The 2026 season opens Wednesday, September 9, with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, seven months after Seattle beat New England 29-13 to claim its second Lombardi Trophy.
Seattle enters as a three-point home favorite. New England is +155 on the moneyline, Seattle is -177, and the total sits at 44.5. The line reflects Seattle’s championship defense and home-field edge, yet New England returns Drake Maye with a deeper receiving group and an offseason mandate to solve the pressure that wrecked its Super Bowl offense.
Be sure to shop around for the best NFL betting lines to lock in the highest payout before kickoff.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Odds
| Market | New England Patriots | Seattle Seahawks |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +3 (-103) | -3 (-117) |
| Moneyline | +155 | -177 |
| Total | Over 44.5 (-110) | Under 44.5 (-110) |
The NFL Week 1 schedule confirms the unusual Wednesday opener, the first regular-season game of the league’s 107th season. Seattle will raise its championship banner before kickoff, adding emotion to a matchup already carrying history.
Super Bowl LX Still Shapes This Matchup
Seattle’s February win provides the clearest starting point for handicapping Wednesday night. Mike Macdonald’s defense sacked Maye six times, forced three turnovers and kept New England scoreless through three quarters. Maye finished 27 of 43 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, with much of that production arriving after Seattle built a commanding lead.
Kenneth Walker III was Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries, but he left Seattle for Kansas City during free agency. StatFox Sports’ Super Bowl LX recap details how Seattle controlled field position, protected Sam Darnold from costly mistakes and repeatedly put Maye in difficult passing situations.
That formula remains relevant, though the backfield is different. Seattle must recreate Walker’s efficiency with a new rushing rotation, placing more responsibility on Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury.
New England Has More Help For Drake Maye
Mike Vrabel and the Patriots spent the offseason upgrading Maye’s supporting cast. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs joined the receiving corps, giving New England more size, separation and downfield options than it carried into the Super Bowl. The offensive line received attention, with the plan built around giving Maye cleaner answers against pressure.
The matchup lost one New England weapon Tuesday when TreVeyon Henderson was ruled out with an ankle injury. Ben Brown is out with a knee injury. Seattle safety Ty Okada is out with a hamstring issue, and Nick Emmanwori and Tory Horton carry questionable designations on the official NFL injury report.
Henderson’s absence puts more rushing responsibility on Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner. New England cannot afford another game where Seattle forces Maye into obvious passing downs and attacks protection with disguised pressure.
Seattle’s Defense Remains The Betting Separator
The Seahawks allowed 17.2 points per game last season and finished with a league-best plus-191 scoring differential during their 14-3 regular season. Their defense returned much of the unit that overwhelmed New England, including Devon Witherspoon, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II.
Seattle’s secondary depth deserves attention with Okada unavailable and Emmanwori uncertain. Brown can test those personnel changes immediately. Maye should have more favorable receiving matchups than he had in February, especially if New England protects long enough for routes to develop.
The deeper issue is whether the Patriots can stay balanced. Seattle’s front can erase an offense that becomes predictable. A productive Stevenson night would slow the rush, create play-action opportunities and give Maye chances to attack outside the numbers.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Best Bet
Seattle -3 is the preferred side at the current price. The home field, defensive continuity and matchup history make a field goal reasonable. New England improved its receiving group, but Henderson’s absence removes an explosive runner from a game where rushing efficiency could decide third-down distance.
The total at 44.5 offers less appeal. Seattle has a new play caller and a new backfield structure. New England should be better equipped to score than it was in February, yet both defenses can create long stretches without touchdowns.
NFL Best Bet: Seattle Seahawks -3 (-117)
Patriots vs. Seahawks Score Prediction
Expect a more competitive game than Super Bowl LX. Maye has better targets, Vrabel has months of film on Seattle’s pressure package, and New England’s defense can keep Darnold from turning the opener into a track meet. Seattle still owns the cleaner defensive identity and the benefit of playing at home at Lumen Field.
A late Seattle stop is the most likely separator. Darnold does not need a huge passing total if the Seahawks protect the football, win field position and make New England drive the full field.
Official Prediction: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20
