The 2026 NFL season kicks off tonight with a rare Super Bowl rematch as the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC in a special Wednesday night opener. Just seven months after Seattle’s dominant 29-13 win in Super Bowl LX, the same two teams meet again to start the new campaign.
This marks only the third time in NFL history that the Super Bowl opponents have faced off in Week 1 of the following season. The previous instances came in 1970 and 2016. Seattle enters as a slight favorite, listed around three points, after raising its championship banner before the game.
Super Bowl LX recap and roster changes
In February, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense overwhelmed New England, sacking Drake Maye six times and forcing turnovers. Running back Kenneth Walker III earned Super Bowl MVP honors with 135 rushing yards but he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
Seattle also lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and a few defensive pieces, yet most of the core remains under head coach Mike Macdonald. Quarterback Sam Darnold is back, along with star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
What to expect in the season opener
Fans will see a charged atmosphere in Seattle as the Seahawks begin their title defense. History slightly favors the defending champions in these follow-up Super Bowl meetings.
Expect physical play especially along the lines with Seattle’s defense aiming to slow Maye once more and New England looking for redemption.
The unusual Wednesday start clears the way for a Thursday international game in Australia between the 49ers and Rams.
