Seattle Seahawks 2021 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

3. Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks

After upgrading at the quarterback position in free agency with Andy Dalton and especially after the NFL Draft by taking Justin Fields No. 11 overall, the Chicago Bears should be a playoff team again in 2021. Even if that is the case, the Seahawks cannot afford this defensive-minded football team to come up to the Pacific Northwest and push them around. This is a playoff position battle.

2. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

As with the Cardinals’ road game, this one with the San Francisco 49ers is all about asserting dominance in the division. Trey Lance may be the quarterback of the future in the Bay Area, but Seattle needs to beat its big-time rival, probably twice, to ensure itself of another division crown. San Francisco could bounce back to 2019-level good, or that may have been the outlier season.

1. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

The most important game on the schedule for the Seahawks is their home date vs. the Los Angeles Rams. They will be the biggest challenger for the division title this year. Keep in mind that Los Angeles won during Wild Card Weekend over Seattle on the road. After upgrading at quarterback to Matthew Stafford, the Seahawks cannot afford to get swept by the Rams this year.

Overall, Seattle has a pretty tough schedule this year, but could go 12-5 and win the NFC West again in a best-case scenario. Being a division winner from the year prior and playing in the toughest division in the NFC certainly makes things challenging. However, Seattle has the quarterback, the head coach and the football culture to still find a way to make the playoffs.

Seattle needs to go 4-2, maybe even 5-1 to ensure itself of hosting another home playoff game.