Predicting the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 NFL playoff run

SB Nation

The Seattle Seahawks are two wins away from reaching Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara. One of the teams in their way are the San Francisco 49ers, whose home stadium could soon be where the Seahawks play on Feb.

8 if Seattle takes care of business over the next two weeks.

Throughout the season, the Field Gulls staff has been mostly bullish on Seattle’s chances to make the playoffs and even win the NFC West. Well, they’ve done both and they’ve got the top seed. Now, what lies ahead for Seattle in the postseason? Here’s what the Field Gulls staff thinks.

Mookie Alexander: I think I’ll be the bad guy here. I expect the Seahawks to beat the San Francisco 49ers, albeit not in some blowout fashion as if to suggest we’ll see Week 18 all over again but with the Seahawks finishing their drives with 7s and not 3 or 0. The NFC Championship Game is dependent on who they play. I believe they’d beat the Chicago Bears should the Bears upset the Rams, and subsequently win the Super Bowl against the AFC champion. Unfortunately, I believe Chicago’s Cinderella run is going to run out soon. If the Seahawks have largely looked like the better team over two games against the 49ers, I think the Rams have been the slightly better team over the two Seattle meetings. If I go by what I believe will happen, the Seahawks will make sure those 49ers fans are quiet for another offseason, while they lose the NFC Championship to the Rams, who then lose to the AFC champion in the Super Bowl in a huge upset. It’s the happiest possible outcome should the Seahawks not win the Super Bowl. I think some of Seattle’s bad habits with turnovers will cost them, and the defense’s lack of a truly high-end pass rusher undoes them vs. Matthew Stafford. It’ll still go down as a tremendous year, just not 2013-esque.

Ted Zahn: In both of our 2025 prediction articles, I wrote that the Seahawks would make the playoffs as a wildcard and win two playoff games, falling short on the road in the NFC Championship. Not all of that can be true, but do I want to double down on either winning twice in the playoffs or losing in the NFC Championship so I can say I was right? No, I don’t think I want to. Seattle’s defense continues to smother opponents in the playoffs, and they benefit from a surprise Bears victory to avoid the Rams. The Seahawks beat the Texans in Santa Clara 13-10 on a Nick Emmanwori pick-six in a defensive battle that everyone besides Seahawks fans hate.

Tyler Alsin: My favorite quote from Mike Macdonald this year was a small moment on the Seattle Sports Monday show when he said he’s the type of guy who would rather be told what the rules are, and then try to be the best there is at playing by those rules. Contrast with Kyle Shanahan, publicly wishing for an extra day’s rest. Macdonald’s got this team the best prepared for every situation I think I’ve ever seen, and in my opinion the NFCCG will be more hotly contested than the Super Bowl. I’m not afraid of anything on the AFC side except Josh Allen, and it will be Seattle over his Bills or the Broncos for a second Super Bowl trophy.

John Tapia: The Rams are the scariest team in the NFC, however they have to play a cold weather game in Chicago (Stafford has not fared well in these.) Because of this, after defeating the 49ers in Seattle, the Seahawks will avoid the Rams and will go on to defeat the Bears in the NFC Championship game before taking on and defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 60. I am a very superstitious person (especially with the Seahawks), so I will blame myself if this does not happen.

Jack Freeman: Despite earning the NFC’s No. 1 seed, there’s still so much about the Seahawks’ offense that concerns me. The latter half of the year has seen their efficiency decline and lean on near perfection from the defense to win games. It’s a concerning, yet common, trend for teams in this year’s playoffs, which is why I have the Seahawks making it to the Super Bowl after crushing past the 49ers and hopefully the Bears. Although I fear that’s where their run will end, halted by a hungry Josh Allen who will outduel Sam Darnold for his and the Bills’ first ring.

John Gilbert: No need to overthink things. The Seahawks have held the top seed in the conference and homefield advantage in the postseason three times in franchise history, and there’s no reason to believe that doesn’t become four of four this postseason in terms of Super Bowl trips. However, their track record in the Super Bowl isn’t as great, so here’s to hoping regression moves them back to .500 when the world championship is on the line.

Patrick Hood: I think that the rest from the wild card bye will help the Seahawks more than it will hurt them, so I like the team’s chances against the 49ers in the Divisional Round. Seattle also has a pretty good shot to win the NFC Championship as well, seeing as it has not lost in the conference championship since 1983 (back when it was still in the AFC). I feel like the Seahawks will make it to Super Bowl LX, and depending on who they face, I think they will win, too.

Terrance Robinson: I’d like to maintain my pre-season prediction that we lose in the NFC Championship game and I’ve vacillated all evening, weighing the issue. But honestly, I’ve got to stick with my more refined sensibilities that an elite defense can win championships, and rather handily. Our Seattle Seahawks have demonstrated flaws as an offense, and a turnover or two can turn our squad’s fortunes. But really, with the level that the ‘Hawks D is playing at right now, it’s tough to not back them with a full and optimistic heart. My pre-season prediction was rare, but now I fall in line with my cohorts: our squad wins a chip and eats well!! SEAHAWKS beat the Bills in Super Bowl LX.

Frank T. Raines: I was pretty bullish on the Hawks heading into the season and I’m even more so now. Seattle’s offense has run hot and cold this year, but the defense and special teams are among the league’s best, so as long as the offense doesn’t shoot itself in the foot with a bazooka, I think the Seahawks will extend their streak of reaching the Super Bowl each time they’ve been the No. 1 seed. Seattle will beat the Whiners in the division round, 38-13, top the Rams in the conference championship, 28-21, and then easily dispatch whoever represents the AFC in Santa Clara on February 8th. Go Hawks!

Jer’rel Coleman: My predictions and outlook for this team got more cautiously optimistic as the season went on. As we witnessed: injuries, close emotional losses and trap games were no match for Mike Macdonald’s squad in 2025. Coach has won the most games in a single season in franchise history, and I am throwing my caution to the wind… I’ve been made a believer! W/L record, advanced statistics and pure underdog swagger are enough to feel unusual. The Seahawks will advance to Super Bowl LX and defeat the New England Patriots for a cathartic release for 12’s worldwide.

I guess I’m the lone holdout as far as the Seahawks making the Super Bowl. Maybe I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment. Another way to look at this is none of us believes the Seahawks will lose on Saturday to the 49ers.

Makes your predictions in the comments!