The New England Patriots travel to Lumen Field in Seattle to face the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game on Wednesday 9 September 2026, the league’s traditional season-opening showcase. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, which the Seahawks won 29-13, and it gives the defending champions home advantage to raise the banner in front of their own crowd.
When and where
Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The NFL Kickoff Game traditionally opens the regular season on the Thursday after Labor Day, but for 2026 the league has moved its opener to a Wednesday, making this the Patriots’ first regular-season game ever played on a Wednesday. Lumen Field, the Seahawks’ home since 2002, is one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL and seats roughly 68,000.
The matchup
This is a straight rematch of Super Bowl LX, played seven months earlier at Levi’s Stadium, where Seattle beat New England to claim the title. The Seahawks earn the honour of hosting the opener as reigning champions, while the Patriots arrive looking to prove their run to the final was no fluke and to settle the score from February. The storylines write themselves: a young, ascending New England side against a Seattle team that peaked at exactly the right moment. There is no long-standing rivalry between these franchises, which makes the recent championship history the entire backdrop. For both teams it is a measuring stick on the very first night of the season, with bragging rights and early momentum on the line.
Players to watch
New England’s offence runs through quarterback Drake Maye, who emerged as one of the league’s most accurate passers and was in the MVP conversation through the previous campaign. His decision-making and mobility will be tested by a Seattle defence that thrives on crowd noise and pressure. For Seattle, quarterback Sam Darnold guided the franchise to the title and will look to pick up where he left off behind a settled offensive line. Running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl LX MVP after a 135-yard performance, anchors the Seahawks ground game and is the kind of physical runner who can control tempo and quiet a road opponent. Beyond the named stars, watch the trenches: whichever pass rush wins on early downs is likely to dictate the night.
Why this game matters
The Kickoff Game is the NFL’s annual curtain-raiser, the moment the entire season begins after months of anticipation. It is staged at the home of the reigning Super Bowl champions, complete with a banner-raising ceremony, so the spotlight is enormous. For Seattle, it is a chance to celebrate the title in front of their supporters before defending it. For New England, it is an immediate opportunity for redemption against the only team to beat them when it mattered most. Opening the season with a championship rematch gives the fixture genuine weight, well beyond a typical Week 1 contest, and sets an early benchmark in what both franchises hope will be deep playoff runs.
How to watch
In the United States the game is broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock, the network that traditionally carries the NFL Kickoff Game. In the United Kingdom, NFL coverage is available on Sky Sports, with the full slate of games also streamed via NFL Game Pass on DAZN. Given the late evening US start, UK viewers should expect an early-hours kickoff, with replays and highlights available on demand the following day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Patriots at Seahawks 2026 Kickoff Game? Wednesday 9 September 2026, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Why is this game a Super Bowl rematch? Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX in February 2026, and the NFL paired the two teams again to open the following season at the champions’ home stadium.
What channel is the game on? It airs on NBC and Peacock in the United States, and on Sky Sports and NFL Game Pass on DAZN in the United Kingdom.
See the full season on our NFL 2026 schedule.