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The NFL’s newest season begins where its last one left off — with the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and National Broadcasting Company.
A Super Bowl LX rematch is here to officially kick off the 2026 NFL campaign. No, Bad Bunny won’t be performing in the middle of this one, but there’s so much to look forward to in the season opener. The Seahawks raise their championship banner before the euphoric 12s. The Patriots seek revenge after February’s frustrating loss. It’s “Sunday Night Football” on a friggin’ Wednesday.
We’re all reporting as eligible tonight. Here’s what we can expect to see and hear from game No. 1 of 272.
How to watch Patriots at Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game
- Venue: Lumen Field — Seattle
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET, Wednesday
- TV: NBC, Telemundo
- Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)
NBC is free over the air. It’s also available with Peacock’s premium plan.
The NBC broadcast details
This is the third Week 1 to feature a Super Bowl rematch. It last happened in 2016, when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers. This is the second time that an NFL season opens on a Wednesday — the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants did it in 2012.
NBC has aired the season opener for more than two consecutive decades. The 2026 edition puts Mike Tirico on play-by-play and Cris Collinsworth on analyst duties. Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung are the corresponding field reporters. They were all on the call for Super Bowl LX, too.
There’s a pregame program called “NFL Kickoff Special.” It starts at 7 p.m. ET and is hosted by Maria Taylor. New Englanders will certainly recognize Devin McCourty, a 13-year defensive back for the Pats and a three-time Super Bowl champ. Everyone will recognize Mike Tomlin as he goes from unblinking head coach to studio staple. The desk also has NFL insider Mike Florio and enthusiastic clapper Jason Garrett.
Power Rankings: Why the Seahawks aren’t No. 1
Chad Graff
What to know about the Seahawks
Mike Macdonald’s Hawks were a two-way torpedo throughout 2025. They finished with the No. 3 scoring offense, No. 1 scoring defense and top seed in their conference. Despite a few offseason departures and the NFL’s ephemerality, Seattle takes the field as a viable back-to-back champ.
Kenneth Walker III is no longer in the backfield after signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. New Zealand native George Holani and Notre Dame draftee Jadarian Price will carry the load while last year’s RB2, Zach Charbonnet, recovers from knee surgery. The offense also replaces coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. His successor, Brian Fleury, was tight ends coach and run game coordinator for the rival San Francisco 49ers.
Sam Darnold is back as QB1 and lead bird watcher. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, looking to defend his receiving title amid double coverage. His presence frees up room for the steady Cooper Kupp and turbo-booster Rashid Shaheed.
The “Dark Side” defense boasts a disciplined front line and a secondary that can stuff the run. DL Leonard Williams and CB Devon Witherspoon are both fresh off of well-earned contract extensions. Derick Hall and Byron Murphy II return to the loaded pass rush; second-team All-Pro Ernest Jones IV holds down the second level. Newly signed defensive back Terrion Arnold won’t play in Week 1 as he remains on the commissioner’s exempt list while facing kidnapping and armed robbery charges.
Wednesday night begins an extended curtain call for sack artist DeMarcus Lawrence as well. The 13-year pro says that he will retire at the end of the season.
What to know about the Patriots
Like their opponents, the Patriots put together a dominant 2025. They went 14-3, ranking second in points scored and fourth in points allowed.
Then came an intense offseason. Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel was caught up in a scandal with Dianna Russini, who at the time was The Athletic’s NFL insider. In June, the front office made a trade for A.J. Brown, one of the league’s best and most emotive players. There was also a protracted contract dispute with lockdown corner Christian Gonzalez, who received a record extension days before the start of the season.
On the sideline, Vrabel and offensive play caller Josh McDaniels are still at their posts. Zak Kuhr officially shifts from inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, while former DC Terrell Williams moves to assistant head coach after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer last season.
Drake Maye is the present and the future under center. He came up just short in the 2025 MVP race, with command far beyond most second-year quarterbacks. Maye can keep getting better, thanks to the additions of Brown and Romeo Doubs out wide. Should the passing game ever stall, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson form a thunder-and-lightning duo on the ground. Henderson is listed as out for Wednesday, though, due to an ankle injury.
The top-line defense gets boosted by two big free-agency moves. Edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones can help squeeze the pocket. And safety Kevin Byard III, who just led the league with seven interceptions, now looms deep over the secondary.
The Patriots have an especially tough Week 1 draw. But winning in Seattle would send quite a message — to their competition and to themselves.
Patriots vs. Seahawks history
Seattle leads the regular-season head-to-head series 11-8. This is New England’s first game in front of the 12s since 2012. The Patriots visited Seattle in 2020, but the stadium was empty due to pandemic protocols.
The two teams have split their two postseason meetings. The Seahawks took a 19-0 lead early in the fourth quarter of February’s Super Bowl, en route to their decisive 29-13 win and their second championship. Walker earned MVP shine with 161 yards of offense. Hall and Murphy had two sacks apiece; Julian Love and Uchenna Nwosu each came down with an interception.
Eleven years before that, Super Bowl XLIX gave us an all-time finish, from Jermaine Kearse’s heavenly juggle to Malcolm Butler’s fateful pick at the goal line. Tom Brady took home the MVP honors after the Patriots’ 28-24 triumph, their fourth of what would become a six-ring dynasty.
Patriots vs. Seahawks updated odds
The Seahawks are one of the many home teams favored in Week 1.
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