Seahawks could host Broncos in 2014 season opener

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

The Seahawks are fresh off a 43-8 pounding of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about next season.

NFL.com reported on Monday that the Seahawks and Broncos could meet again in the 2014 NFL season opener in Seattle, making them the last teams to play this season and the first to play next season.

Kevin Patra wrote on NFL.com:

"As we saw last year, the NFL loves to start the season by running back a juicy matchup from the previous year. Peyton Manning will fume all offseason following the Super Bowl pummeling. The NFL could give him a chance at revenge right off the bat. A rematch between the 2013 No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense would be a thrilling way to kick off the season."

As always, eight teams will be visiting CenturyLink Field next season: the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders.

The order they visit in, however, has not yet been officially set.

All of these matchups would be somewhat intriguing in the season opener, but the Broncos would probably draw the most interest and ratings.

Playing the Packers in the season opener would represent a rematch of the “Fail Mary” game that helped put the Seahawks on the map in 2012.

The Cardinals are the only team to beat the Seahawks at home in the last two years and it would be intriguing to see if they could do it again in the season opener.

The 49ers always make for a bitter matchup, but a bigger audience would make for a great game like the NFC Championship.

But ultimately, people probably want to see the Broncos and Seahawks in a rematch.

Would the Seahawks shutdown Peyton Manning and the Broncos high-flying offense again? Or would Manning throw seven touchdown passes like he did in last season’s season opener against the Baltimore Ravens?

If that game did occur, it would be the first Super Bowl rematch in Week 1 since 1970, according to Patra.

But now begins the offseason.

One day down, only about seven months to go.