Drake Maye and the New England Patriots are kicking off the 2026 NFL season with a rematch against the Seattle Seahawks!
The 2026 NFL season officially begins on Wednesday night (September 9) when the Patriots travel to Seattle to face Sam Darnold and the defending Super Bowl champions at Lumen Field.
The matchup comes just seven months after the Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. It marks the first Super Bowl rematch in the NFL Kickoff Game in 10 years.
If you’re planning to watch the Patriots vs. Seahawks game, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know, including the start time, TV channel and streaming options.
What Time Is the Patriots vs. Seahawks Game?
The New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT on Wednesday, September 9.
Pre-game coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with a special NFL Kickoff edition of Football Night in America.
What Channel Is Patriots vs. Seahawks On?
The game will air nationally on NBC.
Spanish-language coverage will also be available on Telemundo.
Mike Tirico will provide play-by-play commentary alongside analyst Cris Collinsworth, with Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sidelines.
How Can I Stream Patriots vs. Seahawks?
Fans can stream the game live on Peacock.
The game will also be available through NFL+ on mobile devices. NFL+ requires a subscription and geographic restrictions may apply.
Why Is the NFL Season Starting on a Wednesday?
This year’s NFL Kickoff Game is taking place on Wednesday instead of the traditional Thursday night. The following night, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia on Thursday (September 10).
The NFL will therefore begin the 2026 season with primetime games on back-to-back nights. This is just the second time the NFL Kickoff Game has been played on a Wednesday.
Why Is Patriots vs. Seahawks a Rematch?
The Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX earlier this year.
Seattle enters the new season as the defending Super Bowl champion, while Drake and the Patriots will get an immediate opportunity for revenge.
It’s the first time since 2016 that the NFL Kickoff Game has featured a rematch of the previous season’s Super Bowl, and just the third Week 1 Super Bowl rematch in NFL history.
The Patriots vs. Seahawks game kicks off Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Check out the full Week 1 NFL schedule.
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