The NFL season opens Wednesday night with a familiar pairing and a very different setup.
The Patriots and Seahawks, who both stumbled to 0-1 last year before ripping through the rest of the regular season and meeting again in Super Bowl 60, are back at it in the first game of the 2026 season. This time, New England walks into Lumen Field as Seattle gets to raise a second championship banner in front of its own crowd.
That’s the backdrop for a Week 1 game that already carries plenty of intrigue. Drake Maye gets a new-look Patriots offense with A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs added to the mix, and New England is hoping that gives it enough firepower to challenge Mike Macdonald’s defense. On the other side, Seattle mostly kept things intact after winning the Super Bowl, with one notable change in the backfield after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency.
The Seahawks also have to deal with some uncertainty at running back. Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a major knee injury, which puts first-round pick Jadarian Price in line for a heavy workload against a Patriots defense that will make every carry feel earned.
Neither team is going to treat a Week 1 loss like the end of the world, but a win here would give either side a real edge as both head into what should be a tightly packed divisional race.
Kickoff is set for Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET from Lumen Field in Seattle.
The game will air nationally on NBC, with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call. It can also be streamed through DIRECTV, Peacock or fubo.
Before kickoff, the scene was already building around Seattle. The Patriots arrived at Lumen Field with Mike Vrabel leading the team off the bus, and the NFL highlighted A.J. Brown’s Patriots debut as the league’s opening-night spotlight shifted toward the new season.
The rest of Week 1 continues Thursday with 49ers vs. Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Netflix, followed by a full Sunday slate that includes Bengals vs.
Buccaneers, Lions vs. Saints, Steelers vs.
Falcons, Panthers vs. Bears, Titans vs.
Jets, Colts vs. Ravens, Jaguars vs.
Browns, Texans vs. Bills, Vikings vs.
Packers, Chargers vs. Cardinals, Raiders vs.
Dolphins, Eagles vs. Commanders and Giants vs.
Cowboys. The week wraps with Chiefs vs.
Broncos on Monday night.
In Other News...
DreMont Jones Just Turned A Painful Patriots Hit Into Drama
DreMont Jones made his presence felt early in the Patriots season opener, flattening Sam Darnold on a sack that led to a hip injury and quickly became one of the nights most talked-about moments. Even in a loss, the play gave New England at least one hard-hitting highlight to point back to, and Jones leaned into it by posting video of the hit on social media afterward.
Mike Macdonald later offered some relief by confirming there is no fracture, but the bigger question around Darnold is still the same: how long will this keep him out? For the Patriots, the injury added another layer to a game they already wanted to put behind them, while Jones' post kept the moment alive long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Just Added Veteran Help Up Front And Another Move Is Coming
The Patriots are adding some veteran heft to their defensive front, agreeing to a one-year deal with DaQuan Jones as they continue to reshape the interior of the defense. Jones, a Penn State product who has played in 179 NFL games across multiple teams, had been on the market since March and gives New England another experienced body to lean on up front.
The move is not a simple one-for-one addition, either. Because the signing pushes the roster above the 53-man limit, another transaction is coming soon, leaving one current Patriot on the bubble as the team makes room for Jones. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Make Urgent D-Line Move After Week 1 Warning
After a Week 1 reminder that the interior can get tested fast, the Patriots moved quickly to shore up their defensive front by agreeing to a one-year deal with defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. Jones brings veteran size and experience, and he arrives with familiar ties to head coach Mike Vrabel from their past together, a detail that should help him settle in without much delay.
His first chance to suit up comes against the Steelers, where New England is looking for more help and more stability in the middle of the line. The addition does mean a corresponding roster move is coming, so the Patriots are not only adding depth, but also making a calculated choice about who stays put to make room for it. [Read more 🡒]