Fortunately, though, the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks have an equally challenging set of games that may ultimately derail their own aspirations for a return to playoff glory.
While one particularly tough five-game stretch for the Hawks happens much earlier in the season than the 49ers' own difficult stretch, head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. can ultimately hope Seattle's mid-season gauntlet winds up playing a pivotal role in determining the NFC West crown.
Seahawks have 5 brutal games in a row, 49ers hope to take advantage
As the Seahawks will certainly hope the Niners fall apart late, Shanahan's team can equally hope the Hawks are beset by a notably painful stretch of bouts between Weeks 4 and 8.
One could toss in a road trip to face the Washington Commanders in Week 3, but the next five games truly shape up to be tough:
- Week 4: Seahawks versus the Los Angeles Chargers at 1:25 p.m. PT
- Week 5: Seahawks versus the San Francisco 49ers at 1:25 p.m. PT
- Week 6: Seahawks at the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. PT
- Week 7: Seahawks versus the Kansas City Chiefs in Seattle on Sunday Night Football at 5:20 p.m. PT
- Week 8: Seahawks versus the Chicago Bears in Seattle on Monday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. PT
Yes, three primetime games in a row for Seattle, the first of which is a short-week road trip to the Mile High City for a Thursday night bout against Denver. Plus, four of those five opponents made the playoffs last season. The lone team that didn't, the Chiefs, can't exactly be counted as a walkover despite last year's 6-11 record.
The Seahawks have some tough sledding late in the year, too, including two games in three weeks against the Rams to close out the regular season.
But, that aforementioned five-game stretch is a gauntlet.
Naturally, San Francisco is hoping for a little bit of help from the Seahawks' opponents, and if losses pile up for the Hawks (particularly in front of a national audience), it'd be all the better.
The NFC West may ultimately be determined by what happens here.
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