If you had asked anyone back in August what the Seattle Seahawks would look like by January 2026, you’d have heard a lot of "rebuilding year" talk. Honestly, the vibes were a bit shaky. Mike Macdonald was entering his second year, Geno Smith was gone, and the roster felt like it was in a massive state of flux. But then the games actually started.
So, let's get the big question out of the way immediately. The Seahawks record this year is 14-3.
That’s not just a good record; it is the best regular-season finish in the history of the franchise. Even the legendary 2013 Super Bowl team "only" hit 13 wins. Granted, we play 17 games now, but you can’t take away from the absolute tear this group has been on. They didn't just stumble into the No. 1 seed in the NFC; they kicked the door down.
Why the Seahawks Record This Year Surprised Everyone
Nobody—and I mean nobody—saw Sam Darnold throwing for over 4,000 yards in a Seahawks jersey. When the team traded Geno Smith to the Raiders and moved on from Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, the consensus was that Seattle was tanking.
Instead, Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak built a machine.
They started the season with a frustrating 17-13 loss to the 49ers at home. People panicked. It felt like the "same old Seahawks" getting bullied by Kyle Shanahan. But then they went to Pittsburgh and won. Then they dropped 44 points on the Saints. Basically, they stopped being a "tough out" and started being the team that other people were afraid to play.
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The mid-season acquisition of Rashid Shaheed from the Saints was the secret sauce. While Jaxon Smith-Njigba was busy obliterating franchise records—finishing with an insane 1,793 receiving yards—Shaheed gave them that vertical threat that kept safeties from double-teaming JSN every play. It just worked.
The Defensive Masterclass
You can’t talk about 14-3 without talking about the defense. Seattle finished the year as the #1 scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 17.2 points per game.
Look at some of these stretches:
- A 26-0 shutout against the Vikings in late November.
- Holding the high-powered Falcons to just 9 points in Atlanta.
- The Week 18 statement win: a 13-3 defensive slugfest against the 49ers to clinch the top seed.
Devon Witherspoon has turned into a legitimate superstar. He’s the type of guy who makes a tackle for loss on first down and then breaks up a 40-yard bomb on third down. It’s a sort of chaotic energy that fits Seattle perfectly.
The Momentum Going Into the Divisional Round
Right now, it’s January 17, 2026. If you're reading this today, you know the stakes. The 49ers are coming back to Lumen Field tonight for the Divisional Round.
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The Seahawks are on a seven-game winning streak. Seven! They haven't lost since a two-point heartbreaker to the Rams back in mid-November. Since then, it’s been total dominance. They've outscored opponents by a point differential of +191 this season. That’s another franchise record, by the way.
There's something different about this 14-3 squad. They aren't winning games by luck or late-game heroics every week (though that overtime win against the Rams in Week 16 was a wild ride). They are winning because they are fundamentally better on both sides of the ball than almost anyone they face.
The Sam Darnold Factor
Is Sam Darnold actually good? It’s the question that dominated sports talk radio all year.
The stats say yes. 25 touchdowns, 14 interceptions—okay, the picks are still there—but he’s making the "big time" throws that Macdonald needs. He finished the year 5th in the league in passing yards. If you told a Jets fan three years ago that Sam Darnold would lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the NFC, they would have called for a wellness check.
Key Stats From the 14-3 Campaign
Honestly, the numbers are just stupid when you look at them all at once.
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- Total Wins: 14 (Franchise Record)
- Road Record: 8-1 (Another record—this team travels incredibly well)
- Points For: 483 (3rd in the NFL)
- Points Against: 292 (1st in the NFL)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 1,793 receiving yards (Lead the NFL)
It’s worth noting that they swept the Cardinals but split with both the Rams and the 49ers. The NFC West was a gauntlet this year, which makes that 14-3 record even more impressive. You had three teams from this division finish with 12+ wins. That’s unheard of.
What Happens Next
The "regular season" Seahawks are over. Now we find out if this is a flash in the pan or a new dynasty. Earning that first-round bye was huge because this roster was starting to look a little banged up by December. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet have been a brutal 1-2 punch, but they both needed that week off to get their legs back.
The path to the Super Bowl goes through Seattle. If you want to get to the big game, you have to come to Lumen Field and deal with the 12s in the freezing rain. Good luck with that.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Matchup: Tonight's game against the 49ers is at 5:00 PM PT. It's the third time these teams have met this season.
- Focus on the Trenches: The 49ers are playing on short rest (5 days) compared to Seattle’s 13 days of rest. Expect the Seahawks' defensive line to be much more explosive.
- Track JSN: The 49ers held Smith-Njigba to under 50 yards in Week 18. Watch how Klint Kubiak uses motion to get him away from bracket coverage tonight.
This isn't just a "good" Seahawks team. It’s a historic one. Whether they win it all or not, 14-3 is a number we’re going to be talking about in Seattle for a long, long time.