Patriots vs. Seahawks Week 1 Preview: Super Bowl LX Rematch Kicks Off 2026 NFL Season

When and Where: Patriots at Seahawks Week 1

The 2026 NFL season kicks off with a blockbuster rematch as the New England Patriots travel to face the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots open the regular season traveling to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9th at 8:20 PM ET. The game airs nationally on NBC from Lumen Field.

This isn't just any Week 1 matchup — the Seahawks are hosting the Patriots at Lumen Field in a rematch of Super Bowl LX to open the 2026 NFL season. Seattle won that Super Bowl meeting 29-13 back on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium.

It marks just the second time in NFL history that the two Super Bowl participants from the previous season have opened the following year against each other, with the only prior instance coming in 2016 between Denver and Carolina.

Team News and Offseason Changes

Both rosters look different than the ones that met in February. Seattle lost Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III to the Chiefs in free agency, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak departed to become the Raiders' head coach. The Seahawks defence also lost key contributors in cornerback Tariq Woolen and edge rusher Boye Mafe.

New England, meanwhile, added firepower on offense. The Patriots signed star receiver A.J. Brown in the offseason to complement quarterback Drake Maye, who is coming off a near-MVP 2025 campaign.

Injury Report Watch

Health could be a deciding factor in this opener. New England's injury report shows defensive tackle Christian Barmore and offensive lineman Ben Brown both dealing with knee issues, while running back TreVeyon Henderson is sidelined with an ankle injury. Without Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson projects to lead the backfield, followed by Corey Kiner.

Seattle has its own concerns, particularly at safety. Second-year safety Nick Emmanwori has been limited while recovering from offseason surgery, and fellow safety Ty Okada missed practice entirely with a hamstring injury, leaving the Seahawks thin at the position. That shortage prompted Seattle to add depth by signing D'Anthony Bell to the practice squad.

Odds and Prediction

Oddsmakers have installed the Seahawks as 3.5-point home favourites for the opener. Despite the loss of Walker and Kubiak, Seattle's defence is still expected to be one of the league's best, and the team enters the season as the 4th favourite to win the Super Bowl. New England isn't far behind in the futures market as Mike Vrabel's Patriots are considered among the top teams in both the AFC and Super Bowl odds this year, even with a tougher schedule than their unusually light 2025 slate.

Why This Game Matters

History suggests the champion holds the edge in these rematches. Since 2004, teams that won the Super Bowl and then opened the following season have gone 16-5 in that opener. Seattle will look to extend that trend and validate its title, while Drake Maye and a retooled Patriots offense look to author the type of statement win that reshapes the early-season AFC picture.

Adam Martin