The New England Patriots open the 2026 NFL regular season today against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The Patriots and Seahawks meet on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
The matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, when Seattle defeated New England 29-13 to win the championship.
So, what happens if the Patriots win, tie or lose against the Seahawks today?
If the Patriots beat the Seahawks, New England will start the 2026 NFL season 1-0. A tie would give the Patriots a 0-0-1 record, while a loss would leave New England at 0-1. None of the three outcomes would qualify or eliminate the Patriots from the playoffs because 16 regular-season games would remain.
Here is a closer look at the Patriots vs. Seahawks win, tie and loss scenarios.
What Happens If the Patriots Beat the Seahawks Today?
If the Patriots beat the Seahawks, New England will improve to 1-0 and begin the 2026 season with a road victory.
A win would also give the Patriots some revenge against Seattle following their loss in Super Bowl LX.
Because Seattle plays in the NFC West, the victory would not count toward New England’s AFC East divisional record.
The Patriots would therefore be:
Overall record: 1-0
AFC East record: 0-0
Conference record: 0-0
New England would bank an important early victory before moving on to the rest of its Week 2 preparation.
What Happens If the Patriots and Seahawks Tie?
If the Patriots and Seahawks tie, New England will begin the 2026 NFL season with a 0-0-1 record.
A tie counts as half a win and half a loss when calculating NFL winning percentage.
The Patriots would be:
Overall record: 0-0-1
AFC East record: 0-0
Conference record: 0-0
A Week 1 tie would not seriously damage New England’s playoff chances.
However, it could matter later in the season if the Patriots are competing closely for the AFC East title, a Wild Card berth or playoff seeding.
What Happens If the Patriots Lose to the Seahawks Today?
If the Patriots lose to the Seahawks, New England will begin the season with a 0-1 record.
A loss would give Seattle another victory over New England following Super Bowl LX.
However, the Patriots would not be eliminated from playoff contention, and they would still have 16 games remaining.
After a loss, New England would be:
Overall record: 0-1
AFC East record: 0-0
Conference record: 0-0
Because Seattle is an NFC opponent, the loss would not directly affect New England’s AFC record or AFC East divisional record.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Win, Tie or Loss Scenarios
| Patriots Result | Record After Game | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Win vs. Seahawks | 1-0 | New England starts the season with a road victory |
| Tie vs. Seahawks | 0-0-1 | Patriots remain unbeaten but do not earn a full win |
| Loss vs. Seahawks | 0-1 | New England starts with a loss but remains fully alive in the playoff race |
The Patriots cannot clinch or be eliminated from anything in Week 1.
Does Patriots vs. Seahawks Affect the AFC East Standings?
Yes, but only through New England’s overall record.
The Patriots compete in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
Seattle plays in the NFC West, so this is not a divisional matchup.
Regardless of the result, New England’s AFC East record will remain 0-0.
Still, the Patriots’ overall record matters in determining the division champion.
Does Patriots vs. Seahawks Affect AFC Playoff Tiebreakers?
The result could matter eventually, but it will not change New England’s AFC conference record.
Because Seattle is an NFC opponent, the Patriots will remain 0-0 against AFC teams after the game.
That can matter because conference record is one of the NFL’s playoff tiebreaking criteria.
The Seahawks matchup still counts toward New England’s overall winning percentage.
Can the Patriots Make the Playoffs If They Lose to the Seahawks?
Yes. The Patriots can still make the playoffs if they lose to Seattle today.
A Week 1 defeat would leave New England at 0-1 with 16 games remaining.
There would be plenty of time for the Patriots to recover and compete for either the AFC East title or one of the AFC Wild Card spots.
An opening-week loss does not determine a team’s postseason fate.
Can the Patriots Make the Playoffs If They Tie the Seahawks?
Yes. A tie would not prevent New England from reaching the playoffs.
A tie is included when calculating winning percentage and can become significant when teams finish the season with similar records.
For example, a 10-6-1 team finishes with a better winning percentage than a 10-7 team.
With 16 games remaining after tonight, though, New England would still have most of its season ahead.
Can the Patriots Clinch Anything With a Win Today?
No. The Patriots cannot clinch a playoff berth or the AFC East by beating Seattle.
This is only the first game of the regular season.
A win would simply give New England:
- A 1-0 record
- A road victory to start the season
- Revenge for its Super Bowl LX loss
- Early momentum heading into the rest of the schedule
The Patriots’ playoff position will be determined over the full 17-game regular season.
What Happens to the Seahawks If the Patriots Win?
If New England wins, Seattle will begin the season 0-1.
The Seahawks would still have 16 games remaining and would remain fully capable of competing for the NFC West and a playoff berth.
If Seattle wins instead, the Patriots would fall to 0-1 while the Seahawks improve to 1-0.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Game Information
| Game Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks |
| Date | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| Stadium | Lumen Field |
| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Week | Week 1 |
| Season | 2026 NFL regular season |
| Patriots Record Before Game | 0-0 |
| Seahawks Record Before Game | 0-0 |
Patriots vs. Seahawks Scenarios Today
For New England, the scenarios entering the 2026 NFL season opener against Seattle are straightforward.
If the Patriots win: New England starts the season 1-0.
If the Patriots tie: New England starts the season 0-0-1.
If the Patriots lose: New England starts the season 0-1.
None of those outcomes will determine the Patriots’ playoff fate in Week 1.
However, beating Seattle would give New England the ideal start to the season and some immediate revenge for its loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.