The 2026 NFL season picks up right where last season left off. The Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Sept. 9, seven months after Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX to win the franchise's second championship.
The game details, the current odds, and the biggest storylines heading into the rematch are all covered below. Kalshi's markets update in real time as news breaks, so the numbers here reflect what traders actually think right now, not a fixed prediction made weeks ago.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. See full disclaimer below. Kalshi is not affiliated with the NFL.
When and where do the Seahawks play the Patriots in Week 1 of the 2026 season?
Kickoff is Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. local) at Lumen Field in Seattle, broadcast nationally on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
A few things make this opener unusual. Wednesday kickoffs are rare for a season opener; the NFL hasn't done it since 2012, and the league moved this one off the usual Thursday slot to give its international game later in the week its own night.
The defending champion hosting the opener is tradition; a Super Bowl rematch as the opener is not. This is only the second time on record that the previous season's two Super Bowl participants have opened the following year against each other. The only other instance came in 2016, when Denver beat Carolina in the opener after topping the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Who is favored to win the Seahawks vs. Patriots season opener?
Most sports outlets and models line up behind Seattle, and the case is straightforward: Seattle is the defending champion, hosting at one of the league's loudest stadiums, and it held New England scoreless through three quarters the last time the two teams met.
CBS Sports runs the matchup through its own simulation model, more than 10,000 trials, and lands in the same place: Seattle favored, with the total landing over 44.5. The model's reasoning leans on both teams finishing 2025 among the NFL's highest-scoring offenses, then adding to those units rather than standing pat this offseason.
However, the case for New England can't be dismissed. Drake Maye enters as the 2025 MVP runner-up, and the Patriots used the offseason to add A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre'Mont Jones and Kevin Byard, giving New England a deeper roster than the one that reached the Super Bowl.
Power rankings
According to Kalshi's 2026 NFL market-implied power rankings, Seattle enters as the No. 4 team in the league with a Power Score of 37.3 and a 67% playoff qualification price, while New England ranks 8th with a Power Score of 35.4 and a 64% playoff price, a four-spot gap heading into a game between two of the AFC and NFC's stronger title contenders.
What the Kalshi market says
As of this writing, the winner market has Seattle at 61% and New England at 39%.
What is the point spread for Seahawks vs. Patriots in Week 1? What is the projected point total?
As of September 3, Seattle sits at roughly 3.5 points, a number that has held for most of the summer after briefly touching 4.5 in June.
The total points market prices whether the two teams combine for more or fewer than 44.5 points, priced at 49% for the over as of this writing, the same number CBS Sports' model leaned over.
What is the biggest storyline in the Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl LX rematch?
The headline storyline is the rarity of it. Super Bowl rematches on opening night essentially don't happen. This is just the second one on record, and the only other time it occurred, the champion won again.
Seattle carries that same edge into Wednesday: a home crowd, and a defense that has already shown it can slow down this specific Patriots offense. New England, meanwhile, gets an early measuring-stick chance to prove February wasn't the ceiling.
What are the Seahawks' and Patriots' expectations entering the 2026 season?
Seahawks: Seattle enters as defending champions expected to contend again, but the opener doubles as an early test of how the roster absorbs a real offseason exodus. Running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl LX MVP, signed with Kansas City; safety Coby Bryant left for Chicago; cornerback Riq Woolen signed with Philadelphia; and edge rusher Boye Mafe joined Cincinnati.
Seattle also has a new play-caller after offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the Raiders' head coach, with longtime 49ers assistant Brian Fleury stepping in. The backfield behind departed Walker is expected to be a three-man rotation of George Holani, rookie Jadarian Price and free-agent addition Emanuel Wilson, with Zach Charbonnet still working back from a February ACL injury.
Patriots: Coming off an AFC title run in Mike Vrabel's first season as head coach, with an MVP-runner-up quarterback and an aggressively upgraded receiving corps, New England is widely framed as a legitimate 2026 contender.
Week 1 doubles as an early measuring-stick game against the team that beat them in February, on the road, in prime time.
Conclusion
The 2026 season opens with a historically rare Wednesday-night rematch: Seattle favored but not overwhelmingly, a genuine grudge-match storyline, and two rosters both viewed as real 2026 contenders.
Kalshi traders currently have the Seahawks at 61% to beat New England on Sept. 9, a number that is likely to move as roster and injury news develops through kickoff, with Kalshi's event contracts for the game updating in real time all the way there.
When is Seahawks vs. Patriots? The game is Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Where is the game? Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
How can I watch? The game airs nationally on NBC and streams on Peacock.
What is Kalshi traders' current number? As of this writing, Kalshi traders have Seattle at 61% to win, with New England at 39%.
Follow Kalshi on X: @Kalshi | Image source: Washington National Guard
This article contains content generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The opinions and perspectives presented in this article belong solely to the author. This is not financial advice. Trading on Kalshi involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. Members risk losing their cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on Kalshi is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Information is provided for convenience only on an "AS IS" basis. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Kalshi is subject to U.S. regulatory oversight by the CFTC. Kalshi is not affiliated with the National Football League.
