NFL opens season on Wednesday with Patriots at Seahawks matchup

The NFL will open its 107th season on Wednesday, September 9, featuring a rematch between the New England Patriots and the defending champion Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC and Peacock. This midweek kickoff is a rare scheduling occurrence necessitated by an international game in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams set for the following day. Under league rules, the Super Bowl champion traditionally hosts the season opener, but the time zone difference for the international contest prompted the move to Wednesday to ensure the Seahawks played in the league's first game. This marks only the second time in league history the season has commenced on a Wednesday, the last instance occurring in 2012 to avoid a conflict with a political convention.

• 3:42 PMYahoo Sports — Why does NFL 2026 season start on Wednesday night and not Thursday?
• 12:20 PMYahoo Sports — Patriots at Seahawks: Game, kickoff, TV, streaming
• 11:00 AMYahoo Sports — Why is the NFL's 2026 season-opener on a Wednesday? Scheduling quirk explained
• 6:16 PMCBS NFL — Patriots at Seahawks: Why the NFL season is opening on a Wednesday for just the second time in 107 years
• 6:12 PMYahoo Sports — How to watch the Seattle Seahawks opener against New England