The New England Patriots are set to kick off the 2026 NFL season tonight.
The Patriots will be on the road when they take on the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl. Seattle will be without safety Ty Okada due to a hamstring injury. Outside of that, the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks will enter the game with much of their core returning, and rookie running back Jadarian Price set to make his NFL debut as the team’s starter.
New England's defense looks nearly identical to their unit from last season, save NFL interceptions leader Kevin Byard, who is now at safety next to Craig Woodson, and Dre’Mont Jones at edge rusher. With quarterback Drake Maye leading their offense, the Patriots will look to win
their first game of the year against the Seahawks and set the tone for the season moving forward.
Patriots Wire went behind enemy lines with Seahawks Wire's Kole Musgrove to forecast the affair.
1. How has the offensive transition been for the Seahawks without Klint Kubiak?
So far it appears to be going well, but of course we won't know for sure until we see the Seahawks in action! I do know the Seahawks hired Brian Fleury given his extensive background as a positional coach, and the fact he comes from the Shanahan coaching tree. Seattle wanted to keep any semblance of continuity for Sam Darnold going into his second year with the team, and going with another guy from that line seems to be the best bet!
2. Are there any concerns if both Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada are out for the game?
Seattle can survive without Okada... but if he AND Emmanwori are out? Then I start to get nervous, especially with the likes of AJ Brown now on the field to terrorize rookie/inexperienced defensive backs. I do think Seattle can survive without them both, as Seattle did go a few games without Emmanwori in the lineup, but it will take another Herculean effort from their defensive line to help make up for weaknesses on the back end. Emmanwori is a game-changer, and the ultimate defensive chess piece for Mike Macdonald.
3. The Seahawks' edge rush dominated in the Super Bowl. Do you expect that group to be equally as dominant this season as well?
I think this group has the potential to be even better. Byron Murphy II is primed for a breakout season, and Rylie Mills will be available for the season. Remember him? The man who sacked Drake Maye through another lineman? Yeah, that was his first game in the NFL... ever! Seahawks GM John Schneider once joked that DC Aden Durde wouldn't have shown up to work on Monday if they didn't draft him. Leonard Williams is the best defensive tackle in football, DeMarcus Lawrence has shown he still has more than enough gas left in the tank, and Derick Hall is emerging as a force. Seattle's defensive line is the biggest strength on that side of the ball and they're still hungry to remind everyone.
4. What would you say is the biggest change for the Seahawks, negative or positive, from last season?
Biggest change is the switch from Klint Kubiak to Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator. Easily the most noticeable difference. Adding to this is a lack of certainty/established presense in the running back stable. Seattle has a lot of questions on the offensive side of things early on, and while I am confident, it's impossible to ignore the fact the team is going from a veteran coach to a first time play caller.
5. Who wins and why?
Seahawks 26, Patriots 21: History tells us games between the Seahawks and Patriots are hard-fought, close affairs that come down to the wire. Super Bowl LX was a blowout, but that's an aberration. New England is revamped offensively with wide receiver AJ Brown in the mix, and he should be able to take advantage of an ailing/inexperienced Seahawks secondary. However, I don't think the Pats will have the only improved offense on the field Wednesday night. I'm bullish on Brian Fleury's debut and what Sam Darnold can do with a returning offensive line in tact, as well as another full offseason as the entrenched starter. New England puts up a better fight, but I think Seattle is much deeper. Seahawks defensive line makes a play late to secure a victory in the Super Bowl rematch on banner night.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Patriots' season opener vs. Seahawks
