8/15/2026
Dallas 17, Seattle 7
(Seattle, WA) The defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks opened their 2026 schedule with a home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen field. Seattle, like all defending Champs will have a bigger than usual target on their backs all season long.
Off to a Fast Start that fizzled quickly
The Seahawks got off to a fast start marching down the field in a 13-play scoring opening drive capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Drew Lock to Montorie Foster Jr. Jason Myers added the PAT and Seattle led 7-0 after the 7:18 drive. The Seahawk offense appeared to be firing on all cylinders but quickly ran into some mechanical problems as that is where it ended as the new Cowboy defense flexxed their muscles to shut out Seattle for the next 3 quarters.
Dallas would answer with ten 2nd quarter points beginning with a 29-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal with 11:14 to go in the half. The Cowboys offense then scored with just 38-seconds to go to halftime when former Seahawk Sam Howell hit Camden Brown for a 39-yard touchdown. Aubrey hit the extra point and it was 10-7 at the break in favor of the visitors.
The Cowboys began with the ball on their own 16 yard line and nearly half the quarter ticked away when Brown caught his 2nd touchdown of the game but this time a 2 yard pass from Joe Milton. Aubrey booted the PAT and Dallas pushed their lead to 17-7 with 7:41 to go in the 3rd.
That would be it for all the scoring. The Seahawks offense sputtered to say the least running just 3 plays in the entire 3rd quarter and just 19 total in the 2nd half. They had multiple scoring opportunities with the most promising a fumbled punt return by Dallas’s Traeshon Holden and recovery by Seattle’s TJ Holden on the Cowboys 5 yard line.
But 3 straight running plays to get down to the 1 yard line ended up with Jalen Milroe scrambling on 4th down and getting sacked back on the 15 yard line denying the Hawks a shot at getting right back into the game.
Hawks Defense good and bad
Holding a team to just 17 points is a solid start for the Seattle vaunted defense but a closer look revealed some issue in this game with the Cowboys. The defense had a tough time getting off the field multiple times.
The Dallas offense had several drives of double digit plays. They had a drive of 15 plays, 14 and 13. The Cowboys would run a total of 64 offensive plays compared to Seattle’s 53. But doubled the Hawks in the 2nd half 38-19.
Coach McDonald Reacts
In his post-game news conference Coach Mike McDonald was disappointed in the outcome, not just losing the game but how they lost it. He told the group of reporters there was a lot of film to get to and many teaching moments that will be addressed quickly.
He also knows there were some pretty good performances that may not stick out at this point but maintained that pre-season is all about process and putting in the work to be ready when the games count.
Stand-outs
George Holani stood out offensively for Seattle rushing the ball 12 times for 42 yards as the workhorse of the backfield in this game. This was clearly a competition to be the #4 back as 1st round draft pick Jadarian Price, Emmanuel Lewis signed in the off-season from Green Bay and Zach Charbonnet continues to re-hab from an injury last season were not in the game Saturday night.
Receiver Montorie Foster Jr led the WR’s with 5 catches for 36 yards and the lone score. QB Drew Lock was 9 of 13 for 41 yards and the TD while Milroe went 5 for 8 for 36 yards.
Tyrice Knight led the defense with 10 tackles including 7 solo tackles and TJ Holden’s fumble recovery was the only turn-over for the the Hawks defense.
Special Teams Shine
Well almost all shine as Myers did miss a field goal but punter Michael Dickson was brilliant as usual with 3 punts for a total of 141 yard dropping 2 inside the 20 and a long of 51 for a 47 yard average.
And punt returner Rashad Rochelle had one chance to return a Dallas punt and took full advantage with a 52 yard return to the Dallas 32.
What’s Next
The Seahawks have 2 more pre-season games and both are on the road. Seattle heads to Tennessee next on August 23rd and will wrap-up preseason on August 28th at Kansas City.
The Seahawks will open the 2026 regular season on Wednesday, Septemeber 9 at home in a Super Bowl rematch when they host New England.
More Coverage
For additional coverage of the Seahawks opener against Dallas check out the work of Mazvita Maraire with his coverage on Cascadia Sports dot org on this link.
ESN