The 2026 NFL season opens Wednesday with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, and the first thing to expect is a grind, not a shootout.
The last time these teams met, Seattle’s defense made life miserable for Drake Maye, forcing the regular-season MVP runner-up into three turnovers. On the other side, the Seahawks leaned away from the passing game and settled into a conservative approach built around the run. With early-season offenses often taking time to find their footing, there isn’t much reason to think this one will suddenly turn into a track meet.
New England’s offseason addition of A.J. Brown is the obvious wrinkle, but the betting lean here goes in a different direction. With the champs at home and looking to open their title defense on a strong note, the favorite anytime touchdown play is AJ Barner at +270.
Barner was the only Seahawks offensive player to find the end zone in the Super Bowl, and he also tied for Seattle’s second-most receptions in that game with four. He finished 2025 with a bigger role down the stretch, and the expectation is that he’ll be more involved right away in 2026.
Another option worth a look is Romeo Doubs at +280. Brown’s Patriots debut is likely to pull plenty of attention in this market, and Seattle’s secondary will be keyed in on him too. That could open the door for New England’s other new receiver to make his first game count.
Jadarian Price comes in at +135 as another touchdown candidate. Kenneth Walker III came close to scoring against the Patriots in the Super Bowl on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP, which should at least point bettors toward Seattle’s new starter.
Rhamondre Stevenson is also sitting at plus money at +110 and scored in the Super Bowl, but Seattle’s defense was much stronger against the run last season. Price also brings a little mystery, which may make him tougher for bettors to read - and tougher for New England to prepare for.
In Other News...
DK Metcalf Just Reopened A Seahawks Debate Fans Never Dropped
DK Metcalfs exit from Seattle was never just a roster move, and the way things have played out has only made the old debate louder. He asked the Seahawks for a trade before the 2025 season, landed with the Steelers, and Seattle responded by turning the page with draft-pick compensation and a major contract for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. From the outside, it was the kind of decision that invites instant comparison, especially after the Seahawks went on to win Super Bowl LX while Pittsburghs run ended in the wild-card round.
Metcalf, though, is not treating the result like a reason to revisit his choice. He has said he understands the consequences of asking out and has congratulated his former teammates, even as the Steelers committed to him with a four-year, $132 million extension. For Seattle fans, it keeps the conversation in a familiar place: whether the franchise got the timing right, whether Metcalf got what he wanted, and how much a championship ring changes the hindsight around a trade that was already going to be dissected for years. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Kupps New Seahawks Partnership Goes Well Beyond Sneakers
Brooks Running has officially stepped into the Seahawks orbit as the teams new Running Partner, and the rollout comes with Cooper Kupp serving as one of three new global ambassadors. The arrangement fits Seattles sports culture neatly enough, but it is aimed at more than branding and sideline visibility. Brooks is tying the partnership to community work across Washington state, with a focus on supporting high school football coaches and athletes through programs such as Coach of the Week and Future Run grants.
The broader push also reaches into girls flag football, where Brooks plans to recognize coaches and players as the sport keeps growing in the region. The company expects to spotlight those efforts at a Seahawks home game, turning what could have been a straightforward endorsement deal into a much wider effort around local football. For Kupp and the Seahawks, it is a partnership built as much on community footing as on what happens on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Get A Big Backfield Boost Sooner Than Expected
Zach Charbonnets start to the season remains on hold, but theres at least a little more optimism around his recovery than there was when the Seahawks first braced for a long absence. The running back is on the physically unable to perform list after the knee injury he carried out of last season, which means he will miss the first four games, but coach Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet is progressing well and could be back sooner than the December timeframe that had seemed to be the target.
For Seattle, the possibility matters because Charbonnets return would give the backfield a jolt at a point in the season when teams usually start absorbing wear and tear. Still, nothing is locked in yet. He has to pass a physical before the Seahawks can activate him, and with no firm return date in place, the team is left waiting to see whether the encouraging signs turn into an actual midseason comeback. [Read more 🡒]