The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks open the 2026 NFL regular season with a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks will celebrate by raising their second championship banner before the start of the game. Meanwhile, the Patriots anticipate wide receiver A.J. Brown’s debut, although running back TreVeyon Henderson is out due to an ankle injury.
Where to Watch: Broadcasting on NBC and Peacock, with streaming available on Fubo.
The excitement is palpable as Seattle begins the game with possession. Richard Sherman received a standing ovation while raising the No. 12 flag at Lumen Field. Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready gave a memorable electric guitar rendition of the national anthem to set the stage for the kickoff.
As defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks began with an electrifying entry. The stadium lit up as they took the field, igniting cheers which quickly turned to boos when the Patriots appeared. Seattle’s home regular-season record against the Patriots stands at 11-8. This game marks New England’s first in front of Seattle’s crowd since 2012, as their 2020 visit happened without fans due to pandemic restrictions.
Drake Maye, starting his third NFL season, faces expectations to join the MVP conversation. His performance against Seattle’s strong defense might set the tone for that narrative this season. Ahead of the game, Seattle will display their second Super Bowl banner, a bittersweet reminder for the Patriots, who lost to them last February.
Actor Joel McHale, a committed Seahawks fan, attends as the NFL’s celebrity photographer for the night. McHale has actively participated in Seattle’s team events, adding to the evening’s enthusiasm.
With Seattle without their star corner Nick Emmanwori, Patriots receivers could find opportunities. Eyes are on A.J. Brown, but Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas might benefit from defensive adjustments.
Seattle Inactives: S Nick Emmanwori, S Ty Okada, WR Tory Horton, G Beau Stephens, QB Jalen Milroe, TE Nick Kallerup, DE Mike Morris.
New England Inactives: RB TreVeyon Henderson, C Ben Brown, CB Karon Prunty, OLB Erick Hunter, T Walter Rouse, WR Efton Chism, QB Behren Morton (emergency third QB). Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to lead the Patriots’ backfield in Henderson’s absence.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters the season following an impressive third year where he amassed a franchise-record 1,793 receiving yards. The player’s skills in adapting to speed and crafting routes have drawn praise for his strong plays.
NBC continues its tradition of broadcasting the NFL’s season opener. This year, Mike Tirico handles play-by-play, with Cris Collinsworth as the analyst. Field reports come from Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung, reuniting the team from Super Bowl LX coverage.
Pregame coverage includes “NFL Kickoff Special,” hosted by Maria Taylor. New England’s Devin McCourty, a seasoned defensive back, and veteran coach Mike Tomlin, join as guest analysts. Mike Florio and Jason Garrett are also on the panel.
Quarterback Sam Darnold reflected on his Super Bowl performance, stressing the importance of continual improvement despite their victory. He emphasized the team’s mindset focused on current accomplishments rather than past achievements.
In lighter news, Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker visited Disneyland shortly after their Super Bowl win, capturing a memorable moment with Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Game Odds: The Seahawks are 3.5-point favorites. Seattle’s moneyline is -175 while New England’s is +145, with an over/under of 44.5. Around two-thirds of bets favor Seattle on the moneyline, with other bets showing balanced action.
Despite winning their divisions last season, neither the Seahawks nor the Patriots lead division odds. New England trails the Bills, while Seattle is behind the Rams in NFC West expectations. The Rams are current favorites to win the Super Bowl, with the Seahawks and Patriots ranked 4th and tied for 8th, respectively.
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