Since the NFL announced the 2026 season schedule, there has been a lot of talk about their decisions regarding the primetime games they chose to air, with the season opener sparking the most conversation. It will be a Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and the Seahawks, and from the looks of it, neither fan base is all that thrilled about it.
From the Patriots' perspective, it would have been nice if the game could have been later in the year, when they have a firm identity and a better chance at seeking revenge. The first month of the season is never when they're playing their best football, so a game later down the road might have been more competitive.
In the eyes of the Seahawks fans, the league hasn't had a championship rematch open the season in over a decade, so why start that again now? They already dominated New England just a few months ago, and they'd prefer to start the year against a different opponent for many reasons, one of which is a theory now being floated by longtime sports radio host Jim Rome.
Seattle fans have taken to this new conspiracy like moths to a flame, and although it's not a great look for the Patriots, particularly Mike Vrabel, it's hard to argue that Rome's argument is invalid, especially when discussing commissioner Roger Goodell.
Jim Rome's conspiracy about the Patriots' season opener might not be that out there
While talking about the upcoming NFL season, Rome shared his take on the "meaningless" Super Bowl rematch to open the season, which he believes was only given that timeslot because of the
"fascination with the Patriots' head coach" and his personal life.
“Just imagine this Super Bowl rematch ends up being a Super Bowl replay, and the Patriots get their heads caved in again.
Man, imagine if Vrabel gets blown out on opening night after the offseason from hell. Imagine how insane the narratives and the overreaction and the lava pigs and the pearl-clutching and the histrionics and the hysterics are all going to be if that’s how it goes down on opening night. Imagine all that. Oh, you know who already did imagine all that? The Shield. The Shield, obviously."
To an extent, he's not wrong because the NFL loves headlines, no matter how favorable or ugly they are, and that will include a scandal that involves a head coach. If they feel safe from any culpability in the matter, then they'll almost certainly exploit it as much as they can.
Given that the Vrabel and Russini affair has dominated headlines over the past several weeks, it was almost inevitable that the league would make the Patriots the season opener to keep them in the news cycle for the next four months.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, that means the ongoing rumors about their head coach aren't going away any time soon, and Goodell, who arguably has a major issue with the franchise, will do whatever he can to milk it for as long as possible.
That's far from what the organization wants right now or in the future, especially with their goal of heading to another Super Bowl at the top of the list, but that's just how the league works now, and the negativity is going to be unavoidable for the next few months.
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