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The 2026 NFL season kickoff begins tonight with a Super Bowl rematch in Seattle. Opening week continues tomorrow with the league’s first regular-season game in Australia.
Both games feature playoff teams from last season. They will also place four of the NFL’s leading quarterbacks in national broadcast windows.
Patriots Face Seahawks Tonight
The New England Patriots will visit the Seattle Seahawks tonight at Lumen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Central Time on NBC and Peacock.
The game is a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Seattle defeated New England 29-13 in February to capture its second Lombardi Trophy.
Before kickoff, the Seahawks will unveil their championship banner. The ceremony will mark the start of Seattle’s title defense under head coach Mike Macdonald.
Tonight’s matchup also carries historical significance. It is only the second Wednesday season opener in NFL history. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Giants in the previous one in 2012.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold returns after guiding the Seahawks to a 14-3 record last season. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba also remains a central part of the offense.
However, Seattle enters the season with several changes. Brian Fleury is the team’s new offensive coordinator. Running back Kenneth Walker III departed for Kansas City during free agency.
New England quarterback Drake Maye will try to improve on a difficult Super Bowl performance. Seattle pressured Maye throughout that game, recording six sacks and forcing three second-half turnovers.
The Patriots will be without running back TreVeyon Henderson tonight. The team ruled him out because of an ankle injury.
Seattle leads the all-time series 12-9. The Seahawks have also won the past four meetings between the teams.
NFL Season Kickoff Continues in Australia
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams tomorrow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Central Time on Netflix.
The game will begin Friday morning in Melbourne. It marks the first regular-season NFL contest played in Australia.
Los Angeles and San Francisco enter the season as familiar NFC West rivals. The Rams have won four of the past five meetings between coaches Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford returns after winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award last season. His offense includes Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and running back Kyren Williams.
The Rams also added former Kansas City defensive back Trent McDuffie during the offseason. Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game last season before falling short of the Super Bowl.
San Francisco counters with quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers also expect defensive leaders Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to return after injuries affected their previous season.
Tomorrow’s matchup launches an expanded international schedule. The NFL has planned nine international games across seven countries during the 2026 season.
Tonight’s championship rematch and tomorrow’s Australian showcase give the season an ambitious opening. Together, the games will provide two early tests for teams carrying serious postseason expectations.