Seahawks vs Patriots Season Opener Brings Rare Super Bowl Rematch
The 2026 NFL season kicks off with about as big a matchup as the league could script. The Seahawks vs Patriots season opener on Wednesday, September 9, will see the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field — a direct rematch of Super Bowl LX, which Seattle won 29-13 back in February to claim the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT), with pregame coverage on Football Night in America beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The game airs on NBC and streams on Peacock and NFL+, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo and Universo.
A Historic Scheduling Rarity
This marks just the third time in NFL history that the two teams from the previous season’s Super Bowl have met in Week 1 of the following season, and only the second time it has happened as the season’s actual opening game. The only previous instance came a decade ago, in 2016, when the Denver Broncos hosted the Carolina Panthers in a Super Bowl 50 rematch and won again to open that season.
Since 2004, teams entering the season as defending Super Bowl champions have gone 16-5 in their Week 1 opener, a trend Seattle will be looking to extend as it begins its title defense on home turf.
Why the Game Falls on a Wednesday
This year’s opener marks the first Wednesday season-opening game since 2012, when the league shifted its schedule to accommodate a speech by then-President Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention. This time, the move was made to clear space in the schedule for the NFL’s growing international slate, which includes a record nine games overseas this season — including a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, just one day after the Seahawks-Patriots opener.
For the Patriots, the game marks their first prime-time season opener since 2019, as well as the franchise’s first-ever Wednesday game.
Roster Changes Since the Super Bowl
Seattle’s offense will look somewhat different from the unit that lifted the Lombardi Trophy in February. Running back Kenneth Walker III has since moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs, while fellow running back Zach Charbonnet will miss the start of the season after suffering a torn ACL. Despite those changes, the Seahawks have largely kept their championship-winning defense intact — a group nicknamed the “Dark Side” that recorded six sacks and forced three turnovers against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the Super Bowl.
New England, for its part, used the offseason to continue building around Maye, adding Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to bolster protection for their young quarterback.
The Head-to-Head History
Seattle holds a 12-9 all-time series lead over New England, though the two teams’ paths rarely cross given they play in different conferences and only meet periodically through the regular scheduling rotation. Their most recent and most consequential meeting, of course, came in Super Bowl LX, where Seattle’s defense dominated for much of the game before New England showed some late signs of life that ultimately weren’t enough to close the gap.
What’s at Stake in Week 1
Beyond bragging rights, the opener offers an early measuring stick for both franchises. For Seattle, it’s a chance to validate the roster continuity strategy the front office pursued this offseason, while also opening a season complicated somewhat by the ownership transition that saw the team sold to a group led by Vinod Khosla earlier this offseason. For New England, a win would offer an immediate signature moment for a franchise still working to reestablish itself as a serious contender behind its young quarterback.
Looking Ahead
Following the opener, Seattle continues its title defense with a demanding early schedule, while the Patriots look to build early momentum under quarterback Drake Maye as the team continues its long-term rebuild. Both fan bases will be watching closely to see whether the Super Bowl script repeats itself or whether New England can flip the result on a stage even bigger than a typical Week 1 game.
FAQ Section
Q: When is the Seahawks vs Patriots season opener?
A: The game is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Q: What channel is the Seahawks vs Patriots game on?
A: The game airs on NBC and streams on Peacock and NFL+, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Universo.
Q: Why is the season opener on a Wednesday instead of Thursday?
A: The NFL moved the opener to Wednesday to accommodate its expanded international schedule, including a game in Melbourne, Australia, the following day.
Q: What was the final score of Super Bowl LX?
A: The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
Q: Has a Super Bowl rematch ever opened an NFL season before?
A: Yes, this is only the second time it’s happened, following the Denver Broncos’ win over the Carolina Panthers in the 2016 season opener.
