The NFL season is kicking off with a bang this Wednesday night, and our Seattle Seahawks are hosting the New England Patriots in a high-stakes rematch of last season’s Super Bowl. Yeah, you heard that right: the Champs are back on the field, defending their title right from the jump at Lumen Field.
Super Bowl Rematch Energy at Lumen
This isn’t just any regular season opener, fam. We’re talking about a Week 1 rematch of the Super Bowl, which is only the third time that’s happened in league history. And get this: our boys beating New England in that Super Bowl means we’re walking into this kickoff game as defending champions. That’s a huge deal because history shows us defending Super Bowl champs are 16-5 in these Kickoff games since 2004. Mike Macdonald, the third-youngest head coach to ever win the Super Bowl, is eyeing another strong campaign, and you know he’s got the Lumen Field faithful absolutely buzzing for this. It’s a rare Wednesday night game, too, only the fifth in the NFL since 1950, so you know the energy is going to be electric.
The Rise of AJ Barner and Fleury’s Plan
While all eyes will be on Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who are both back for another run, there’s a serious sleeper pick emerging from the Emerald City locker room: AJ Barner. SportsLine expert Alex Selesnick is all over this, saying he “looks like an ascending player for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.” Barner had a strong rookie season, apparently, and was a super reliable target for Darnold. He battled through numerous injuries, but those got squared away in the offseason. Our new Offensive Coordinator, Brian Fleury, who used to be the tight ends coach in San Francisco for the last four seasons, is apparently ready to feature that position way more. And with minimal target competition for TEs after JSN, Barner could feast. Selesnick also pointed out that the Patriots gave up above average production to opposing tight ends last season. Talk about a perfect storm! The betting line for Barner to go Over 24.5 receiving yards, sitting at -114, tells you something big is expected from him.
Setting the Tone for the Season
The oddsmakers clearly respect our Super Bowl-winning squad, setting the Seahawks as 3.5-point home favorites for this game. The over/under for total points is holding steady at 44.5. It’s a testament to our D, too, that some experts are even betting the Under 44.5 points at -110, suggesting a tight, hard-fought battle. With New England rolling out MVP runner-up Drake Maye, who was the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, we know they’re going to come prepared. But we’re the champs, playing at home, and the buzz for the Seahawks -3 bet at -118 is real. This game isn’t just about Week 1, it’s about setting the tone for the entire season and showing the league that our Super Bowl run wasn’t a fluke.
So get ready, 12s! Lumen Field is gonna be absolutely rocking for this Wednesday night showdown. This isn’t just a game; it’s a statement. Can’t wait to see our boys lay it all out there and start this season with a massive win, especially after seeing what an “ascending player” like AJ Barner can do. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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