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Week 9 Primetime game puts Seahawks in spotlight against rising NFC power

The Seattle Seahawks' 2025 schedule is out. The team begins against an NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers, and has several tough games through the end. Thankfully, Seattle faces the NFC South and the AFC South this coming season. A lot of those teams won't be good.

One team that is expected to be, though, is the Washington Commanders. Thanks to Seattle finishing second in the NFC West last season, the Seahawks will face a second-place schedule. Beyond playing the division rivals and the other two divisions mentioned above, Seattle has a bit of a rough time.

Or the team could. Some of the decent teams from last year will recede, and some of the bad teams will improve. The Commanders, though? They should be pretty good.

Seahawks versus Commanders should be Week 9 magic

Washington exceeded expectations in 2024 with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Rookies normally have a difficult time acclimating to the NFL, but Daniels played like a five-year veteran. There is little chance he won't be even better.

Plus, the Commanders' defense will probably be better as well. The team is coached by former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. He has proven to have good defenses no matter where he has been, and usually makes them better the longer he is in one spot. Washington traded for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, so the offense shouldn't drop off either.

In other words, the Commanders could be one of the better teams in the NFC and remain that way for a long time. The Seahawks could be that way as well.

Head coach Mike Macdonald led a defensive improvement for Seattle in 2024, as the unit ranked in the top 10 in many categories. Nearly all the key pieces from last year return defensively, and the Seahawks added Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Seattle's defense could be filthy.

When the Seahawks and Commanders play in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football, it falls directly in the middle of the season, which is good timing for this game. Both teams can regroup from this contest, win or lose, and it could be a preview of a postseason matchup. If everything goes well, it could be a preview of the NFC Championship game.

This is especially true if new Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold does well under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Coupled with an expectedly good defense, an efficiently sneaky good offense might make for a deep playoff push for the Seahawks, one in which they once again face the Commanders.

Seahawks 2025 schedule:

Week 1 at home versus the 49ers

Week 2 at the Steelers

Week 3 at home versus the Saints

Week 4 at the Cardinals (Thursday Night Football)

Week 5 at home versus the Buccaneers

Week 6 at the Jaguars

Week 7 at home versus the Texans (Monday Night Football)

Week 8 - BYE

Week 9 at the Commanders (Sunday Night Football)

Week 10 at home versus the Cardinals

Week 11 at the Rams

Week 12 at the Titans

Week 13 at home versus the Vikings

Week 14 at the Falcons

Week 15 at home versus the Colts

Week 16 at home versus the Rams (Thursday Night Football)

Week 17 at the Panthers

Week 18 at the 49ers

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