What to Watch For: New England Patriots Defense vs. Seattle Seahawks Offense | 2026 Week 1

Are you ready for some football?

The wait is finally over. Tonight, the New England Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks to commence the 2026 regular season in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. In February, Seattle gained an early advantage on the offensive side of the football with an unrelenting rushing attack that averaged over five yards per carry and helped the Seahawks control the pace of the action with over 33 minutes in time of possession. With the subtractions of key contributors from last year, New England has an opportunity to flip the script and spoil banner-night at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Here’s what we’ll be watching for when the Patriots’ defense lines up against the Seahawks’ offense:

Less than 48 hours until kickoff on the 2026 regular season, New England and Christian Gonzalez reached an agreement to keep the star cornerback in Foxboro long-term. Gonzalez’s new deal is reportedly a four-year, $135 million contract that includes $102 million guaranteed. With an average annual value (AAV) of $33.75, Gonzalez is now the highest paid defensive back in NFL history and highest paid Patriots’ player in franchise history.

The baseline for Gonzalez’s new deal was set by Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon, who inked a four-year, $132 million contract (including $101 million fully guaranteed) with the Seahawks on August 15. Both corners are represented by the same agents, and each looked to reset the market for defensive backs. 

In his three seasons with the Patriots, Gonzalez proved to be one of the league’s top corners with the size, athleticism, and IQ to erase elite wide receivers from opposing offensive gameplans. In 2025, he registered a career-best passer rating of 57.0 when targeted (including playoffs), and held Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to just one reception on five targets when in coverage in Super Bowl LX.

Smith-Njigba was also paid handsomely for his services this offseason ($42 million Average Annual Value), and now the two superstars will begin 2026 the same way they ended 2025: aligned across from each other. The Ohio State Buckeyes’ product enjoyed a breakout third year, setting the franchise record for receiving yards (1,793 yards) on 157 targets, 119 catches (75.8% catch rate, 15.1 yards per reception), and 10 touchdowns during last year’s campaign. Including the postseason, Smith-Njigba racked up 1,992 receiving yards.

He entered Super Bowl LX needing just 35 yards to join teammate Cooper Kupp (2,191 yards in 2021) and contemporary Puka Nacua (2,047 yards in 2025) as the only receivers in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season including the playoffs, but was held to four receptions and 27 receiving yards in the game. It was his lowest single-game receiving total of the season.

Wednesday night will be a shot at redemption for Smith-Njigba, and a chance for Gonzalez to cement his status as one of the NFL’s elite lockdown corners by blanketing the talented wideout for the second straight game. Either way, it’s going to be a key matchup to be on the lookout for all night. And an entertaining one at that.

On Seattle’s sideline, many of the same pieces remain that were prevalent factors in February — with one massive exception: running back Kenneth Walker III. The now-Kansas City Chiefs’ back ran wild in Super Bowl LX to the tune of 27 carries and 135 yards, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Replacing Walker will be rookie running back Jadarian Price, whom the Seahawks drafted in the first round (No. 32 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish rusher was the second running back from the school to be taken in the first round of April’s draft (Jeremiyah Love, No. 4 overall to the Arizona Cardinals), and profiles to have similar strengths to Walker in his running style. 

Splitting carries with Love in South Bend, Price excelled with limited touches. He finished the 2025 season with 113 carries, 674 rushing yards (6.0 yards per carry), and 11 touchdowns, showcasing great elusiveness and vision in a primarily zone-blocking scheme. Price was most effective as an outsize zone rusher that ripped off chunk gains in open space. He had 24 carries of 10-plus yards and 45% of his rushing yardage total came on such plays with Notre Dame last fall.

New England’s inability to stop those same running concepts was the foundation for much of their offseason roster movement along the front seven. K’Lavon Chaisson was let go in free agency and was replaced by Dre’Mont Jones — a much sturdier edge-setting run defender at 6’3”, 268 pounds. The Patriots also traded up for rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas in the second round of the NFL Draft (No. 55 overall), but his training camp was abbreviated after extensive contract negotiations that centered around offseason surgery.

One of the most pivotal pieces along the Patriots’ defensive front-line, Harold Landry, won’t be in action on Wednesday night. Landry was New England’s leading sack artist last season (8.5), but begins the 2026 regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered last year.

With several question marks still remaining on the Patriots’ front-seven, it’s highly probable that Seattle will once again return to a heavy helping of inside and outside zone until New England proves they can stop it. Over 44% of all rushing attempts for the Seahawks were on such running concepts in 2025, and given their impact in the open field last February, they won’t be quickly deterred from returning to that gameplan. 

Sam Darnold resumes his role under center for Seattle in 2026 after a wildly successful 2025. Last year, Darnold (2024-25) joined Tom Brady (2003-04) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with consecutive 14-win seasons and led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl LX win over New England. 

It was a career year for Darnold, posting high marks in completion percentage (67.7%), yards-per-attempt (8.5), and success rate (50.0%). He threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with a passer rating of 99.1 in the regular season. Darnold was arguably even more impressive in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX. He posted a 25-of-36 (69.4%), 346-yard (9.6 yards-per-attempt), three-touchdown, no-interception (127.8 passer rating) performance against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

While Seattle did convert in dire late-game situations in Super Bowl LX, Darnold’s performance wasn’t the driving force behind their victory. He completed 19-of-38 passing attempts (50% completion percentage) with 202 yards (5.3 yards per attempt), with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 74.7.

The Patriots’ postseason defensive philosophy was built around a foundation of disruption — specifically in the timing for quarterbacks progressing through their reads in the pocket. Darnold fell victim to that for the vast majority of the game, but unlike those who came before him, didn’t suffer from the back-breaking turnover that New England needed to shift the game back in their favor. 

It wasn’t pretty for Darnold in Super Bowl LX, but it was enough. And he’ll have to show the same meddle on Wednesday night.

Through training camp and the preseason, the Patriots seem to have returned to their aggressive, blitz-centric ways, adding additional bodies into the pressure package to constantly change the post-snap picture for opposing quarterbacks. The inception of that plan may have been a side effect of New England’s inability to generate pressure with their four-man rush, but that may also be a common thread entering the new league year. 

Without Landry or Chaisson in the lineup, the Patriots’ pass rush is more projection than production on the edges. There are high hopes for Jones, Jacas, and second-year edge rusher Elijah Ponder to take positive steps forward, but the likelihood that it all comes together for each of them in Week 1 is slim. The gameplan against Darnold will be similar to February’s — pressure from all angles. 

We’ll see if he can take the heat.

The Seahawks’ passing offense featured a hefty helping of Smith-Njigba in 2025, and for good reason. But, he’s not the only threat they have on the perimeter — and wasn’t the main source of passing production in February, either.

Once again joining Smith-Njigba in the Seattle receiving corps are Cooper Kupp and Rasheed Shaheed. Kupp became the de-facto number-two in the Seahawks’ offense last fall. Although his receiving totals were not what they once were — 70 targets, 47 receptions, 593 receiving yards, two touchdowns — he was a consistently reliable second option with Smith-Njigba leading the way in the receiver room. He was the team’s leading receiver in Super Bowl LX, hauling in six catches and 61 receiving yards.

Shaheed was brought to Seattle at the trade deadline from the New Orleans Saints — and the Patriots were one of the teams interested in acquiring the speedy wideout when he was being shopped around by New Orleans. Shaheed landed in Seattle and made an immediate impact on offense and special teams as a returner.

He totaled 15 receptions for 188 yards during the regular season, but only appeared in nine total games. In the postseason, he made highlight reels nationwide after returning the opening kickoff of the Seahawks’ 41-6 Divisional Round victory over the 49ers for a touchdown, setting the tone in a game that became non-competitive quickly. In the NFC Championship Game, Shaheed hauled in his only reception of the postseason thus far — a 51-yard bomb down the right sideline to get Seattle’s offense rolling early.

While Shaheed doesn’t have the volume of an elite receiving threat, his speed and big-play ability make him dangerous whenever he’s on the field. His quick-twitch and sudden burst make him an excellent candidate to play in the slot, but last season, Seattle preferred Kupp in that alignment when the two shared the field together.

The Seahawks also make heavy use of their tight ends in both the run and pass game — a potential Achilles’ heel for the Patriots this fall. Third-year standout tight end A.J. Barner ranked second on the team in catches (52) and receiving touchdowns (6) in 2025 — ahead of the aforementioned Kupp — and third in receiving yards (519) and targets (68). 

In Super Bowl LX, New England struggled to find a dependable solution against Barner; he caught all four of his targets for 54 receiving yards and scored Seattle’s only offensive touchdown of the night.

The Patriots will need to find a way to shut down the middle of the field to slow down Seattle’s “others,” and their safeties may be the best solution to that problem. In the 2025 playoff run, current Baltimore Ravens’ safety Jaylinn Hawkins was the most frequently targeted player when in man-to-man or soft zone coverage. That spot is now owned by veteran captain Kevin Byard III, who was named First-Team All-Pro and led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2025 with the Chicago Bears. 

Byard joins second-year breakout candidate Craig Woodson at the third-level of the New England defense. Woodson was one of the few bright spots for the team in Super Bowl LX — he recorded 10 total tackles, two tackles-for-loss and finished the playoff run as the NFL’s leader in tackles (30). He also led all safeties with an 89.7 run defense grade in the regular season and postseason, per PFF.

A collective effort from the Patriots’ secondary will be necessary to assist a front-seven with several lingering doubts entering 2026. Seattle will be the first — and perhaps the greatest — test of their resolve to open the year.

Each sideline is dealing with some scrapes and bruises coming off of training camp. 

For the Seahawks’ offense, the most notable absence they’ll need to work around is running back Zach Charbonnet — who also missed Super Bowl LX with a torn ACL. Still working his way back to health, Charbonnet was placed on the PUP list to begin the year and won’t be available out of Seattle’s backfield on Wednesday night.

Wide receivers Jake Bobo and Irv Charles, guard Mason Richman, and fullback Robbie Ouzts start the year on injured reserve for the Seahawks’ offense. Wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) and offensive tackle Josh Jones (knee) were limited participants in Sunday and Monday’s practice sessions, while guard Anthony Bradford was upgraded to full participation on Monday after beginning the week limited.

Barner (oblique) was listed as a full participant on the injury report both days, as was running back Emanuel Wilson, who figures to play a significant role in the short-yardage running game without the services of Charbonnet.

For the Patriots’ defense, they’ll be without edge rusher Harold Landry III (PUP list), safety/core special teamer Brenden Schooler (Non-Football Injury, NFI, list), and linebacker Khalil Jacobs (injured reserve) to begin the season.

When New England lines up on defense, they’ll have the benefit of familiarity with Seattle’s offensive weaponry. The only significant change for the Seahawks entering 2026 is the loss of Walker in the backfield, but their first-round addition of Price could level the playing field. The Patriots will need to show that they’ve made improvements containing the edges against a zone-heavy rushing attack to keep Seattle behind the chains and force Darnold into obvious passing situations. From there, New England’s exotic pressure packages will take over — but that begins with shutting down the run, and that was the team’s greatest challenge the last time these two teams faced off.

Next, we’ll flips sides and take a closer look at a much different matchup between the Patriots’ offense and Seahawks’ defense — one that features several new faces and may lean heavily in New England’s favor.

How do you think the Patriots can control the flow of the game on Wednesday night? What are your defensive keys to victory? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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