The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks meet in the 2026 NFL season opener at Lumen Field on Wednesday, September 9. The prime-time kickoff marks a rematch of Super Bowl LX, bringing a loaded Seahawks defense and a revamped Patriots squad back to the field for Week 1.
Seven months after their collision in Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks return to the field on Wednesday night to launch the NFL season. The 2026 NFL season opener kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle, airing nationally on NBC with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call.
Wednesday’s matchup represents a direct sequel to February’s championship game, which Seattle won 29-13. It marks just the third time in league history that a Super Bowl rematch takes place in Week 1, and only the 12th time such a rematch occurs during the following regular season. Both teams enter the night with major roster changes and high-stakes divisional races ahead.
Lumen Field Prepares to Raise a Second Championship Banner
Seattle fans will watch a second championship banner get raised into the rafters before kickoff as the team takes the field as reigning Super Bowl champions. The defending titleholders boast a strong historical precedent in opening games, holding a 16-5 record in NFL Kickoff contests since the tradition began in 2004.
The Seahawks kept their core intact after their championship run, though a notable shift occurred in the backfield with the departure of Kenneth Walker III in free agency. With running back Zach Charbonnet still recovering from a major knee injury, first-round draft pick Jadarian Price is expected to take on a heavy workload against New England’s defense pursuant to team deployment plans.
Offensively, Seattle relies on quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw for over 4,000 yards last season for just the second time in his career, and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba hauled in 119 catches for a league-best 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
New England Adds Offensive Weapons in Pursuit of Revenge
The Patriots enter Week 1 looking to rebound from last season’s final hurdle while leaning on a flawless historical trend. New England holds an all-time 5-0 record in Week 1 games following a Super Bowl loss.
To solve Mike Macdonald’s defense, the Patriots added explosive talent around quarterback Drake Maye, who finished second in NFL MVP voting last season. The team acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past four seasons.
The addition of A.J. Brown provides a new target for Maye as the Patriots seek to strengthen their offensive weapons.
Maye’s development remains central to New England’s trajectory.
Inactives and Late Roster Adjustments Shape Opening Night
Both sidelines face key personnel absences for the opener. Seattle will play without multi-dimensional second-year safety Nick Emmanwori, who has spent the summer recovering from ankle surgery. Coach Mike Macdonald also loses safety Ty Okada and wide receiver Tory Horton to injuries, leaving Julian Love as the lone healthy primary safety and prompting the team to sign AJ Finley from the practice squad according to game-day roster reports.
The Seahawks listed seven inactive players, including emergency third quarterback Jalen Milroe as confirmed by team announcements. New England mirrored that inactive count with seven players sidelined, featuring running back TreVeyon Henderson due to an ankle injury alongside emergency third quarterback Behren Morton pursuant to official injury reports.
Market Expectations and International Scheduling Context
Prediction markets point toward a defensive battle at Lumen Field. Kalshi listed the Seahawks at $0.62 per share to win, with the Patriots priced at $0.39. Contracts for more than 44.5 total points scored traded at $0.49 per share, while the “No” side sat at $0.52.
The unusual Wednesday night slot for the season opener stems directly from the league’s expanding International Series. The NFL is scheduled to play its first regular-season game in Australia on Friday, September 11, local time, matching the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Airing that game at 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 10, allows the league to avoid federal broadcast restrictions protecting high school and college football calendars.
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