The NFL season opens with a grudge match this year. The New England Patriots travel to Lumen Field to face the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. This is not just any Week 1 game. It is a Super Bowl LX rematch, and fans on both coasts already have it circled on their calendars.
Seattle beat New England in Super Bowl LX back in February 2026 at Levi’s Stadium. Now the Seahawks open their title defense at home, against the same team they beat for the Lombardi Trophy. That storyline alone makes this one of the most anticipated season openers in recent memory.
Below is everything you need to know about kickoff time, team form, broadcast details, and where to stream the game legally, wherever you are in the world.
Disclaimer: DigitalCruch wrote this guide purely for NFL fans who want accurate, up-to-date information on how to watch this game. We do not sponsor, endorse, or receive compensation from any streaming platform, broadcaster, or service mentioned above. Availability, pricing, and regional rights can change, so always confirm details with the official provider before subscribing.
Patriots vs Seahawks: Date, Time and Venue
- Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- Broadcast: NBC (national)
- Pregame coverage: Football Night in America begins at 7 p.m. ET
This marks the first Wednesday game in Patriots franchise history. It is also the NFL’s first Week 1 Super Bowl rematch since 2016, when the Denver Broncos hosted the Carolina Panthers to open that season. Since 2004, defending champions have gone 16-5 in season openers, so history leans toward Seattle here.
The Storyline: A Super Bowl Rematch With Real Stakes
Seven months after Seattle’s 29-13 win in Super Bowl LX, these two teams meet again on opening night. For the Patriots, this game carries a real chance at redemption. For the Seahawks, it is the first test of their title defense, and nobody wants to open a championship season with a loss at home.
Head coach Mike Vrabel leads a Patriots roster that added real firepower this offseason. Wide receiver A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs both joined the team, giving quarterback Drake Maye more weapons than he had during the playoff run last season. Maye enters this game as an MVP-caliber talent, and the Patriots clearly built around him this offseason.
Seattle counters with a roster that just won it all. Quarterback Sam Darnold returns after leading the Seahawks to their Super Bowl win, and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba comes off an Offensive Player of the Year season with 1,793 receiving yards. That kind of production is hard to replace and even harder to stop. One notable departure is running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl MVP, who signed with Kansas City in the offseason. Seattle used its first-round pick on running back Jadarian Price out of Notre Dame to help fill that gap.
Beyond the Week 1 storyline, both franchises have plenty on the schedule this year. New England plays six nationally televised games, travels to Munich for an international matchup against Detroit, and faces the Chiefs and Chargers in prime time later in the season. Seattle plays six primetime games of its own, its most since 2000, including a home matchup against the Rams in Week 16 that runs it back after their NFC Championship clash in January.
TV Channel and Streaming Options in the US
NBC holds national broadcast rights for the NFL Kickoff Game, so this one is easy to find if you have a cable or antenna setup. In the Boston market, the game airs locally on NBC 10 Boston.
For those who prefer streaming, here are the main legal options in the United States.
Peacock Peacock carries every NBC-broadcast NFL game this season, including the opener. A subscription runs around 13 dollars a month for the ad-supported tier, and it also unlocks NBC’s full sports and entertainment library. This is the most direct way to stream the game if you already have NBC access but no cable box handy.
Fubo Fubo’s Sports Plus News package covers NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. It costs about 55 dollars for the first month and rises after that. It suits fans who want a full live TV replacement rather than a single-network app.
DIRECTV DIRECTV also carries NBC’s coverage as part of its channel lineup, with various packages depending on your region and provider deal.
NFL+ NFL+ is built for out-of-market fans and mobile viewing. It runs 6.99 dollars a month or 49.99 dollars a year, and it covers live local and primetime games along with next-day replays. Local blackout rules can still apply depending on where you live, so check your market before relying on it for this specific game.
YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket Sunday Ticket is priced at 99.49 dollars a month for the first three months this season, rising to 114.49 dollars a month afterward, or 378 dollars if paid upfront. Since this is a Wednesday night NBC game rather than a Sunday afternoon package game, Sunday Ticket subscribers should note that regular NBC or Peacock access still applies here.
Spanish-language viewers in the US can catch the broadcast on Telemundo and Universo, so there is no need to search for unofficial streams if Spanish commentary is what you’re after.
Where to Watch Patriots vs Seahawks Outside the US
International viewers have legal options too, and it is worth using them instead of hunting for free NFL streams on shady sites that often come loaded with pop-ups and malware.
NFL Game Pass remains the primary international option for fans outside North America. It covers live and on-demand NFL coverage in most regions and is the safest bet if you’re abroad and want reliable picture quality without buffering.
UK viewers can typically find NFL coverage through Sky Sports or NFL Game Pass International, depending on the season’s rights agreements. Always check current listings close to kickoff, since regional sports rights shift from year to year.
Canada usually gets coverage through DAZN, which has held NFL rights north of the border in recent seasons.
Germany and parts of Europe often get access through ProSieben MAXX or RTL alongside NFL Game Pass, especially with the league’s continued push into the German market through the Munich international game later this season.
A quick tip for anyone juggling multiple sports subscriptions this time of year: September is a busy month. If you’re also tracking La Liga watching live, keeping tabs on the Saudi Pro League, or following early-season Premier League fixtures, it helps to map out which service covers which league before the month gets away from you. Sports streaming has become fragmented, and no single app covers everything anymore.
Radio and Alternate Ways to Follow the Game
Not everyone wants to sit in front of a screen for three hours, and that’s fine. Westwood One broadcasts the game nationally on radio, with Kevin Harlan on play-by-play and Kurt Warner providing analysis. Patriots fans can also tune into 98.5 The Sports Hub, the flagship station of the Patriots Radio Network. SiriusXM subscribers can find the broadcast through the app or satellite channels for both New England and Seattle.
For those tracking the game on their phone, both team websites and apps post live updates, and NBC’s broadcast team for this game includes Mike Tirico on play-by-play, Cris Collinsworth as color analyst, and Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sideline.
Key Stats and Numbers to Know Before Kickoff
A few numbers stand out heading into this rematch. Seattle enters as a 3.5-point favorite at home, with an over/under set around 44.5 points. Since 2004, defending Super Bowl champions have won 16 of 21 season openers, a stat that favors Seattle’s chances despite the emotional weight New England brings into this game.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 1,793 receiving yards last season put him among the league’s elite receivers, and he returns as a central piece of Seattle’s offense. On the other side, Drake Maye now throws to a receiving corps that includes A.J. Brown, one of the most efficient deep-ball targets in the league over the past several seasons. How quickly that new-look Patriots offense gels together may decide whether New England leaves Seattle with a win or another tough loss to the defending champs.
Final Words
This Patriots vs Seahawks opener carries more weight than a typical Week 1 game. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, played on a Wednesday night for the first time in Patriots history, and it sets the tone for both teams’ seasons right out of the gate. Whether you catch it on NBC, stream it through Peacock, or follow along on NFL+ from outside the US, the important thing is watching through a legal channel that actually supports the league and its broadcast partners.
FAQs
What time does Patriots vs Seahawks kick off?
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
What channel is the game on?
NBC holds national broadcast rights, with the game streaming live on Peacock as well.
Can I watch the game for free legally?
If you have an antenna or a cable package that includes NBC, you can watch for free through your local NBC affiliate. Peacock also offers a free trial period in some cases, though full access typically requires a paid subscription.
How can international fans watch the game?
NFL Game Pass is the main option outside the US, with regional broadcasters like DAZN in Canada and Sky Sports in the UK also carrying coverage depending on current rights deals.
Who won the last matchup between these two teams?
Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX in February 2026 at Levi’s Stadium.
Is this really the first Wednesday game in Patriots history?
Yes. This marks the first time the Patriots have played a regular season game on a Wednesday.
Who are the favorites heading into the game?
Seattle opened as a 3.5-point favorite at home, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the total set around 44.5 points.
