The Seahawks will have a busy schedule that includes 5 prime time matchups in 2016.

It also features a relatively easy path including a start of the season that has just one playoff opponent within the first 9 weeks. The matchups get increasingly more difficult in the second half however. So tough, in fact, that the team's overall strength of schedule ranks tied for fifth at .543. 

Even with this strength of schedule though, the Seahawks were still voted by NFL.com to have one of the smoothest paths. Much because of that easy start, which provides no real big challenge until an Oct 23 game agasint the Cardinals. 

After that their next big challenge will be the biggest 2016 match-up of their entire schedule. This will be when the team heads down to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots. The match-up will be a rematch of their great Superbowl XLIX game.. It will be particularly difficult as the Patriots will be coming off rest from a Bye week, and Seattle will be on a short week...playing Monday night the week prior.

The above fact may give Seattle a case for the biggest scheduling outrage any NFL team may have. A significant gripe that greatly favors a strong Patriot team against Seattle...but hey the rich get richer.

As for that second half pickup in tough match-ups... Week 13 is a Carolina rematch of their divisional game last season. A game that will get very physical as Seattle will want to avenge their loss at another SuperBowl opportunity. The Hawks then have Green Bay...followed by 3 straight hard divisional games.

Without further ado...here is the 2016 schedule for Seattle in its entirety (dates and time EST):

• 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.

Then ofcourse the playoff games to be announced later...knock on wood 

There you have it Hawks fans. The schedule is now out and football is right around the corner. Time to break out the jerseys and get ready 12th man. GoHawks!

Picture:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/i8ipod/16314238875/in/photolist-qRCJQB-8Dg...