The Seattle Seahawks are going to have a hard enough time making it back to the playoffs with a roster that lost a considerable amount of talent this offseason. Their schedule won't make it any easier. Seattle's is tied for the fifth-toughest in terms of their opponents' 2017 winning percentages, and it starts off with a pair of road games, albeit against teams that each went 5-11 last season. Here's a game-by-game predictions for the Seahawks' 2018 season:
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
It's never easy playing in Denver, and the Seahawks will be facing a Broncos team that upgraded at quarterback by signing Case Keenum. They'll start off with a loss. Record: 0-1
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 17, at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Seahawks catch a bit of a break here with this game coming early in the season as opposed to, say, late December, when Soldier Field will be an ice box. They're an incredible 22-4-1 in prime-time games under Pete Carroll. They'll improve that record in the first of their five prime-time games in 2018. Record: 1-1
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks forced three turnovers against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in a Christmas Eve win in Dallas last season. Assuming Earl Thomas' is still patrolling the back end for Seattle's defense in this game and not for Dallas, the Seahawks will take care of business at home. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Seahawks will return to the place where their 2017 season -- and arguably the course of their entire franchise -- was drastically altered. They beat the Cardinals in that game but lost Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor to season-ending -- and in Chancellor's case, perhaps career-ending -- injuries. They'll continue their winning ways at University of Phoenix Stadium, where they haven't lost since Russell Wilson's first career start in 2012. Record: 3-1
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
The last time the Rams came to Seattle, they whupped the Seahawks by 35 points in what marked the most lopsided loss of the Carroll era. You can bet the Seahawks will be as motivated as ever in this game, but that won't be enough to overcome the gap in talent between the two teams that was exposed in December and only widened this offseason. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m. ET
The Seahawks head to London for their first regular-season game outside of North America. Facing Marshawn Lynch -- one of the most important players in franchise history -- will add another level of intrigue. The Seahawks will get the best of Beast Mode and Jon Gruden. Record: 4-2
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
We're accounting for the possibility of one of those out-of-nowhere clunker performances in which the Seahawks lose to a team they probably should beat. Think 2016 against the Buccaneers and last season against Washington. This will be the 2018 version even though the Seahawks will be coming off a bye. Record: 4-3
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
This will mark the second week of what clearly looks like the toughest stretch on the Seahawks' schedule. The Chargers have excellent pass-rushers, but the Seahawks' offensive line under new coach Mike Solari will have had two months to settle in. Record: 5-3
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
It took five takeaways and a pass that went off of Cooper Kupp's fingertips in the end zone for the Seahawks to escape Los Angeles with a six-point win early last season. Don't expect that to happen again. Record: 5-4
Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 15, vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Seahawks have won their last three matchups against the Packers at CenturyLink Field, including the NFC Championship Game during the 2014 season. But a healthy Aaron Rodgers and a Seahawks defense that isn't as formidable as it was means that streak will end here. Record: 5-5
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
The Seahawks haven't lost three straight games in a row since 2011, the year before Wilson arrived. But they've got a cross-country trip to face Cam Newton and the Panthers in an early kickoff, which is a tough combo. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Sherman's first game against his former team comes in prime time, just like it should be. Get your popcorn ready and watch the Seahawks continue to have the 49ers' number, at least for now. Record: 6-6
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 10, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET
Kirk Cousins engineered a game-winning drive to help Washington beat the Seahawks last season in one of Seattle's sloppier games in recent memory. The Vikings won 13 games last season Cousins will have had more than three months by this point to get acquainted to a new offense, so this is a rare home loss in prime time for the Seahawks. Record: 6-7
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Assuming a victory in the first meeting, the Seahawks will have won 10 straight games over the 49ers dating back to the NFC Championship Game during the 2013 season. But Jimmy Garoppolo will help end that streak here. Record: 6-8
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET
Facing first-year starter Patrick Mahomes at home in their final prime-time game, the Seahawks will end their two-game losing streak to begin another strong finish. Record: 7-8
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks close out the regular season at home against Arizona for the second straight season. They lost last year when Blair Walsh missed a 48-yard field goal with under a minute left. How about Sebastian Janikowski boots the winning kick for Seattle this time? Record: 8-8