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          NFL Nation

          Seattle Seahawks' schedule includes five prime-time matchups

          Russell Wilson and the Seahawks missed out on a Super Bowl appearance in 2015 for the first time in three seasons. John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports
          • Sheil Kapadia, ESPN WriterApr 15, 2016, 12:37 AM
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            • Covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine and Philly.com from 2008 to 2015.
            • Covered the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL for BaltimoreSun.com from 2006 to 2008.
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          Breakdown: Pete Carroll likes to preach the finish is more important than the start. But the schedule sets up favorably for the Seattle Seahawks to pile up wins in the first half of the season. They play just one returning playoff team in the first nine weeks. Despite bowing out in the divisional round of last year's playoffs, the Seahawks are still a marquee team and have five prime-time matchups. Three -- against the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams -- are at home. And two -- against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots -- are on the road.

          Complaint department: The Seahawks go to Foxboro Stadium in Week 10 for a Super Bowl XLIX rematch with the New England Patriots. Facing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on the road is always a challenge. But this matchup will be especially difficult for the Seahawks. The Patriots will be coming off a bye, while the Seahawks will be coming off of a Monday night matchup at home against the Bills. The Seahawks' bye, meanwhile, comes early in the season (Week 5). If you're a glass-half-full type of person, note that the Patriots are the only team on the Seahawks' schedule that will be coming off of a bye.

          Finishing strong: The schedule picks up considerably in Week 13. The Seahawks host the Panthers in a rematch of last year's divisional round game. They then travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers and finish with three straight games against divisional opponents. The Seahawks get the Rams and Cardinals at home before traveling to San Francisco to take on the 49ers for the regular-season finale on New Year's Day. It's tough to imagine many scenarios where that final five-game stretch doesn't decide how the season ends up turning out.

          Strength of schedule: T-5th, .543

          Seahawks Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, Miami, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, at Los Angeles, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

          • Week 5: BYE

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, Atlanta, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Arizona, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

          • Week 9: Monday, Nov. 7, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at New England, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, Philadelphia, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, Carolina, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 15, Los Angeles, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.