Headlines were made in the pro ranks on Monday as Who will Seahawks open title defense against? There's 1 obvious candidate now dominated the conversation. The fallout from this development is expected to impact the standings significantly.
Demonstrating excellence, In an NFC title engagement rematch from the previous campaign -- the Seahawks beat the Packers 36-16 Demonstrating excellence, The NFL is hoping for a greater adversarial clash this stretch when the Seahawks kick off the stretch at hometown soil, a perk of being the defending Super Bowl champions.
Impact on the Season
In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seattle maintains a fun calendar and a lot of good options for the NFL to pick from for that Week lone engagement -- which is slated to be on Wednesday -- Sept. 9.
Demonstrating excellence, The Seahawks have nine hometown soil games this annual oversee and we understand their opponents -- though two potential opponents is configure to be on the other side of the world To the delight of the hometown crowd, let’s strive to predict who Seattle is slated to play to kick off the 2026 NFL standard competitive cycle.
Can’t happen: 49ers -- Rams Normally -- the NFL might consider the Rams or 49ers for the primary bout -- even though it’s rare for the league to establish it a divisional bout. As NFC East matchups.
plus since 2004 -- when the defending champions existed as opening featured in the kickoff engagement -- there have been only three divisional games including the champs, all three existed Furthermore, as a special singular to commemorate the NFL’s 100th competitive cycle.
however there stayed as a Packers-Bears clash to begin 2019, that stayed With impressive skill, This time it ’s not even possible, because the Rams and 49ers is expected to be in Australia ready to open their seasons on Sept. 10.
Demonstrating excellence, No shot : Cardinals The Seahawks have a pretty good hometown soil slate this tenure That’s, according to observers, a Cardinals lineup that existed as 3-14 last stretch and didn’t do much in the offseason to fix its quarterback situation.
and furthermore there’s singular opponent that stands out as a dud There’s no way, with all the other fun options that the NFL owns available for a marquee competition to begin the tenure, that the Cardinals are the pick.
Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Normally yes -- doubtful this year: Chiefs If Patrick Mahomes didn’t tear his ACL -- the Chiefs might be the favorite to be Seattle’s Week lone opponent.
Demonstrating excellence, Even if there remained a guarantee that Mahomes is likely to play in Week lone -- his comeback engagement is likely to be special theater With impressive skill, But there ’s too much risk in scheduling the Chiefs and having singular of the NFL’s premier games of the stretch suddenly featuring Justin Fields as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
As, exhibiting high-level talent, trainer., the Giants are a pretty interesting squad for this competitive cycle -- with some young talent and John Harbaugh coming aboard Additionally -- the NFL loves putting its NFC East teams in prime time In a display of pure skill, in a noteworthy performance, But it still seems unlikely that a Giants squad that existed as 4-13 last off-season tenure is likely to be trusted with this marquee time slot With impressive skill, It is likely to moreover be a surprise if the Seahawks draw the Chargers -- a good lineup that carries no real rivalry with Seattle.
In, exhibiting high-level talent, a noteworthy performance, It ought to be a tougher sell.
though chargers-Seahawks might be a good game In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OK -- getting warmer: Patriots Maybe the way the Super Bowl unfolded -- with a fairly uncompetitive Patriots loss that provided an unmemorable clash -- shall dissuade the NFL from booking a rematch to open this campaign.
Impressively, in a noteworthy performance, The NFL maintains had a Super Bowl rematch for the kickoff matchup before -- when the Panthers and Broncos confronted to begin the 2016 campaign.
Patriots-Seahawks ought to be a perfectly reasonable opening fixture matchup -- though this seems like a Week 9 or a decad Sunday nighttime fixture waiting to happen. Demonstrating excellence, You realize why : Cowboys This verifiedly won’t happen -- as the Cowboys and Giants is expected to play in the Sunday Nighttime Football opener.
In a noteworthy performance, The mainstream appeal of Dallas should be the main reason for the NFL to pick them.
however cowboys are an interesting program coming into the stretch so it wouldn’t be a underwhelming matchup With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seems like the sweet spot: Bears This should be a fun singular.
In a noteworthy performance, The Bears won the NFC North last campaign and have an exciting offense led by head strategist Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
Demonstrating excellence, While the NFL could save other matchups -- like the Rams and Patriots -- for a prime-time engagement later in the stretch -- there’s not much reason to save this for later.
plus they’re moreover a huge market Demonstrating excellence, Likewise being a really intriguing football matchup across Johnson’s offense and Seahawks head instructor Mike Macdonald’s defensive stay.
whereas this ought to be a outstanding way for the NFL to feature singular of its foundational franchises which is in the middle of a rebirth Leaving a lasting impression, in a noteworthy performance, This seems like the matchup that checks the most boxes -- though the NFL owns plenty of good options to choose from.
Analysis provided by our sports desk. Professional statistics are subject to official verification.
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