The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game is poised for excitement as the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX on Wednesday at Lumen Field, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. In the prediction markets, the Seahawks are favored at $0.62 per share, while the Patriots are at $0.39 per share.

In addition to the marquee matchup, NFL Week 1 features several thrilling rivalries, including the Green Bay Packers facing the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. Historically, the Packers lead the all-time series 67-61-3, but the Vikings have won six of the last ten contests. The Vikings, fresh off a 9-8 season, have added quarterback Kyler Murray to their roster.

Key Matchups

• Patriots vs. Seahawks: Seattle aims to build on its success, having won 29-13 in their last encounter. Key players for the Seahawks include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving yards last season. New England counters with strong additions in AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs.

• Bears vs. Panthers: The Chicago Bears, coming off an 11-6 record, face the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South despite an 8-9 record. The Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams had an impressive season with 3,942 passing yards.

• Vikings vs. Packers: This NFC North clash sees the Vikings looking to continue their recent dominance over the Packers, bolstered by a revamped offense.

The SportsLine Projection Model predicts the Seahawks will win 28-18, while the Bears are favored 27-23 over the Panthers. The Vikings are projected to edge out the Packers 22-20.

With all eyes on these matchups, fans and bettors alike are gearing up for an electrifying start to the NFL season.