The Super Bowl Champs Are HUNTED, And The NFL's 12-5 Prediction For Your Hawks Proves It

Alright, 12s, can you even BELIEVE what just went down last season?! Super Bowl 60, baby! Mike Macdonald's young crew, that deep defense, a balanced offense that kept us on the edge of our seats with a steady run game and an explosive pass attack. We went 14-3, owned the tough NFC West, edged the Rams again for the conference title, and whipped the Patriots for the Lombardi! We were the surprise successful hunters, remember? Well, get ready, because that all changes now. The ENTIRE NFC is coming for us. We're the hunted team, plain and simple. And with the 2026 schedule dropping tonight, May 14th, at 8 p.m. ET, we're about to see just how tough it's going to be to defend that ring.

The Gauntlet Awaits: Who's Coming for the Crown?

Our reign as Super Bowl champions means one thing: everyone is gunning for us. The opponents for every NFL team are already predetermined, and let me tell you, this ain't no cakewalk. We're talking about a schedule that's the 14th-most difficult in the league, measured by our 2025 opponents' combined winning percentage of .514. Honestly, for the reigning champs, that's not too shabby at all. So, who's rolling into Lumen Field to try and knock us off? Get ready for the Rams, Cardinals, 49ers, Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Chiefs, Chargers, and a huge Super Bowl 60 rematch with the Patriots right here in the Emerald City! On the road, we'll be heading to face the Rams, Cardinals, 49ers, Eagles, Commanders, Panthers, Broncos, and Raiders. That NFC West duo of the 49ers and Rams? Yeah, those four games are gonna be our toughest and most important battles, hands down.

Traps and (Some) Breaks on the Road to Repeat

Beyond our division rivals, we've got some serious tests lined up. Having the Chiefs and Chargers come to Seattle is no joke, and a trip to Denver to face the Broncos from the AFC West crossover will be intense. Plus, because we finished first last year, we're hosting the Bears and making a tough road trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. There are definitely enough traps in there for us to slip up if we're not careful. But it's not all doom and gloom. We do catch a few breaks. Playing the Cardinals twice always helps the win column. And on paper, our easiest home game should be against the upstart Giants. We also get some sweet road breaks, playing at the Panthers, Raiders, and Commanders. Every little bit helps when you're wearing that Super Bowl target!

12-5: The Prediction and What It Means

So, what's the verdict for our 2026 season? The over/under win total is set at 10.5. After handling the NFC West gauntlet so well last season, including through the playoffs, this team should be confident they can do it again. The first-place schedule and facing the entire AFC West will definitely keep them honest, though. The prediction? A 12-5 record. Yeah, there's an expectation for some slide from that magical 2025 season. But even with that, 12-5 is more than good enough to go "over" that 10.5 win total and make the playoffs, at least as an NFC wild card. Tonight, we get the exact dates and times. Let's get ready for another incredible season, 12s! The hunt for back-to-back Lombardi trophies starts now!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.