Super Bowl LX Rematch Sets Stage for 2026 Season Opener
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet Wednesday night at Lumen Field in a high-stakes rematch of the most recent championship game.
The 2026 NFL season begins Wednesday night at Lumen Field, featuring a rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, according to Sports Illustrated. Seattle enters the contest as the defending champions after defeating New England 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, a victory that secured the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy.
Reporting from Sports Illustrated notes that the championship game served as a breakout for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and cemented head coach Mike Macdonald's reputation. However, the Patriots enter the opener coming off a 10-win turnaround under coach Mike Vrabel and an MVP-caliber season from quarterback Drake Maye. New England's recent success includes winning the conference for the first time since 2018 and claiming the AFC East for the first time since 2019.
Personnel shifts will play a significant role in the matchup. Sports Illustrated reports that the Patriots recently signed cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a four-year, $135 million extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with an average annual value of $33.75 million. Gonzalez is slated to battle reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
On the offensive side, Seattle will rely on first-round draft pick Jadarian Price to lead the backfield. According to Sports Illustrated, Price steps in as the starter after Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43.05 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and veteran Zach Charbonnet was placed on PUP for at least four weeks due to a playoff ACL tear.