Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots LIVE. NFL latest updates
The Seattle Seahawks have spent the offseason celebrating a championship season, collecting their Super Bowl rings and preparing to unveil another championship banner. But as the 2026 NFL season begins, the defending champions know last year's success means nothing once they step back onto the field.
"I don't see a single person in the building patting themselves on the back for what we did last year," defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. "Everybody understands we have to start from the bottom again. If we want to get back to the top of the mountain, we have to earn it."
Their title defense begins in fitting fashion--with a Super Bowl LX rematch against the New England Patriots , just seven months after Seattle dominated New England 29-13 to capture the Lombardi Trophy.
The matchup marks only the third time in NFL history that the Super Bowl participants have opened the following season against each other. It also happened in 1970 , when the Vikings defeated the Chiefs after the merger, and in 2016 , when the Broncos edged the Panthers 21-20.
Overall, this will be the 12th meeting between Super Bowl opponents in the following season, with the reigning champion winning eight of the previous 11 matchups.
The Patriots, however, insist Wednesday night's opener isn't about revenge.
"This is our chance to start the season the right way against the team we're facing," quarterback Drake Maye said. "People can call it a revenge game, but I don't see it that way. They won the championship, and we can't change that. This is about starting a new season."
New England Patriots (17-4) at Seattle Seahawks (17-3)
When: Wednesday, 8:20 p.m. ET TV: NBC Betting line: Seahawks -3.5
Last meeting: Seattle defeated New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
All-time series: Seahawks lead 12-9 .
Christian Gonzalez vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
One of the night's marquee battles will feature Patriots shutdown corner Christian Gonzalez against reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba .
Both players signed lucrative contract extensions during the offseason after standout 2025 campaigns. Smith-Njigba finished with 119 receptions, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns , while Gonzalez earned Pro Bowl honors and recorded seven pass breakups and one interception during New England's playoff run.
The two also crossed paths in the Super Bowl, where Gonzalez largely kept Smith-Njigba in check, allowing only one completion while breaking up three passes, including a potential touchdown.
