Patriots at Seahawks: Super Bowl LX Rematch Opens the 2026 Season
The 2026 NFL season kicks off with a rematch nobody expected this soon. The New England Patriots travel to Lumen Field on Wednesday night to face the Seattle Seahawks, seven months after Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX in what was considered a very dull match.
This is only the second time a Super Bowl rematch has opened the following season, after Denver hosted Carolina following Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
New England enters with plenty to prove. The Patriots went 14-3, won the AFC East for the first time since 2019, and rode a young core led by quarterback Drake Maye all the way to the title game. But the offseason brought real reinforcements, and head coach Mike Vrabel now has to show that run wasn’t a one-year surprise. Seattle, meanwhile, returns as defending champions with a roster that changed remarkably little, banking on continuity where the Patriots bet on aggression. Both teams get their first real look at each other in seven months, and this time nothing is settled beforehand.
What’s New?
New England’s biggest swing was landing wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Eagles, sending Philadelphia a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Brown steps in as Maye’s clear No. 1 target and reunites with Vrabel, who originally drafted him in Tennessee.
The Patriots also signed receiver Romeo Doubs away from Green Bay on a four-year deal, added guard Alijah Vera-Tucker from the Jets to fix a line that struggled at times last season, and shifted Jared Wilson from left guard to center to make room for him. On defense, the additions of safety Kevin Byard III and edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones give Vrabel more experience to lean on around a secondary that already includes Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis. The one snag heading into Wednesday is running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury after missing every practice this week, which takes away a piece of New England’s explosive-play threat in the run game.
Seattle’s biggest change came on the coaching staff, not the roster. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the Raiders’ head coach after the Super Bowl win, and the Seahawks replaced him with Brian Fleury, a longtime 49ers assistant who spent last season as San Francisco’s run game coordinator. Personnel-wise, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signed with the Chiefs in free agency, and Seattle used the 32nd overall pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price to help fill the void. That pick looks even more important now that Zach Charbonnet is starting the season on the reserve/PUP list following ACL surgery, ruling him out until at least Week 5. Price will make his NFL debut Wednesday as the presumptive starter, notably without having played a single preseason snap, with George Holani and free agent addition Emanuel Wilson behind him. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns after a monster season that included 1,793 receiving yards and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Keys to the Game
Patriots: Keys to Victory
New England’s path to victory starts with proving the Super Bowl gap was smaller than 16 points. That means getting Brown and Doubs going early, particularly in the red zone, where both receivers have built their reputations. Maye has to be sharp against a Seattle defense that finished first in the league in points allowed and defensive EPA per play last season, and the new-look offensive line, with Vera-Tucker at left guard and Wilson at center, will be tested immediately in one of the league’s loudest road environments. Losing Henderson for the opener hurts the run game’s explosiveness and puts more pressure on the passing attack to carry the offense, which raises the risk of the Patriots becoming one-dimensional if drives stall.
Getting positive news on Christian Barmore, who returned to full practice participation after sitting out to open the week, matters just as much on the other side of the ball, since New England’s pass rush needs him disruptive up front to keep Seattle’s offense off schedule. If the Patriots can protect Maye, establish the passing game inside the twenty, and get enough push from Barmore and the front to make Sam Darnold uncomfortable, they have the pieces to atone for February.
Seahawks: Keys to Victory
Seattle’s formula is built on continuity, and the first key is proving that a defense that led the NFL in points allowed and run-defense EPA can carry that form into a new season without its Super Bowl-winning coordinator running the offense on the other side of the ball. Brian Fleury inherits a roster that barely changed and a home crowd at Lumen Field that gives Seattle a real advantage on a short week for the visiting team. The more interesting question is how the ground game holds up, with Jadarian Price making his NFL debut as the lead back after not playing a single preseason snap while the team saved him for the regular season. Price will need to hold up in pass protection and stay reliable catching the ball out of the backfield, not just run well, or the Seahawks may lean more heavily on Smith-Njigba and the passing game than planned. Health is also worth watching on defense, with rookie safety Nick Emmanwori and returner Tory Horton both listed as questionable after limited practice weeks. If Seattle’s defense plays to its 2025 level and Price shows he belongs, the Seahawks have every reason to believe they can beat this new-look Patriots team the same way they did in February.
DraftKings Picks
We’re all hoping for fireworks, but this game will likely repeat Super Bowl LX. Expect strong defensive pressure and sputtering offenses until late in the second half. The first week will be hard to predict, but my advice is to include at least one kicker and one defense in your Showdown slate. I think depending on which team you like, this will be a low-scoring kicker duel. The following players might be worth considering:
DraftKings Salary: $4,400
This will be ultra-chalk. A contrarian angle would be to go against the Seahawks defense, but its the first game of the year, so I’m not taking any bold chances just yet. Your lineup should have the Seahawks DEF, and I would play around with them in the captain spot
DraftKings Salary: $4,800
All the buzz is around A.J Brown, but he will be blanketed by CB Devon Witherspoon the entire night. The easy check-down target is Henry over the middle. I also like Romeo Doubs in a similar role.
Prop Bets
Over 35.5 Receiving Yards
It’s hard to gauge prop bets since we don’t have anything beyond training camp and past history to base decisions on; that said, I really like the over on Doubs’ receiving line. 35.5 is really low. I’m not sold on A.J. Brown being this elite WR1, and I think he’ll struggle against Devon Witherspoon. This means Maye’s go-to will be his second option, which is why I like Hunter Henry in DFS and Doubs’ prop bet.
My Pick
Seahawks 24-17
