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BackSeahawks vs. Patriots Set for 2026 NFL Kickoff Game as SportsLine Model Favors the Over
Seahawks vs. Patriots Set for 2026 NFL Kickoff Game as SportsLine Model Favors the Over
Developing
CBS SportsyesterdaySports2 min readUnited States

Seahawks vs. Patriots Set for 2026 NFL Kickoff Game as SportsLine Model Favors the Over

Quick Look

  • The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game will feature a rematch of last season's Super Bowl as the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Wednesday, Sep.
  • 9 at Lumen Field.
  • Seattle enters as a 3.5-point favorite after a 14-3 season and Super Bowl win, while New England also finished 14-3 under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LIX by defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 to close the 2025 season. Both teams finished the regular season with 14-3 records. Mike Vrabel is in his first season as head coach of the Patriots after previously coaching the Tennessee Titans. The NFL Kickoff Game traditionally opens the season but was held on a Wednesday in 2026 for only the second time in history.

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The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game will feature the same matchup which closed out last season as the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots. The contest takes place on Wednesday, Sep. 9, marking the second time that the NFL Kickoff Game won't be held on a Thursday. Seattle is coming off a 14-3 regular season, which culminated in a 29-13 victory over the Pats in The Big Game. New England also went 14-3 in the regular season in Mike Vrabel's first year as head coach of the team. Visit our DraftKings promo code review and get $200 in bonus bets as a new user after $5+ in wagers here:

Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET from Lumen Field in Seattle. The latest Seahawks vs. Patriots odds have Seattle as a 3.5-point favorite as the line has held steady since opening. The over/under for total points is at 44.5. Before making any Patriots vs. Seahawks picks or 2026 NFL Kickoff Game predictions, be sure to see what the SportsLine projection model has to say.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on betting sites on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the 2026 NFL season on a 53-37 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. Anybody following its picks at NFL betting sites could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has zoned in on Seahawks vs. Patriots. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Patriots vs. Seahawks:

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Top Patriots vs. Seahawks predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Seahawks vs. Patriots, the model is going Over 44.5 points (-108) at betting apps. These were two of the top three scoring offenses last season, and each upgraded those units in the offseason. New England added three-time All-Pro A.J. Brown, in addition to using its first round pick on an offensive tackle to help protect Drake Maye. As for Seattle, Kenneth Walker III's departure, plus an injury to Zach Charbonnet, means rookie Jadarian Price will get a heavy workload early after being picked in the first round out of Notre Dame.

The Over had a 7-2 record when Seattle was a home favorite last year, which was the best mark in the league (min. three games). Meanwhile, the Over went 11-6 in Patriots' regular season contests in 2025, which was tied for the second-best record in the NFL. Given those trends, and the fact that the Over has hit in each of the last six regular-season meetings between these teams, the model foresees the total being eclipsed. It projects 46 combined points, giving value to the Over. See which team to back at SportsLine.

How to make Seahawks vs. Patriots picks

For Patriots vs. Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff Game, the model says one side of the spread is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. See what it is at SportsLine.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The Over 44.5 points will hit in the Seahawks vs. Patriots NFL Kickoff Game.

    Likely · Within days

  • The Seattle Seahawks will cover the 3.5-point spread as home favorites.

    Possible · Within days

Open Questions

  • What specific adjustments did the Seahawks make to compensate for Kenneth Walker III's departure and Zach Charbonnet's injury?
  • How will Drake Maye perform in his first season as the Patriots' starting quarterback?
  • What is the exact win rate of the SportsLine model on top-rated NFL picks since 2024?
  • Are there any weather-related concerns for the Kickoff Game at Lumen Field in early September?

Related Topics

This article was originally published by CBS Sports.

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