NFL Kickoff 2026: Patriots vs. Seahawks Super Bowl Rematch Opens the Season
The NFL is back — and the 2026 season is starting with unfinished business.
The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off Wednesday, September 9, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, with national coverage on NBC and Peacock, along with NFL+ availability.
But this isn’t just another Week 1 matchup.
It’s a Super Bowl LX rematch.
Patriots vs. Seahawks: 2026 NFL Kickoff Game
Matchup: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock and NFL+
The Seahawks enter the season as the defending Super Bowl champions after defeating New England in Super Bowl LX and capturing the second championship in franchise history.
Now the Patriots get an immediate opportunity for revenge.
A Super Bowl Rematch to Start the NFL Season
There won’t be much time for either fan base to forget what happened in the Super Bowl.
Seattle gets to raise the curtain on its championship defense at home, while New England arrives looking to make an early statement against the team that ended its championship run.
That’s what makes this opener especially intriguing.
The Patriots don’t have to wait months for another opportunity against Seattle.
They get it in Week 1.
And the Seahawks get an opportunity to show the rest of the NFL that last season’s championship was only the beginning.
Why Is the NFL Season Starting on Wednesday?
The September 9 opener also brings an unusual twist to the NFL calendar.
It’s a Wednesday night kickoff, marking the NFL’s first Wednesday season opener since 2012.
That gives the opening game an even bigger standalone spotlight before the rest of the Week 1 schedule gets underway.
Lumen Field Takes Center Stage
Few environments in professional football can match the atmosphere surrounding a major game in Seattle.
Now imagine that environment for the first game following a Super Bowl championship.
The Seahawks will have the home crowd behind them as they begin their title defense, while New England walks directly into one of the biggest opening-night tests possible.
Expect the atmosphere at Lumen Field to feel much bigger than a normal Week 1 game.
A Historic Week for the NFL
Patriots-Seahawks is also the beginning of an ambitious opening week for the league.
One night after the Seattle kickoff game, the NFL is scheduled to take its international expansion another step forward with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers playing in Melbourne, Australia.
From a Super Bowl rematch in Seattle to an international showcase in Australia, the league is wasting no time making Week 1 an event.
Three Questions Heading Into Patriots vs. Seahawks
1. Can Seattle immediately establish itself as the team to beat again?
Winning a championship puts a target on your back. Seattle’s title defense begins against the same franchise it defeated for the trophy.
2. How will New England respond to the Super Bowl loss?
There may be no better opportunity to change the conversation than beating the defending champions on their home field in the first game of the season.
3. Will we get another classic?
The history between these franchises already gives the matchup additional weight. Add the championship rematch storyline, opening-night atmosphere and national television audience, and the stage is set.
ScoreClub Sports Prediction Debate: Who Wins?
Now it’s time for the fans.
🏈 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
or
🏈 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Does Seattle start its championship defense 1-0, or does New England walk into Lumen Field and get its Super Bowl revenge?
DROP YOUR PICK AND FINAL SCORE
Join the conversation with ScoreClub Sports and tell us who takes the first victory of the 2026 NFL season.
The offseason is over.
Football is back. 🏈🔥
Stay connected with ScoreClub Sports throughout the 2026 NFL season for breaking stories, fan debates, rankings, polls, NFL Showdowns and more.
ScoreClubSports.net
SEO Title: NFL Kickoff 2026: Patriots vs. Seahawks Super Bowl Rematch
Meta Description: The 2026 NFL season begins September 9 as the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Get kickoff time, TV information, storylines and more.
Suggested URL: “/nfl-kickoff-2026-patriots-seahawks”
Target Keywords: 2026 NFL kickoff, Patriots vs Seahawks, NFL Week 1 2026, NFL season opener 2026, Seahawks Patriots Super Bowl rematch, Patriots Seahawks kickoff time, NFL schedule 2026