The NFL has released the Wild Card schedule to kick off the 2026 playoffs. Thankfully, the Seattle Seahawks have that coveted week off as the number one seed in the NFC. In the meantime, it’s a waiting game over next weekend to figure out which team will come over to Lumen Field for the Divisional Round.
NFC Wild Card schedule
- Saturday, Jan. 10 at 1:30 pm PT on FOX: No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 4 Carolina Panthers
- Saturday, Jan. 10 at 5 pm PT on Prime Video: No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears
- Sunday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 pm PT on FOX: No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Based on the schedule and the NFL’s seeding rules, the Seahawks may know their first opponent sooner rather than later.
Who the Seahawks won’t play in the NFC Divisional Round
Neither the Chicago Bears nor Philadelphia Eagles can face Seattle in the Divisional Round. The highest seed a top seed can face is No. 4, and the Bears and Eagles are respectively No. 2 and No. 3.
Who the Seahawks can play in the NFC Divisional Round
The Seahawks will play the lowest seed available in the Divisional Round, which otherwise means there are four possible options:
Four possible Seahawks Divisional Round opponents
- The Green Bay Packers if they beat the Chicago Bears. All 7-seed Wild Card winners play the 1-seed in the Divisional Round. Seattle could therefore know who’s coming to town by the end of Saturday.
- The San Francisco 49ers if they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears beat the Packers. An NFC West trilogy would be confirmed if the 6-seeded 49ers knock off the reigning Super Bowl champions while the 7-seeded Packers get bounced.
- The Los Angeles Rams if they beat the Carolina Panthers and the 49ers and Packers both lose. In other words, the Rams are the only NFC team to win on the road.
- The Carolina Panthers if all NFC road teams lose. Party like it’s the 2014 postseason and the sub-.500 Panthers get to face the Seahawks in the Divisional Round after winning on Wild Card weekend.
When will the Seahawks’ Divisional Round game date, kickoff time be confirmed?
Most likely toward the end of Wild Card weekend, presumably during Sunday Night Football between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots.
Field Gulls
