Chapter 1
The road to the rematch
Chapter 2
Roster shakeups and offseason moves
Chapter 3
The psychology of revenge and repeating
Chapter 4
Changing the mood of Week 1
YOUR GOAL
Master of The 2026 NFL kickoff rematch
Ch 4 · Changing the mood of Week 1
dave NFL Season Kickoff Rematch
Under the Wednesday lights, we're kicking off the year with a Super Bowl rematch.
dave Playing a Super Bowl opponent in Week 1 forces both teams to play at playoff intensity immediately.
dave Historically, defending Super Bowl champions have dominated the NFL's annual Kickoff Game.
Fun Fact
Rare Wednesday: The 2026 kickoff game is played on a Wednesday night, a departure from the traditional Thursday night opener due to broadcast scheduling.
Glossary
rematch (noun)
A rematch is a second contest played between the same opponents. The Seahawks host the Patriots at Lumen Field to start the season after their February title game.
A rematch is a second contest played between the same opponents. The Seahawks host the Patriots at Lumen Field to start the season after their February title game.
Quiz
What is the historical record of defending Super Bowl champions hosting the NFL Kickoff Game?
Quiz
How many consecutive years has NBC hosted the NFL season opening kickoff game as of 2026?