The New England Patriots will officially begin the 2026 NFL season in a rematch of Super Bowl 60, going on the road against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, Sept. 9, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
New England will look for revenge in Week 1 against the Seahawks
After an impressive turnaround last season, the Patriots finished with a 13-4 record and returned to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019. While they came up short, losing 29-13, the season was a step in the right direction.
New England saw some changes during the offseason. On the coaching side, the Patriots promoted Zak Kuhr to defensive coordinator. In free agency, New England made multiple signings, headlined by wide receiver Romeo Doubs.
During the NFL draft, the Patriots were aggressive in trading up for Utah’s Caleb Lomu in the first round. The third round saw the Patriots find a gem in Notre Dame's Eli Raridon.
Heading into year two under Mike Vrabel, playing the Seahawks in Week 1 should be exciting for the Patriots.
Patriots face a great test in Week 1's Super Bowl rematch
After a rough defeat that saw the Seahawks dominate the game, the Patriots should want to begin the season on the right note. At some point, the Patriots were going to have to play them, and it’s better to play them early than late in the year. Instead of having the game loom over the season, New England can rip the band-aid off early.
With how the season ended, the Patriots have a lot to prove and should welcome the challenge in Week 1. Making it to the Super Bowl is hard; returning to the Super Bowl is even more challenging. Getting the chance to avenge the defeat would be a great time setter.
New England should have a chip on its shoulder with how last season ended, and a strong performance against the Seahawks would be a great start.
Seattle also saw changes in the offseason, losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Las Vegas Raiders. Playing them in Week 1 while they may not be fully in sync could work in the Patriots' favor.
Being able to set a strong tone for the season with an impressive Week 1 win would be a great way to kick off the new season.
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