New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks
Patriots vs Seahawks: The Super Bowl Rematch Opens the 2026 NFL Season
Football is back, and the NFL could hardly have picked a more interesting way to start the 2026 season.
The New England Patriots travel to Seattle to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
This isn’t just another Week 1 matchup. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, when Seattle defeated New England 29–13 to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
Now the Patriots get an immediate chance to turn the page.
Seattle, meanwhile, begins its championship defense in front of its home crowd at Lumen Field.
Game Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks |
| Week | Week 1 |
| Date | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:20 PM ET |
| Venue | Lumen Field |
| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| TV | NBC |
| Live Streaming | Peacock, NFL+ |
| Home Team | Seattle Seahawks |
| Away Team | New England Patriots |
| Season | 2026 NFL Regular Season |
The official NFL schedule lists the game for 8:20 PM ET on NBC, with NFL+ also providing mobile access.
New England Patriots
The Patriots enter 2026 with plenty to prove.
New England reached Super Bowl LX last season but came up short against Seattle. The 2026 opener gives the team an immediate opportunity to show that the Super Bowl loss was a setback rather than the end of its championship ambitions.
Team
New England Patriots
Conference: AFC
Division: AFC East
Home Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
Quarterback: Drake Maye
Drake Maye enters another important season as the centerpiece of the Patriots’ offense.
The young quarterback will have plenty of attention on him against Seattle’s aggressive defense. One of the biggest questions entering this rematch is whether New England can give Maye more time and create better opportunities against the Seahawks’ pass rush.
NFL.com’s preview specifically highlights Maye’s second chance against Seattle after being pressured heavily in Super Bowl LX.
Patriots offense
New England’s offense will be looking for a stronger performance than it produced in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots lost wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who led the team in receiving last season, but added Romeo Doubs as a significant offensive weapon.
The Patriots will need:
- Better pass protection
- Efficient quarterback play
- Consistent rushing production
- Big plays from the receiving group
- Better third-down execution
- More points in the red zone
Patriots defense
Defense is one of the biggest reasons New England enters the season with optimism.
The unit includes standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Milton Williams, and NFL.com described the Patriots’ defense as one of the league’s underrated units entering 2026.
Against Seattle, the defense will have a difficult assignment: contain Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and an offense coming off a championship season.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks enter Week 1 as the defending Super Bowl champions.
Seattle finished the 2025 season by defeating New England 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, and now the Seahawks begin their title defense against the same opponent.
There couldn’t be a better storyline for the opening game.
Team
Seattle Seahawks
Conference: NFC
Division: NFC West
Home Stadium: Lumen Field
Location: Seattle, Washington
Seattle’s home crowd, famously known as the 12s, will be ready for the championship celebration and the beginning of another title run.
Quarterback: Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold returns as Seattle’s quarterback and will be one of the most important players in the matchup.
Darnold will attempt to lead the Seahawks to another strong offensive season while facing a Patriots defense that will be highly motivated after the Super Bowl defeat.
His connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be particularly important.
Seattle Offense
The Seahawks still have plenty of offensive firepower.
Key offensive names
- Sam Darnold – QB
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR
- Jadarian Price – RB
- Emanuel Wilson – RB
One major change is in the backfield.
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III left Seattle during the offseason and joined the Kansas City Chiefs. That leaves Seattle looking for new production at running back. NFL.com identifies Jadarian Price and Emanuel Wilson as players expected to contribute to the backfield while Zach Charbonnet continues his recovery.
Seattle Defense
The Seahawks’ championship defense remains one of the biggest stories entering the new season.
Seattle did lose several defensive contributors, including:
- Boye Mafe
- Tariq Woolen
- Coby Bryant
However, the Seahawks retained much of their defensive core and added new players through free agency and the draft.
Pass rusher Dante Fowler and second-round safety Bud Clark are among the additions highlighted by NFL.com.
Against New England, Seattle’s defense will try to recreate the pressure that caused problems for the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Patriots vs Seahawks: Super Bowl LX Rematch
This is what makes the game so special.
The two teams met in Super Bowl LX, with Seattle winning:
Seattle Seahawks 29 – New England Patriots 13
Now, only months later, they meet again.
The Patriots will enter the game with revenge on their minds, while Seattle will want to make a statement that the championship was only the beginning.
NFL.com described the matchup as a fitting opening to the 2026 campaign because it brings the previous season’s two best teams together again.
Key Matchups to Watch
Drake Maye vs Seattle’s Pass Rush
This could be the most important matchup of the night.
Maye will need to make quick decisions and avoid giving Seattle’s pass rush opportunities to disrupt the offense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Patriots Secondary
Smith-Njigba is one of Seattle’s most important offensive weapons.
New England’s secondary, led by Christian Gonzalez, will have the difficult task of limiting his production.
Patriots Offensive Line vs Seahawks Defense
The Patriots cannot allow Seattle to consistently pressure Maye.
If New England protects its quarterback, the Patriots have a much better chance of keeping the game competitive.
Seattle’s New Running Game vs Patriots Front Seven
With Kenneth Walker III no longer in Seattle, the Seahawks will begin a new chapter in their running game.
How quickly the new backfield develops will be something to watch throughout the season.
Latest Injury Report
Injury information can change right up until kickoff, so fans should check the official NFL injury report before making predictions or fantasy decisions.
As of the latest Week 1 report, several players were listed with practice/injury designations.
Patriots
- Christian Barmore — DT
- Ben Brown — C
- TreVeyon Henderson — RB
Seahawks
- Anthony Bradford — G
- Nick Emmanwori — S
- Tory Horton — WR
- Josh Jones — T
- AJ Barner — TE
The official NFL Week 1 injury report should be treated as the authoritative source because player status can change before game time.
How to Watch Patriots vs Seahawks Online
United States
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock and NFL+
The NFL lists this matchup as nationally available.
NFL+
NFL+ provides access to live local and primetime games on supported mobile devices, while NFL+ Premium adds features such as NFL RedZone and game replays.
International Fans
Availability varies by country and broadcast rights. Fans outside the United States should check the NFL’s current international viewing information for their location.
Kickoff Time
The game begins at:
8:20 PM ET — Wednesday, September 9, 2026
For international fans, the local start time will depend on the country and time zone.
For Indian fans, the game will take place in the early morning of Thursday, September 10.
What to Watch For
Here are five things that could decide the game:
1. Can New England protect Drake Maye?
Seattle’s defense will test the Patriots’ offensive line immediately.
2. Can the Patriots slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
Seattle needs its passing game to establish rhythm.
3. Who wins the turnover battle?
Opening-week games can turn quickly when defenses create short fields.
4. Can Seattle replace Kenneth Walker III’s production?
The Seahawks will begin the season without their Super Bowl MVP in the backfield.
5. Can New England respond after Super Bowl LX?
This is the emotional storyline of the game.
Patriots vs Seahawks Prediction
On paper, Seattle enters with several advantages.
The Seahawks are the defending champions, they are playing at home, and they already defeated New England in the biggest game of the previous season.
But the Patriots have something Seattle doesn’t: a chance for immediate revenge.
New England also has a talented young quarterback in Drake Maye and a defense capable of keeping the game close.
Our Fan Prediction
Seattle Seahawks 27 – New England Patriots 23
Seattle’s home-field advantage and defensive pressure could be enough to give the defending champions the victory, but this should be much more competitive than the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Seahawks win
Projected margin: 4 points
Game outlook: Close game
This is an editorial fan prediction, not an official NFL projection.
Players to Watch
New England Patriots
Drake Maye — QB
The quarterback will be at the center of the Patriots’ attempt to start the season with a statement.
Christian Gonzalez — CB
A key part of New England’s secondary.
Milton Williams — DT
An important interior presence for the Patriots defense.
TreVeyon Henderson — RB
A player to monitor as the Patriots build their offensive attack.
Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold — QB
The Seahawks’ starting quarterback and leader of the offense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba — WR
One of Seattle’s primary receiving weapons.
Dante Fowler — EDGE
A veteran pass-rushing addition who could make an immediate impact.
Jadarian Price — RB
One of the players expected to help fill the void in Seattle’s backfield.
Patriots vs Seahawks: Game Storylines
Super Bowl Revenge
New England gets its first opportunity to answer the 29–13 Super Bowl defeat.
Seattle’s Championship Defense
The Seahawks begin their title defense at home.
Drake Maye’s Next Step
The young Patriots quarterback gets another chance against the defense that caused him problems in February.
Life After Kenneth Walker III
Seattle’s running game enters a new era.
The 12s Are Back
Lumen Field will provide Seattle with one of the loudest home environments in the NFL.
Final Word
The 2026 NFL season couldn’t ask for a better opening chapter.
The New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks matchup combines everything fans want from an opening game: a Super Bowl rematch, revenge, young talent, a defending champion, a packed stadium and two teams with championship ambitions.
Seattle wants to prove that its Super Bowl victory was the beginning of another great run.
New England wants to prove that its next chapter can end differently.
One team starts its title defense. The other starts its road back.
Football is back.
Patriots vs Seahawks — September 9, 2026. Let the 2026 NFL season begin.