Patriots vs. Seahawks: Key Matchups in 2026 Kickoff

The NFL 2026 season kicks off with an intriguing matchup as the New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Wednesday, October 18, at 8:20 PM ET. This game marks a rematch between two teams that met in Super Bowl LX in February, where the Seahawks dominated the Patriots with a final score of 29-13.

The Patriots have made significant changes to their roster since last season’s loss. They acquired wide receiver AJ Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles and signed Romeo Doubs to bolster Drake Maye’s passing game. Despite these additions, the team faces challenges in their running game, as TreVeyon Henderson is sidelined with an ankle injury. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle most of the rushing duties.

On the Seahawks’ side, the team retains its core players, including quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was named 2025 Offensive Player of the Year. However, key departures like running back Kenneth Walker III (now with the Kansas City Chiefs) and safety Ty Okada leave gaps in their lineup. Rashid Shaheed has been given a larger role as a vertical threat, while rookie running back Jadarian Price is poised to see significant action in his NFL debut.

Both teams enter the game with 0-0 records, aiming to make a strong start to the season. The matchup will test whether the Patriots can improve their performance against Seattle’s defense or if the Seahawks can continue their dominance from last year’s Super Bowl.