The 2026 NFL season kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 9, with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. As analysts lock in their Week 1 predictions, sportsbooks set spreads and totals, and teams debut new rosters following a busy offseason of player movement and coaching changes.
Super Bowl Rematch Opens the Season in Seattle
The 2026 NFL regular season opens with a rematch of Super Bowl LX as the New England Patriots travel to face the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9th. The Seahawks host the Patriots on Wednesday, September 9th, following a game on Feb 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, USA, where New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) broke up a pass against Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks enter the matchup as three-point favorites with lines via DraftKings.
The Super Bowl champions lost running back Kenneth Walker, along with Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen in free agency. New England acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in June. They largely upgraded, but they have a tougher schedule this season. This may not be the beatdown it was in February, but it’s hard to bet against the champs, with a score prediction of Seahawks 24-Patriots 20 according to one outlook, while another DraftKings line sets it at Seahawks 26, Patriots 14.
Rams Bring Star-Studded Roster to Melbourne Against the 49ers
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face off with the San Francisco 49ers (+3.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams. The Los Angeles Rams have already been crowned champs, thanks to the addition of Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald. The next night, Myles Garrett makes his Rams debut when Los Angeles takes on San Francisco at Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers have had a tumultuous offseason, and whether it’s WR Brandon Aiyuk or the team owner Jed York, 2026 has not been kind to the Niners.
Bills and Texans Renew Rivalry in Houston Opener
The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans feature among the spreads in Week 1. I am afraid, though, that the Houston Texans’ defense will be muttering about the offense again all season. A lot of teams at the bottom might be tanking for Arch Manning, and there is no real new blood at quarterback this season, marking the first time since 2022 that there won’t be a rookie quarterback starting in Week 1, with Fernando Mendoza being the 14th quarterback to go No. 1 since 2007, and all but Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff started the opener that season.
Sunday Slate Features Coaching Debuts and Divisional Showdowns
The 2026 NFL schedule kicks off over a stretch when the New England Patriots battle the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Sunday’s spreads include Cardinals vs. Chargers (-9.5), Browns vs. Jaguars (-8.5) and Saints vs. Lions (-7). The spreads in Week 1 include Jets vs. Titans (-1.5).
Early into this season, the major headlines are how the Lions bounce back after last season’s disappointing season. Chicago starts @ Carolina following last season’s success.
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