The Seattle Seahawks opened defense of their Super Bowl title with a dramatic 13-10 comeback win over the New England Patriots in the NFL's official Kickoff Game, launching the league's 107th season on Wednesday night.
A Late Rally
Seattle trailed for most of the contest before scoring ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter to snatch the win, a result that immediately drew scrutiny toward Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who enters his third season under no shortage of pressure amid injury concerns and off-the-field controversy. The result gives Seattle an early statement win as it looks to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champion in several years.
A Big Week For Kickoff Football
The season opener was followed by a Thursday night matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, played as part of the NFL's International Series in Melbourne, Australia, reflecting the league's continued push to grow its game overseas. The NFL's first full Sunday slate of the 2026 season follows this week, with the regular season set to run through January 10 before the playoffs begin.
Elsewhere In Football
In the college ranks, this week's slate features several ranked matchups building toward a marquee showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Texas on Saturday night, adding to a busy opening stretch across both professional and college football. The convergence of NFL kickoff week and major early-season college matchups has made this one of the most closely watched stretches on the annual sports calendar.
Looking Ahead
Seattle's title defense now shifts to preparing for its next opponent as the Patriots look to regroup after an opening loss, with both teams and the rest of the league entering a long 18-week season that will culminate in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, next February.