Following a league Jason Richardson Jersey tradition that features the Super Bowl winner hosting the first game of the NFL season, the will have the luxury of playing the league's opening game at Lumen Field. One caveat: this year, the league will be starting on a Wednesday. This will be the first time since 2012 that the league has not started on its traditional Thursday night format. The Seahawks are locked in for a Wednesday night showdown against the team they defeated in Super Bowl 60: the . Here's what you need to know about the NFL season opener, including when the Seahawks will suit up. MORE: What day does the 2026 NFL season start? Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9 Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET Teams: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots The NFL season will kick off on a Wednesday for just the second time in league history, with the defending Super Bowl champions hosting the Patriots for a Round Two bout. The Patriots will be looking to avenge their February lo s to Seattle, except they won't bring a trophy back to Foxborough for doing so. With Kenneth Walker's departure to the this offseason, the Seahawks will have a slightly different offensive identity. The team will rely on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zach Charbonnet, and potentially even rookie Jadarian Price in order to have a change of ruining New England's revenge. MORE: How to watch NFL 2026 season opener TV channel: NBC Live stream: , fubo The NFL season will again start on NBC, with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth calling the season opener from Lumen Field in Seattle. This is only the second time in NFL history that the season began on a Wednesday night. In 2012, the NFL pushed back the vs. opening night game from Thursday to Wednesday so the game wouldn't conflict with Barack Obama's Democratic National Convention speech, . Viewers without cable can stream the game on either or fubo. MORE: Damion Lee Jersey