The NFL Kickoff Game has been the league’s one game showcase to open the season since 2002, and the home team almost always wins. Heading into the 2026 opener between the Patriots and Seahawks, the home side is 18-6 in 24 Kickoff Games, and defending Super Bowl champions are 16-5 when they play in it.
| Season | Result (winner in bold) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Patriots at Seahawks | Super Bowl LX rematch, Wednesday game |
| 2025 | Cowboys 20 at Eagles 24 | Champion won |
| 2024 | Ravens 20 at Chiefs 27 | AFC title game rematch |
| 2023 | Lions 21 at Chiefs 20 | Champion lost |
| 2022 | Bills 31 at Rams 10 | Champion lost, seven sacks by Buffalo |
| 2021 | Cowboys 29 at Buccaneers 31 | Walk off field goal |
| 2020 | Texans 20 at Chiefs 34 | No pregame concert, pandemic year |
| 2019 | Packers 10 at Bears 3 | 100th season game, champion Patriots did not play |
| 2018 | Falcons 12 at Eagles 18 | Goal line stand, weather delay |
| 2017 | Chiefs 42 at Patriots 27 | Champion lost |
| 2016 | Panthers 20 at Broncos 21 | Super Bowl 50 rematch |
| 2015 | Steelers 21 at Patriots 28 | Brady played after Deflategate ruling |
| 2014 | Packers 16 at Seahawks 36 | Seattle’s only previous Kickoff Game |
| 2013 | Ravens 27 at Broncos 49 | Champion on the road, Manning seven TDs |
| 2012 | Cowboys 24 at Giants 17 | Wednesday game, champion lost |
| 2011 | Saints 34 at Packers 42 | Last two champions met |
| 2010 | Vikings 9 at Saints 14 | NFC title game rematch |
| 2009 | Titans 10 at Steelers 13 (OT) | Only overtime Kickoff Game |
| 2008 | Redskins 7 at Giants 16 | 7 p.m. kickoff for the RNC |
| 2007 | Saints 10 at Colts 41 | Largest margin, 31 points |
| 2006 | Dolphins 17 at Steelers 28 | First on NBC |
| 2005 | Raiders 20 at Patriots 30 | Champion won |
| 2004 | Colts 24 at Patriots 27 | Champion hosting tradition begins |
| 2003 | Jets 13 at Redskins 16 | Champion Buccaneers did not play |
| 2002 | 49ers 16 at Giants 13 | First Kickoff Game, on ESPN |
How the Kickoff Game Started
The league created the Kickoff Game for the 2002 season as a single Thursday night showcase with a concert attached, partly to boost New York and Washington after 9/11. ESPN aired the first one, ABC took it in 2003 and NBC has carried it since 2006 as part of its Sunday Night Football package. Since 2004 the defending Super Bowl champion has hosted, with two exceptions: the 2013 Ravens opened in Denver because of an Orioles home game that shared their parking, and in 2019 the league gave the game to Packers at Bears for its 100th season instead of the champion Patriots.
Home Teams and Champions
The home team has lost only six times in 24 games: 2002, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Defending champions have played 21 Kickoff Games and lost five, in 2012 (Giants), 2013 (Ravens, on the road), 2017 (Patriots), 2022 (Rams) and 2023 (Chiefs). The Giants are the only home team to lose twice.
New England has played four Kickoff Games, all at home, and gone 3-1. Seattle has played one, beating Green Bay 36-16 in 2014 on its way to a second straight Super Bowl. The Chiefs have played the most as champion with four appearances.
Wednesday Openers and Super Bowl Rematches
The game normally falls on the Thursday after Labor Day. It has moved to Wednesday twice: in 2012 to avoid the Democratic National Convention, and in 2026 because the league scheduled Rams vs. 49ers in Melbourne, Australia for the Thursday night slot. The 2026 game is also just the second Super Bowl rematch to open a season. The first was Panthers at Broncos in 2016, a 21-20 Denver win in Trevor Siemian’s first start.
Anthem Singers and Concerts
Every Kickoff Game has come with a pregame concert, from Bon Jovi in Times Square in 2002 to Ed Sheeran in Tampa in 2021 and J Balvin in Long Beach in 2022. Recent anthem performers include Boyz II Men (2025), Coco Jones (2024), Natalie Grant (2023) and Tinashe (2022). For 2026, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready plays the anthem and joins Soundgarden at halftime, with Luke Bryan headlining the pregame concert outside Lumen Field.
Related
Patriots vs Seahawks live score · Who is singing the anthem · Why the NFL is playing on Wednesday · When does the NFL season start · Super Bowl winners by year · NFL Week 1 schedule
The Bottom Line
Twenty four Kickoff Games, 18 home wins. Champions win about three out of four. Seattle checks both boxes against New England, which is the history behind the Seahawks being favored on Wednesday night. This page is updated with the result after each season opener.