(Getty)
For many teams, a 10-win season and a trip to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs would be chalked up as a success.
Not for the Seattle Seahawks.
The ‘Hawks have come to expect a certain level of consistency during the Pete Carroll and John Schneider Era, but that wasn’t there in 2015. Yes, they made the playoffs, but losing the NFC West then falling to the Carolina Panthers in the postseason has to be seen a disappointment for a team that made the Super Bowl the previous two seasons.
Seattle, for the most part, will look similar in 2016. The offensive line lost some key pieces, and Marshawn Lynch is retired, but the defense should remain a dominant unit, while a healthy Jimmy Graham will add another weapon to the offense.
All-in-all, the ‘Hawks should be regarded as a contender for Super Bowl 51. With the NFL schedule released, here’s a look at their route to the postseason:
2016 Seahawks Schedule
Note: all times PT
Week 1: Sunday, September 11 vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Week 2: Sunday, September 18 at Los Angeles Rams, 1:05 p.m., FOX
Week 3: Sunday, September 25 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 p.m., FOX
Week 4: Sunday, October 2 at New York Jets, 10 a.m., FOX
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, October 16 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:25 p.m., FOX
Week 7: Sunday, October 23 at Arizona Cardinals, 5:30 p.m., NBC (Sunday Night Football)
Week 8: Sunday, October 30 at New Orleans Saints, 10 a.m., FOX
Week 9: Monday, November 7 vs. Buffalo Bills, 5:30 p.m., ESPN (Monday Night Football)
Week 10: Sunday, November 13 at New England Patriots, 5:30 p.m., NBC (Sunday Night Football)
Week 11: Sunday, November 20 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 12: Sunday, November 27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:05 p.m., FOX
Week 13: Sunday, December 4 vs. Carolina Panthers, 5:30 p.m., NBC (Sunday Night Football)
Week 14: Sunday, December 11 at Green Bay Packers, 1:25 p.m., FOX
Week 15: Thursday, December 15 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 5:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network (Thursday Night Football)
Week 16: Saturday, December 24 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m., FOX
Week 17: Sunday, January 1 at San Francisco 49ers, 1:25 p.m., FOX