What happened: Seattle enters the game as defending champion after beating New England in February. The NFL will begin its schedule with a rare Wednesday opener at Lumen Field.
Why it matters: The matchup launches <a href='https://wire.report/article/patriots-seahawks-set-for-sept-9-nfl-opener-2026-09-02'>Seattle's title defense</a> and gives New England an immediate test against the team that ended its previous season.
By the numbers: Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, setting up a rematch seven months later.
What to watch: Final injury reports and inactive lists will clarify both teams' availability before kickoff.