The Seattle Seahawks finally open their 2026 season on Wednesday! They'll host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field in a Super Bowl LX rematch in Week 1. The Seahawks are officially beginning their title-defending campaign. We've identified three potential x-factors for Seattle in the opener versus the Patriots.
Jadarian Price, RB
Rookie running back Jadarian Price will make his regular-season debut. With Zach Charbonnet still sidelined, Price is expected to carry the workload in the Seahawks' backfield, with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani occasionally mixing in. It'll be a stiff test versus a stout Patriots defensive line.
AJ Barner, TE
Tight end AJ Barner was a huge x-factor in the Seahawks' Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots. The former Michigan transfer recorded
four receptions on four targets for 54 receiving yards and a touchdown. We'll see if the Patriots' secondary has an answer for Barner this time around.
Josh Jobe, CB
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon will probably be tasked with shadowing new Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown. That'll leave Josh Jobe to deal with wideouts like Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, and Demario Douglas. Jobe has to play technically sound football so that Witherspoon could focus on his showdown with Brown.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 3 Seahawks X-Factors for Week 1 vs. Patriots
