Patriots players address starting 2026 season with Super Bowl rematch vs. Seahawks

New England Patriots players were given a new reason to reflect on the club's 29-13 Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks when the NFL scheduled the Patriots to open the 2026 season with a matchup at the Seahawks on Sept. 9. 

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Patriots safety Brenden Schooler and cornerback Marcus Jones addressed not having to wait for the highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch to take place. 

Patriots have chips on shoulders after Super Bowl loss to Seahawks

"I think you always have a chip on your shoulder when you’re up against somebody who you previously lost to the year before," Schooler acknowledged, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. "I’m treating it just like another game. I’m going to go out there, I’m going to be composed just like I was in the Super Bowl when we played them. Nothing’s really changed except just the date we’re playing each other and the location we’re playing each other. I’m going to go out there and kind of treat the game just how I did in the Super Bowl."

In April, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye admitted that it was a "humbling" experience to be sacked six times and forced into committing three turnovers (one fumble, two interceptions) on the sport's biggest stage. Tight end Hunter Henry later insisted that he thinks it's "good" that the Super Bowl loss still stings for current Patriots players. 

Patriots embracing "new year" mentality ahead of Super Bowl rematch

"I feel like at the end of the day, it’s a new year," Jones explained. "I’m happy about the situation of hearing the schedule off, the fact that we’re getting closer to what we love to be a part of. But at the end of the day, like, we’re not looking too far forward. I would say, of course, of course, you know, Super Bowl rematch. But at the end of the day, controlling what we can control. And it’s a lot of things that we got to get installed, training camp that comes down to it, you know, build during preseason and everything. But we’re excited about Week 1."

The much-discussed controversy involving Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini hasn't stopped certain insiders from predicting that New England will once again compete for more than just a playoff berth this season. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Patriots tied for fourth among the betting favorites at +800 odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LXI.

"At the end of the day, we put in a lot of work. You get all the way to where you wanted to be, and we didn’t get the job done," Jones added about the Super Bowl defeat. "I mean, we understand it, but we know our potential, and we know how far we can go. You have a lot of guys who are back on a team that’s been in those situations, so we understand that. We don’t want that to happen again."