Patriots and Seahawks set to reopen Super Bowl rivalry in season opener
The New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl, with both teams looking to improve on the previous result.
Seattle will host the New England Patriots on Wednesday night in the NFL's opening game, a repeat of the Super Bowl matchup from the prior season. The Seahawks entered the championship with a dominant defensive performance that limited the Patriots to a single late-game touchdown, winning 29-13.
New England has added veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown and rookie Romeo Doubs to bolster its passing attack, while quarterback Drake Maye returns as the starter. The Patriots will be without running back TreVeyon Henderson, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Seattle, the defending champion, lost running back Kenneth Walker III to free agency and will rely on first-round pick Jadarian Price, who is expected to see significant carries while Zach Charbonnet recovers from a torn ACL. The team also hopes wide receiver Rashid Shaheed can contribute after receiving a three-year contract extension.
Both squads have motivations beyond the opening result. A win in Seattle could help the Patriots counter criticism of a soft schedule, while the Seahawks aim to prove they remain a top contender despite limited offseason attention. Betting markets open with Seattle favored by 3.5 points.
"He's someone that you have to account for and we're going to do our best to maintain and to try to stop him," Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said of the Patriots' offense.
The game was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a Thursday night matchup in Australia, and it will be the first test for each team’s new personnel and strategies heading into the 2026 season.