There are NFL opponents, and then there are opponents forever connected by a single play.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks belong in the second category.
When the teams meet Wednesday night to open the 2026 NFL season, the circumstances will already make the game fascinating. Seattle defeated New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX only seven months ago.
But the history between these franchises stretches much further than that. Not only does it stretch much further, it features one of the most memorable Super Bowl games of all time.
Mention Patriots-Seahawks to longtime NFL fans and two words immediately come to mind.
Malcolm Butler.
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Malcolm Butler Created an Unforgettable Super Bowl Moment
Super Bowl XLIX appeared destined to end with Seattle celebrating its second consecutive championship.
The Seahawks trailed New England 28-24 but had reached the Patriots’ 1-yard line in the final minute.
Seattle had Marshawn Lynch in its backfield.
Instead, Russell Wilson threw.
Butler jumped Ricardo Lockette’s route and intercepted Wilson at the goal line with 20 seconds remaining.
Game over.
The undrafted rookie had delivered one of the most famous defensive plays in NFL history.
New England secured its fourth Super Bowl championship and Tom Brady earned his third Super Bowl MVP award.
More than a decade later, the franchises found themselves together on football’s biggest stage again.
This time, Seattle got its revenge.
Seahawks Finally Answered Patriots in Super Bowl LX
Seattle defeated New England 29-13 in February’s Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, denying the Patriots what would have been their seventh championship.
Now comes another unusual twist.
Instead of waiting years for another meeting, New England gets Seattle immediately.
The Patriots will travel to Lumen Field for Wednesday’s NFL Kickoff Game, turning the beginning of the new season into a rematch of the game that ended the previous one.
Wednesday night won’t decide a championship. But considering everything that has happened when these franchises have crossed paths, it won’t feel like an ordinary Week 1 game either.
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