Patriots vs Seahawks 2026 NFL season kicks off with a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The New England Patriots travel to face the defending champion Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9. Seattle beat New England 29-13 back on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium, and now the two teams meet again just seven months later to open the new campaign.
Patriots Vs. Seahawks 2026: Start Time And Key Facts
- Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Kickoff: 8:20 PM ET
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Significance: First-ever Wednesday game in Patriots franchise history; first Wednesday Week 1 opener since 2012
Score Prediction
Expect a competitive, hard-fought opener given the recent history between these two teams. Seattle’s home-field advantage and playoff pedigree should be enough to edge a tight one. Predicted score: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20.
Team News And Injuries
New England’s biggest storyline is the debut of A.J. Brown, acquired in a June trade from Philadelphia. Brown dislocated his left thumb during a practice rep against cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He stayed on the field and finished the session, and is not considered a Week 1 injury concern. Running back TreVeyon Henderson is a bigger worry after slipping and leaving practice early with an apparent ankle injury. His status is worth monitoring closely before Wednesday’s kickoff.
Seattle enters missing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, who left in free agency. They’re also without Zach Charbonnet, who begins the season on the reserve/PUP list, and will miss at least the first four games recovering from a torn ACL. That thrusts rookie Jadarian Price into a significant early-season workload at running back. Seahawks cornerback Nick Emmanwori is also dealing with an ankle injury and remains uncertain for Week 1.
How To Watch
- TV: NBC (Sunday Night Football production, airing on a Wednesday for Week 1)
- Streaming: Peacock
- Radio: Local Patriots and Seahawks affiliate stations
Why A.J. Brown Is The Player To Watch
Brown reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him in Tennessee from 2019 to 2021, giving New England’s new star receiver early familiarity within the building. Last season with Philadelphia, Brown caught 78 of 120 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 12.9 yards per reception. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes has specifically flagged the Seahawks matchup as an ideal spot for Brown to make an early impact. Noting Seattle’s secondary depth behind top cornerback Devon Witherspoon could be an exploitable weakness.
Seattle’s Defensive Strength
The Seahawks bring back a defense that earned five All-Pro selections last season. A franchise record, led by cornerback Devon Witherspoon, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who intercepted five passes a year ago. That unit will be tasked with containing both Brown and a Patriots offense built around second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Head-To-Head History
Seattle has won three straight meetings with New England, including a 23-20 overtime win in September 2024. Before adding the Super Bowl LX victory this past February. New England’s most famous win in the series remains Super Bowl XLIX. When cornerback Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception sealed a 28-24 win over Seattle.
End Of My Patriots Vs. Seahawks 2026 Rant: What’s At Stake?
For New England, a win would offer early validation for an offseason built around adding Brown and getting Maye more support. For Seattle, defending a Super Bowl title starts with proving last season’s breakthrough wasn’t a one-off, especially with key contributors like Walker already gone.
