NFL Card Watch: The Seahawks and Patriots Run It Back to Kick Off the 2026 Season

If you listen closely, you can hear it: the clash of pads, the ref’s whistle, and, the jingle of theme songs from CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, Amazon Prim, and, newly, Netflix. Yes, my friends, the rumors are true: football is officially back!

The 2026 NFL season kicks off tonight at 8:20 p.m. Eastern when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on NBC—the first season opener on a Wednesday since the New York Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys in 2012. Why are we kicking off on what is traditionally a non-football day, you ask? Because the NFL is sending the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams to Melbourne, Australia for a special Thursday night game that marks the NFL’s first regular season game Down Under.

Tonight’s matchup isn’t just the kick off to a new season, it’s a highly-anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LX, when the Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13 back in February. Neither team looks exactly the same as they did seven months ago, but that’s what makes Week 1 so special: new beginnings.

Let’s go!

Running It Back:

The last time these two teams squared off, Kenneth Walker III ran through, over, and around New England’s defense on his way to winning Super Bowl LX MVP. While star quarterback Sam Darnold is still calling plays for Seattle, his running mate now calls Arrowhead home. When your wide receiver room features Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed, along with tight end AJ Barner, it’s tough to wallow.
‍
New England, meanwhile, not only arrives with something to prove, but with a similar roster. While there are some holes to fill, their young quarterback, Drake Maye, is looking to build on a strong 2025 regular season where he led the league in passer rating. (Let’s not talk about his postseason…) Can he top his breakout year—especially with a tough early schedule that includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills? 

The Top 5 Patriots Cards in Courtyard Packs:

As collectors look to prepare for the new season, there are plenty of options found within Courtyard Football packs that can bolster your binder. Needless to say, the chase cards for Pats fans are all Drake Maye rookies, with more than $30k in graded Maye cardboard currently sitting in packs. There’s a reason they call it the hardest position in sports.

1. $10,514 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Select #503 Gold Prizm (PSA 9)
   
2. $7,711 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Prizm #329 Gold Shimmer (PSA 9)
   
3. $4,939 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Prizm #329 Red Shimmer (PSA 10)
   
4. $3,944 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Prizm Prizmania #3 (PSA 10)
   
5. $3,087 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Rookie Kings #3 Black Pandora (PSA 10)

The Top 5 Seahawks Cards in Courtyard Packs:

The other side of the field has seen more roster upheaval of late, with DK Metcalf departing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the aforementioned move of Kenneth Walker III. However, the 12s still have plenty to chase in Courtyard Football packs, whether they’re looking for stars from the team’s current roster or Seahawk greats from year’s past.

1. $1,440 – Geno Smith: 2025 Panini Prizm #103 Nebula Choice 1/1 (PSA 10)
   
2. $461 – Russell Wilson: 2020 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown Russell Wilson (PSA 10)
   
3. $410 – DK Metcalf: 2023 Panini Donruss Optic International Downtown (PSA 9)
   
4. $404 – Kenneth Walker III: 2022 Panini Obsidian Color Blast Black (PSA 10)
   
5. $225 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 2023 Panini Prizm #390 Silver Prizm (PSA 10)
   

What Football Fans Have Been Chasing This Summer:

These days, the NFL season never truly stops, from the draft and free agency to training camp and the preseason. Want to know what you fellow collectors stocked up on over the past few months? Here are the biggest Patriots and Seahawks cards sold on the Courtyard marketplace since June 1st. Hint, the GOAT is still as popular as ever…and is that Gronk!?

1. $12,319 – Tom Brady: 2000 Press Pass Auto #3 (PSA 10)
2. $4,487 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Prizm Drake Maye Gold Shimmer (PSA 9)
3. $4,450 – Rob Gronkowski: 2022 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown Gold (PSA 10)
4. $3,013 – Drake Maye: 2024 Panini Absolute Kaboom! (PSA 10)
5. $3,001 – Tom Brady: 2000 Bowman Chrome #236 (PSA 8)

How to Get Ready for Kickoff on Courtyard

Every card on Courtyard is graded, vaulted, and ready to pull. Whether you’re hunting the Patriots’ current QB or the one drafted 26 years ago, our Football Packs have something for every type of pigskin fan.