Seattle Seahawks 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings

91.1PFM Team Score1-0 Record

PFM Badge+5 more

PFM Verdict

Why PFM Ranks the Seahawks Here

PFM ranks Seattle this high because Mike Macdonald’s defense gives the team a real identity, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba keeps the offense explosive without asking Sam Darnold to carry every drive. The formula still depends on the run game and play action staying attached. If the line slips after the offseason turnover, the offense loses the balance that separates Seattle from most contenders.

NFL Rank#1Current PFM ranking

NFC Rank#1Among NFC teams

QB Stability#12Sam Darnold · Built to Trust

Season OutlookSuper Bowl Favorite

Head coachMike Macdonald

Offensive coordinatorBrian Fleury

Defensive coordinatorAden Durde

Offense86.3No. 4

Defense90.6No. 1

Coaching Direction87.8No. 2

Regular-Season Baseline

PFM Trend

Baseline September 8, 2026

Current stateBaseline set

Seattle starts the regular season with a 91.1 PFM Team Score and the No. 1 spot in PFM’s NFL rankings. Movement will appear after the first published weekly ratings update.

PFM Team Score91.1

Score movementStarts here

NFL RankNo. 1

Rank movementStarts here

See Latest NFL Ranking Changes

PFM Team DNA

Seattle Seahawks Team DNA

View all NFL team rankings

PFM category scores · 0–100 scale

QB Stability84.5No. 12 in NFLStrength

Offense86.3No. 4 in NFLMajor Strength

Explosiveness88.8No. 3 in NFLMajor Strength

Roster Strength84.6No. 2 in NFLStrength

Franchise Direction83.2No. 1 in NFLStrength

Coaching Direction87.8No. 2 in NFLMajor Strength

Defense90.6No. 1 in NFLMajor Strength

Identity

Complete Team

Seattle's identity starts with a disguised-pressure defense. Devon Witherspoon and Leonard Williams give the defense two players it can build around.

Pressure Point

Sam Darnold Has to Keep the Offense on Schedule

Sam Darnold has to give Seattle a steady answer when the first read or the opening script disappears. The larger concern is maintaining the run game and offensive-line stability after offseason turnover.

Week 1 matchup

AwayNE0-1

HomeSEA1-0

Pick the winner.

FINAL RESULTSeattle SeahawksThis Call is settled.

PFM's CallSeattle Seahawks

Final ResultSeattle Seahawks

PFM ROAD AHEAD

2026 Seattle Seahawks Remaining Strength of Schedule

Seattle owns one of the tougher remaining roads in the league because San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs form the hardest part of it. PFM has the schedule No. 9 with an opponent average of 81.3 and 8 games against current top-10 teams. The road is not difficult from start to finish, but the stretch around San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs leaves little room for an off week.

Difficulty Rank#9No. 1 is toughest

Remaining Opponent Avg.81.3Average across opponents

Next 3 Avg.78.6Upcoming opponents

Top-10 Matchups8Games vs. current top 10

Away games left8

Top-10 road opponents4

Week 2

at Arizona Cardinals73.3 PFM · #27

Sep 20 · 4:25 pm

AwayBottom 10

Week 3

at Washington Commanders78.7 PFM · #19

Sep 27 · 1:00 pm

Away

Week 4

vs. Los Angeles Chargers83.9 PFM · #10

Oct 4 · 4:25 pm

HomeTop 10

Toughest remaining opponent: Los Angeles Rams at 90.2 PFM.

See all 32 NFL strength of schedule rankings View the Week 1 NFL schedule View Seattle Seahawks’ full schedule breakdown

PFM ReporterReportedSeptember 13, 2026

Sam Darnold's Possible 4-to-6-Week Absence Widens Seattle's QB Risk

Seattle's quarterback concern has moved beyond the Week 2 absence PFM already reviewed.

Sam Darnold is expected to miss the Cardinals game with a glute tendon injury, and a new report says the absence could extend four to six weeks while the Seahawks gather additional medical opinions. Drew Lock can cover a short absence, but a month without Darnold changes the offensive outlook.

By Justin Fuhr

Sources: Sam Darnold could miss 4-6 weeks · Report: Seahawks seek multiple medical opinions on Sam Darnold's injury

Around the League

League Context

Closest Team DNA Match

Built Like Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles RamsMatch distance: 2.31 rating points

Shared profile: Coaching Direction and Roster Strength.

Seattle’s offense gets answers across the field from the offensive line; Los Angeles Rams’ offense gets answers across the field from the offensive line. Roster Strength and Coaching Direction line up because each staff has enough usable depth to adjust without forcing one star into every solution. Defense is the main separator because Seattle can affect the quarterback with more than one answer around coverage and the defensive front.

Where they separate: Defense. Seahawks hold the stronger current rating.

View Rams dashboard Compare the teams

Division Pressure

NFC West

Seattle enters as the team to catch in the NFC West. Seattle can stay in the race by leaning on defense, creating explosives for Smith-Njigba and keeping Darnold in controlled down-and-distance situations. The Rams have the strongest direct challenge in the NFC West.

Seattle Seahawks91.1

Los Angeles Rams90.2