Russell Wilson and the Seahawks play an easier schedule in 2017. / Drew Sellers, Sportspress Northwest

In their attempt to reach the postseason for a sixth consecutive year, the Seahawks will have one paper advantage over division rivals Arizona, San Francisco and Los Angeles: Based on 2016 records, Seattle plays one of the more lenient schedules next season. It’s tied (with the Texans) for the 25^th easiest.

The Seahawks’ 2017 opponents went a combined 115-138-3 (.455) last season. The only NFC team with a softer slate is the Minnesota Vikings, whose foes went 115-139-2 (.453), almost no difference. Denver faces the toughest schedule (147-102-2, .578) while Indianapolis will play the easiest (107-146-3, .424).

The Rams, who went 4-12 last year and defeated Seattle in Week 2, will play the 17^th-toughest schedule. Their opponents went 121-130-5 (.482). The 49ers have the 20^th-toughest (119-132-5, .475) and the Cardinals the 23^rd (118-135-3, .467).

Seattle’s 2017 home and away opponents:

Home: San Francisco 49ers (2-14), L.A. Rams (4-12), Arizona Cardinals (7-8-1), Atlanta Falcons (11-5), Philadelphia Eagles (7-9), Washington Redskins (8-7-1), Houston Texans (9-7), Indianapolis Colts (8-8).

Away: 49ers, Rams, Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys (13-3), New York Giants (11-5), Green Bay Packers (10-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13), Tennessee Titans (9-7).

Seattle meets six teams that it played last year: The Seahawks went 5-4-1 against those opponents (49ers, Rams, Cardinals, Falcons, Eagles, Packers) during regular season and playoffs).

How Seattle’s 2017 slate breaks down:

2016 playoff teams: 5 (Texans, Packers, Giants, Falcons, Cowboys).

10+-win teams: 4 (Falcons, Cowboys, Giants, Packers).

+.500 teams: 7 (Falcons, Redskins, Texans, Cowboys, Giants, Packers, Titans).

Losing teams: 5 (49ers, Rams, Cardinals, Eagles, Jaguars).

Toughest 2017 foe: Cowboys, 13-3, away.

Easiest 2017 foe: Jaguars, 3-13, away

Teams will remake themselves through free agency and the draft, so strength of schedule can be misleading: The Seahawks entered 2016 facing the fifth-toughest slate based on the combined 2015 records of opponents. But when the season ended, Seattle played one of the 10 easiest schedules.

The 2017 regular season starts Thursday, Sept. 7, and ends after Week 17 Dec. 31. The season concludes Feb. 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where the NFC champion and AFC champion will meet in Super Bowl LII.

2017 Strength of schedules

1. Denver Broncos: 147-107-2, .578

2. Kansas City Chiefs : 147-108-1, .576

3. Los Angeles Chargers: 145-110-1, .568

4. Oakland Raiders: 144-111-1 .564

5. Buffalo Bills: 143-112-1, .561

6. Miami Dolphins: 140-116-0, .547

7. Washington Redskins: 138-116-2, .543

T8. New York Giants: 135-117-4, .535

T8. New York Jets: 137-119-0, .535

T10. Dallas Cowboys: 134-118-4, .531

T10. Philadelphia Eagles: 134-118-4, .531

12. New England Patriots: 135-121-0, .527

13. Atlanta Falcons: 133-122-1, .521

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 132-123-1, .518

15. New Orleans Saints: 130-125-1, .514

16. Carolina Panthers: 129-127, .504

17. Los Angeles Rams: 121-130-5, .482

18. Green Bay Packers: 122-132-2, .480

19. Chicago Bears: 122-133-1, .479

20. San Francisco 49ers: 119-132-5, .475

T21. Detroit Lions: 119-135-2, .469

T21. Cleveland Browns: 119-135-2, .469

23. Arizona Cardinals: 118-135-3, .467

24. Baltimore Ravens: 117-137-2, .461

T25. Seattle Seahawks: 115-138-3, .455

T25. Houston Texans: 115-138-3, .455

T27. Minnesota Vikings: 115-139-2, .453

T27. Pittsburgh Steelers: 115-139-2, .453

29. Cincinnati Bengals: 115-141-0, .449

T-30. Jacksonville Jaguars: 111-142-3, .439

T30. Tennessee Titans: 111-142-3, .439

32. Indianapolis Colts: 107-146-3, .424