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FOOTBALL
NFL season starts with Super Bowl rematch
The 2026 NFL season will kick off with a Super Bowl rematch.
Mike Macdonald, Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks will face off against Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye and the New England Patriots after raising their championship banner on Sept. 9 in the first of the NFL's 272 games.
The Seahawks dominated the Patriots in a 29-13 victory in February that secured the franchise's second NFL title.
The game will mark just the third time that the teams that played in the Super Bowl face off again in Week 1. The last time came in 2016, when the Broncos beat the Panthers. Overall, the Super Bowl opponents have met 11 times the following season, including each of the last three years. The defending champions are 8-3 in those games.
The Eagles followed up a Super Bowl victory with another win over the Chiefs in Week 2 last year.
"Yes, it was definitely a key data point for us," NFL executive Hans Schroeder said. "We saw what a big draw that was and so we just thought it was really fun. I think it's been a decade since we did Denver and Carolina in Super Bowl 50 and came back in Week 1 the next year. We thought it was a fun way to start the season again with New England in Seattle, coming off that Super Bowl, certainly a ton to play for. Let our fans see if they play again."
The NFL season will be opening on a Wednesday for just the second time in league history -- the Giants hosted the Cowboys on Sept. 5, 2012.
The Seahawks will play at least six other stand-alone games, including Christmas night at home against the Los Angeles Rams. The Patriots have five other stand-alone games.
WEEK 1
Other opening week highlights were announced before the full schedule release on Thursday night.
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Rams in Melbourne on Sept. 10 in the first of a record nine international games. The Cowboys and Giants meet in the first Sunday night game of the season while the Broncos and Chiefs go head to head in the first Monday night game.
Raiders fans get to see No. 1-overall pick Fernando Mendoza -- probably on the sideline watching Kirk Cousins start -- in Week 1 when Las Vegas hosts Miami.
FILE - A general view during the second rugby union test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, file)
FILE - A general view during the second rugby union test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, file)
FILE - A member of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - A member of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)