The New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET from Lumen Field, Seattle, WA to open the NFL regular season.
Seattle is looking to build on a 10-game winning streak that closed out last season with a Super Bowl LX win over these same Patriots. New England counters with the NFL’s most efficient passing attack from a season ago, as Drake Maye posted a league-best 72 percent completion rate in 2025.
Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
With TreVeyon Henderson ruled out for the opener, Stevenson steps into one of the clearest volume roles in this matchup. He is expected to handle the bulk of New England’s snaps and touches out of the backfield, with Corey Kiner serving as the top understudy and additional depth likely coming from the practice squad.
That workload is what makes him so important against Seattle. The Patriots can lean on Stevenson on early downs and in the passing game, which gives him a direct path to shaping tempo and keeping the offense on schedule. If New England is going to control this game, Stevenson is the player most likely to set that tone.
For Seattle, the passing game spotlight naturally lands on Smith-Njigba because this opener puts him across from one of New England’s top cover corners. He is projected to remain a central piece of the Seahawks’ receiving group, and his role carries even more weight in a game where individual matchups on the perimeter could decide key possessions.
Last season, Smith-Njigba produced 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and that kind of production is why he is the receiver to track every snap. He gives Seattle a proven target who can stress coverage in multiple areas of the field. A strong night from him would go a long way toward opening the entire Seahawks offense.
On the other side of that same battle, Gonzalez is worth close attention because New England needs him to hold up against Seattle’s top receiving threat. He just signed a 4-year, $135 million extension, and the Patriots are counting on him to be a tone-setter in the secondary right away.
His recent big-game work adds real intrigue here. In last season’s playoffs, Gonzalez had 7 pass breakups and 1 interception across 4 games. In the Super Bowl meeting with Seattle, he allowed only 1 completion in coverage, a 16-yard catch by Smith-Njigba, and broke up 3 passes. If he can disrupt that matchup again, New England’s defense has a much better chance to keep this opener within its preferred script.
Seattle’s depth at receiver makes Horton an interesting name to monitor because his availability could shape how much the Seahawks can rotate behind their top three wideouts. He enters the opener listed as questionable with a hamstring issue, and if he is cleared, he is expected to work in a smaller role as the No. 4 receiver behind Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp.
That does not make him a headliner, but it does make him relevant. Horton gives Seattle another option if the game turns into a test of depth and situational targets. Even in limited usage, one timely catch could help extend a drive or force New England to account for one more body in the passing game.
Learn more about the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, plus check the full schedule on FOX Sports!
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.
