Per tradition, Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks will kick off the 2026 season. The defending champions will host the New England Patriots for a Super Bowl rematch. If beating them once wasn't enough, having them watch while they unveil their Super Bowl banner is just cruel.
More often than not, the visiting team arrives with a massive chip on their shoulders, and this won't be the exception to the rule. Moreover, the Seahawks won't have Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, and the Patriots will most likely have A.J. Brown making his debut with the organization.
That's why Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes this game will be much closer than the one they played in February. While he still thinks the Seahawks will prevail, this one might go down to the wire with a 26-24 final score.
The Seattle Seahawks will be in for a tough opener vs. the New England Patriots
"Trite though it may sound, this game is going to come down to the same things the Super Bowl did: controlling the point of attack and avoiding turnovers and costly mistakes," argued Davenport. "The Patriots will keep this one closer, but in front of a raucous Lumen Field crowd, the Seahawks will win a close one on a Jason Myers field goal."
Of course, the first game of the season always leads to overreactions, both good and bad. The Seahawks won't be a lock to win back-to-back Super Bowls if they blow out the Patriots, and they won't be due for massive regression and ready to clean house if they lose at home.
If anything, this game will be more about shaking off the rust and getting back on track than anything else. Also, with a new offensive coordinator in town and some new pieces on defense, it might take a while for everyone to get settled in.
The Patriots should fare better now that Drake Maye and Will Campbell will be fully healthy, and head coach Mike Vrabel must have re-watched that Super Bowl tape 50 times by now. They'll make adjustments, and as promising as Jadarian Price might be, he's a rookie nonetheless.
Still, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and winning by 2 is the same as winning by 40. Mike Macdonald's team just has to take care of business and execute, just like they did in February. They can't look down on anyone, but they're the defending champions for a reason.
Add us as a preferred source on Google