The NFL season is starting with a matchup that looks very familiar. But the two teams are not the same anymore. Just seven months after the Seahawks vs Patriots played in Super Bowl LX, the two teams will meet again. Seattle won that game 29-13 and became the Super Bowl champion.
The teams will meet again in the first game of the 2026-27 NFL season. The game will be at Lumen Field, where the Seahawks will raise their Super Bowl championship banner before kickoff.
But this is not simply a Super Bowl repeat. Both teams have made major offseason changes, with players leaving, new players joining, and changes to their coaching staffs.
So, what has changed in the last seven months?
The biggest change: Seattle’s backfield
The biggest change for Seattle comes at running back.
Kenneth Walker III is no longer with the Seahawks. He played a big role in Seattle’s Super Bowl win and also won the Super Bowl LX MVP award. Walker moved to Kansas City during the offseason.
Seattle is also without Zach Charbonnet, who is still recovering from knee surgery. Because of this, rookie Jadarian Price could get a big role right away. Seattle picked Price with the 32nd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he could get plenty of work against New England.
This will be one of the key things to watch in the Seahawks vs Patriots game. Seattle ran the ball well during its Super Bowl run, but now the team must see if Price can keep the running game strong.
This will also be important for quarterback Sam Darnold. He used play action well in the Super Bowl. If Seattle cannot run the ball, New England can focus more on Darnold and the passing game.
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New England finally has a true WR1 for Drake Maye
The Patriots have also made a big change on offense. A.J. Brown has joined the New England offense and gives quarterback Drake Maye an experienced veteran receiver. Maye already helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl in his second NFL season.
Now, he has another strong player to help the offense. Brown will play alongside Romeo Doubs, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Hunter Henry. His arrival could make New England’s offense stronger.
The Patriots will want to involve Brown early against Seattle while also protecting Maye from the Seahawks’ pass rush. This is important because Seattle caused Maye many problems in Super Bowl LX.
Can the Patriots protect Drake Maye this time?
This could be one of the most important parts of the Seahawks vs Patriots rematch. Seattle put a lot of pressure on Maye in the Super Bowl without using many extra players. The Seahawks’ defensive line created enough pressure on its own, making it hard for New England to move the ball.
The Patriots tried to fix this problem during the offseason. They added Alijah Vera-Tucker to the offensive line, while rookie Caleb Lomu also gives them another option.
New England now needs its new-look line to give Maye more time. If he gets more time, he can find his receivers. Brown and Doubs could make the offense more dangerous. This could make the game very different from Super Bowl LX.
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Seattle has changed its offensive coordinator
Seattle has also made a change to its coaching staff. Brian Fleury is now the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. He replaced Klint Kubiak, who left Seattle to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Fleury has worked with tight ends before. He is expected to use more formations with multiple tight ends. This could give A.J. Barner a bigger role this season.
Barner already made an impact in Super Bowl LX. He scored Seattle’s only offensive touchdown in that game. The Seahawks could use him more this season, especially near the end zone. That makes Barner an important player to watch in the Seahawks vs Patriots game.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters with even bigger expectations
Seattle may have lost Walker, but its passing game still looks strong. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a great season and enters 2026 with even higher expectations. The Seahawks also have Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, and Barner, giving Darnold more options.
New England has also made changes in its secondary. The Patriots added veteran safety Kevin Byard and still have Christian Gonzalez, a key player in their defense. Gonzalez signed a four-year, $135 million extension on September 8, making him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. His battle with Smith-Njigba could be one of the key matchups in the game.
The Patriots are chasing more than revenge
Revenge will be a big part of this game. The Patriots lost Super Bowl LX by 16 points. Now, they get another chance to face Seattle.
But New England wants more than revenge. The team wants to show that its 2025 season was not just a one-year success. Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots won 14 games and the AFC Championship before reaching the Super Bowl.
Now, New England wants to improve even more. The Seahawks vs Patriots opener will show how much the team has changed. Can the Patriots challenge the defending champions, or is Seattle still ahead?
Seattle has its own question to answer
Seattle also has something to prove. The big question is simple: Can the Seahawks start a new season after winning the Super Bowl?
The team kept many players from its championship-winning squad. But Seattle lost Walker and also has a new offensive coordinator and starting running back.
The Seahawks received their Super Bowl rings in June. Still, they did not want to spend the offseason thinking only about last season. Once training camp started, the players focused on the new season.
Now, that mindset will face its first test. The banner will rise before kickoff, but Seattle must focus on football once the game begins.
The injury situation adds another layer
Both teams have some injury concerns before the opener.
For Seattle, safety Nick Emmanwori has been limited because of an ankle problem. Ty Okada has also missed practice with a hamstring issue. Receiver Tory Horton and tackle Josh Jones have also been limited, according to Jason Abbey’s report on DAZN.
New England also has an injury concern. TreVeyon Henderson is dealing with an ankle issue. However, there is good news for the Patriots. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore returned to full practice and is expected to play.
These injuries could matter if the game stays close and backups need to step up.
Why this rematch feels different
The first Seahawks vs Patriots game of 2026 will feel a lot like a Super Bowl.
Seattle will celebrate its championship before the game. New England will enter the stadium remembering its Super Bowl loss. But this is not another Super Bowl. It is the first game of a new NFL season.
Seattle must replace its Super Bowl MVP in the backfield. The team also has a new offensive coordinator and a new starting running back. Now, Seattle must see if its new running game can succeed.
New England has made major changes too. The Patriots have added A.J. Brown and strengthened their offensive line. Maye also has another year of NFL experience.
These changes make the game very interesting. It is not simply Super Bowl LX, Part II. It is a new game between two teams that have changed.
Seattle must show it can stay on top. New England must show it learned from its Super Bowl loss.
The banner will rise before kickoff. Then the celebration ends, and the new season begins.
What do you think? Can the Patriots get a different result this time, or will the Seahawks show that they are still the better team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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