Full Breakdown
Patriots vs. Seahawks Kickoff Game: Super Bowl LX Rematch
9/8/2026, 9:33:45 PM
Core Event
The New England Patriots travel to Seattle for the NFL’s 2026 Week 1 kickoff game, a rematch of Super Bowl LX in which the Seahawks won 29-13. The contest will be played on Wednesday night at Lumen Field, the league’s first regular-season game on a Wednesday. Both teams return with roster changes and a desire to settle the score.
Background & Context
In Super Bowl LX, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was sacked six times as the unit recorded 21 sacks in the postseason—the most in a single postseason of the Super Bowl era. New England kept four of the five offensive linemen from that game and added guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to improve protection. Maye entered the season as the NFL’s MVP-runner-up after posting 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, a 72 % completion rate and a 113.5 passer rating in 2025.
Seattle retained most of its defensive starters, including cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who signed a four-year, $132 million extension, and added rookie running back Jadarian Price, its first-round pick, to replace former MVP running back Kenneth Walker III.
Key Figures & Groups
- Drake Maye – Patriots quarterback, MVP-runner-up
- Josh McDaniels – Patriots offensive coordinator
- A.J. Brown – Patriots wide receiver, league leader in deep-throw touchdowns since 2022
- Alijah Vera-Tucker – Patriots guard, new free-agent signing
- Mike Macdonald – Seahawks head coach
- Jadarian Price – Seahawks rookie running back, first-round pick
- Devon Witherspoon – Seahawks cornerback, recent contract extension
- Ty Okada & Nick Emmanwori – Seahawks safeties, listed as injured in practice reports
Timeline
- February 2026 – Super Bowl LX; Seahawks win 29-13, Maye sacked six times.
- Offseason 2026 – Patriots sign Vera-Tucker; Seahawks sign rookie RB Price.
- Late July 2026 – Seahawks safety Emmanwori undergoes ankle surgery; Okada sustains a hamstring strain.
- Early September 2026 – Practice reports list Okada as a non-participant and Emmanwori as limited.
- Wednesday night, September 2026 – Kickoff game at Lumen Field.
Data & Statistics
- Drake Maye: 4,394 passing yards, 31 TDs, 72 % completions, 113.5 passer rating (2025).
- Playoff pressure: 21 sacks total, six from Seattle in the Super Bowl.
- A.J. Brown: Leads the league with 18 deep-throw touchdowns (20+ yd) since 2022 (NFL Next Gen Stats).
- Seahawks defense: Witherspoon recorded a sack, a pass breakup and four tackles in the Super Bowl.
- Jadarian Price: Projected to share backfield duties with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani; his debut will be his first NFL carry.
Official Statements & Responses
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald praised rookie Jadarian Price, calling his debut “a dream come true” and noting the team’s preparation for a “tough environment” in Seattle.
Maye downplayed a revenge narrative, saying the Patriots are “onto something new” and focusing on “playing good football” to start the season.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Seahawks safety availability remains uncertain. The Sunday injury report listed Ty Okada as a non-participant and Nick Emmanwori as limited. Some outlets suggest the Seahawks may rely on practice-squad safeties—Rodney Thomas II, AJ Finley, Maxen Hook, and D’Anthony Bell—if either starter cannot play. No definitive roster decision has been confirmed.
What’s Next
Both clubs view the Wednesday opener as a statement opportunity. The Patriots aim to show improved protection for Maye and a potent Maye-Brown connection, while the Seahawks hope to leverage a healthy defensive front and the debut of Jadarian Price to defend their championship title. Subsequent schedule details were not disclosed.
