The wait is over.
The 2026 NFL regular season officially kicks off Wednesday night with a blockbuster matchup as the New England Patriots travel to Seattle to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks at Lumen Field.
And there’s already unfinished business.
Just seven months ago, Seattle defeated New England in Super Bowl LX to capture the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. Now, the Patriots get an immediate opportunity for revenge on the same night Seattle begins its title defense.
The matchup marks the first season-opening Super Bowl rematch since 2016, adding even more significance to an already massive opening night.
Seattle enters the season with much of its championship core intact, including quarterback Sam Darnold and star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But there have been changes, including the departure of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III during the offseason.
New England has made major moves of its own.
The Patriots added star wide receiver A.J. Brown, giving quarterback Drake Maye a legitimate No. 1 target as New England looks to take another step after reaching the Super Bowl last season.
The Patriots will, however, open the year without running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Betting Odds
The sportsbooks are giving the defending champions the edge heading into opening night.
Seattle Seahawks: -3.5
New England Patriots: +3.5
Over/Under: 44.5 points
Seattle Moneyline: -188
New England Moneyline: +158
The line has already seen some movement. Seattle originally opened as a 4.5-point favorite before the spread tightened to around 3.5 points heading into game day.
That still leaves the Seahawks as the favorite at home, but the market suggests bettors are expecting a much closer battle than Seattle’s 29-13 victory over New England in Super Bowl LX.
For Seattle, opening night represents the beginning of something even more difficult than winning a championship: defending it.
For New England, it’s an opportunity to immediately answer the loss that ended last season.
Patriots. Seahawks. Super Bowl rematch.
The 2026 NFL season couldn’t have asked for a much bigger opening night.