The 2026 NFL season opens with the same matchup that ended last season. The Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a blockbuster rematch.
Seattle defeated New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Now the Patriots get a chance to respond in the very first game of the new season.
The NFL Kickoff Game is set for: Wednesday, September 9 8:20 p.m. ET Lumen Field, Seattle It's an unusual Wednesday kickoff for the NFL opener.
The Seahawks enter the game as 3.5-point favorites. The current moneyline has Seattle at -201, while New England sits at +167.
The over/under for the matchup is 44.5 points. And the computer model has a strong opinion on which side of that number to take.
After 10,000 simulations, SportsLine's model is projecting the game to go Over 44.5 points. Its projection: 46 combined points.
Both teams were among the NFL's top three scoring offenses last season. And both made offseason moves designed to make their offenses even better.
New England added three-time All-Pro A.J. Brown while also using its first-round pick on an offensive tackle. The goal: give Drake Maye even more help.
With Kenneth Walker III gone, Zach Charbonnet is expected to take on a larger role. He scored more than twice as many touchdowns as Walker last season despite having 48 fewer carries.
The Over went 7-2 when Seattle was a home favorite last season. It also went 11-6 in Patriots regular-season games in 2025. The Over has hit in each of the last six regular-season meetings between these teams.
Seattle has won the last four meetings between the teams. But this time, the Patriots enter with a revamped offense and a chance to start the 2026 season with a statement victory.
SportsLine's model is backing the Over 44.5 points after 10,000 simulations. Seahawks vs. Patriots could be a high-scoring start to the NFL season. Bet responsibly. Odds can change.