The New England Patriots open the 2026 NFL regular season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9, at 8:20 p.m. ET from Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, in which Seattle beat New England to cap a 10-game winning streak.
Seattle enters the opener looking to extend that streak, while New England brings back the league’s most efficient passing offense from a year ago. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye led the NFL in completion percentage in 2025 at 72 percent.
Backfield Workload Shifts to Stevenson
With running back TreVeyon Henderson ruled out for the opener, Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to carry the bulk of New England’s backfield touches, both on early downs and in the passing game. Corey Kiner is set to serve as the top backup, with additional depth possibly coming from the practice squad. Stevenson’s workload gives him significant influence over the Patriots’ tempo and their ability to stay on schedule offensively.
Smith-Njigba Faces Top Coverage
For Seattle, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the player to watch, projected to remain the focal point of the Seahawks’ passing attack even as he lines up against one of New England’s top cornerbacks. Smith-Njigba posted 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
That cornerback is Christian Gonzalez, who recently signed a four-year, $135 million extension with the Patriots. Gonzalez enters the opener on the strength of a strong postseason: seven pass breakups and one interception across four playoff games last year. In last season’s Super Bowl matchup against Seattle, he allowed just one completion in coverage — a 16-yard catch by Smith-Njigba — while breaking up three other passes.
Depth Question at Receiver
Seattle’s depth behind its top three receivers could hinge on Jake Horton, who is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. If cleared, Horton is expected to see a limited role as the team’s No. 4 receiver behind Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp.
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