How to Watch Seahawks vs Patriots for Free (September 9, 2026)

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots open the 2026 NFL season with one of the most intriguing Week 1 matchups on the schedule: a Super Bowl LX rematch. Seattle enters as the defending champion after beating New England 29-13 in Santa Clara, while the Patriots get an immediate chance to respond in the season opener.

Kickoff is set for 5:20 PM local time (8:20 PM ET) on Wednesday, September 9, at Lumen Field in Seattle. Both teams start at 0-0, with the Seahawks in the NFC West and the Patriots in the AFC East standings.

The good news is that 7plus offers a free way to stream the game in Australia. The catch for US viewers is geo-blocking. 7plus says its content is only available from within Australia, so you’ll need a VPN connected to an Australian server to watch Seahawks vs Patriots for free from the US.

How to stream Seahawks vs Patriots for free

If you’re in the US, using a VPN for sports streaming is the simplest way to access the Australian 7plus stream without paying for another NFL subscription. 7plus is free and ad-supported, but its content is restricted to viewers in Australia. Follow these steps to watch the Patriots at Seahawks free stream:

1. Choose a VPN with a refund policy: Pick a VPN with Australian servers and a reliable money-back guarantee. NordVPN is the best option here because it combines fast speeds with a 30-day refund period.
2. Install the VPN app: Download the VPN on your desktop, phone, tablet, Fire TV Stick, or compatible streaming device.
3. Connect to an Australian server: Open the VPN app and choose a server in Australia so 7plus sees an Australian IP address.
4. Open 7plus: Go to the NFL section on 7plus once your VPN is connected.
5. Find the Patriots @ Seahawks stream: Look for the Week 1 game stream and open it before the 5:20 PM local time (8:20 PM ET) kickoff.
6. Watch free, then use the refund window if needed: If you only need the VPN for this game, request a refund within the provider’s guarantee period.

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How 7plus is bringing Seahawks vs Patriots to viewers

7plus is Seven Network’s free streaming platform in Australia. It offers live and on-demand programming, and 7plus says it is funded by advertising, with no credit card or payment details required for access.

For NFL fans, the platform’s NFL page is the key destination. It lists NFL | Week 1: Patriots @ Seahawks, which makes it the free streaming route for this specific game in Australia.

For US viewers, the important detail is not the price, but the location restriction. 7plus is designed for Australian audiences, so a US IP address is likely to be blocked before the stream loads. That is why connecting to an Australian VPN server is the critical step.

The 7plus-specific commentary setup for this game was not clearly published. The US TV broadcast is listed with Mike Tirico on play-by-play, Cris Collinsworth as analyst, and Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung on the sidelines, but the exact 7plus presentation should be checked before publishing if commentary details are included as a firm claim.

Why you need a VPN to watch Seahawks vs Patriots on 7plus

You need a VPN because 7plus is not available as a normal domestic streaming option in the US. Its support page states: “Unfortunately, due to broadcast rights restrictions our content is only available from within Australia.” It also says users “must be located in Australia in order to access 7plus.” In some cases it can just return an error that the site can't be reached.

That means if you open the stream from the US without a VPN, 7plus can detect your location from your IP address and block access. The platform may also flag VPN, proxy, ad blocker, or safe search tools, which is why a reliable VPN server matters.

A VPN changes your visible IP address. When you connect to a server in Australia, 7plus sees your traffic as coming from Australia instead of the US. That lets you access the free 7plus stream for Seahawks vs Patriots without paying for a separate streaming subscription, assuming your VPN server is not blocked.

Choosing the right VPN to stream Seahawks vs Patriots

For a live NFL game, not every VPN will be good enough. Many VPNs can change your virtual location, but they may still struggle with sports streams because of slow speeds, weak Australian server coverage, or unreliable access to geo-restricted platforms like 7plus. That’s why it’s worth choosing a VPN that’s been tested for smooth live streaming, especially if you want to watch Seahawks vs Patriots from kickoff without buffering or location errors. When choosing a VPN look for these three essentials:

• Fast, reliable Australian servers: Live NFL streams need consistent speed to avoid buffering, especially near kickoff when traffic spikes.
• Reliable geo-block bypass: 7plus restricts access to Australia, so the VPN must consistently work with Australian streaming platforms.
• Refund policy or free trial: A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you watch the game and keep the overall setup free if you cancel within the refund window.

I would avoid most free VPNs for this stream. They often have data caps, crowded servers, weak speeds, and limited Australian locations. For a prime-time NFL opener at 5:20 PM local time (8:20 PM ET), a premium VPN with a refund window is the safer option.

What to do if 7plus remains blocked while using a VPN

If 7plus still does not load before the game kicks off, the issue is usually your IP address, cached location data, or the way the app detected your connection. Since 7plus says it does not support VPNs or proxy services, some servers may work better than others. Try these fixes:

• Switch VPN protocols: Change between protocols in your VPN app. Sometimes switching away and then back again refreshes the connection.
• Get a new Australian IP: Disconnect and reconnect to a different Australian server to get a fresh IP address.
• Clear cache and cookies: Browser cookies can store old US location data, so clear them before reopening the stream.
• Use a mobile browser instead of the app: Apps can be stricter with device location checks than browsers.
• Connect the VPN before opening 7plus: Close 7plus completely, connect to Australia first, then reopen the site or app.

I recommend setting up the VPN early and leave yourself enough time to test the stream before the teams take the field.

Seahawks vs Patriots head-to-head facts

This is not just a normal Week 1 game. Seattle and New England are meeting again after Super Bowl LX, with the Seahawks opening their title defense at home and the Patriots trying to flip the script immediately. Here are the key head-to-head facts:

• All-time series: Seattle leads the all-time series 12-9, including postseason games.
• Most recent meeting: The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
• Most recent regular-season meeting: Seattle beat New England 23-20 in overtime in Week 2 of the 2024 season at Gillette Stadium.
• Current streak: New England has lost four straight overall against Seattle.
• Week 1 storyline: This is the first Week 1 Super Bowl rematch since Denver hosted Carolina to open the 2016 season.
• 2026 records: Both teams enter the opener at 0-0, with the Seahawks in the NFC West and Patriots in the AFC East.

The quarterback matchup also gives the game extra pull. Seattle is expected to lean on Sam Darnold after its title run, while New England’s hopes center on Drake Maye, who enters 2026 as the face of the Patriots offense.

How to listen to Seahawks vs Patriots on the radio

Seahawks fans can listen locally on Seattle Sports 710 AM and KIRO NewsRadio 97.3 FM, both listed as Seattle Seahawks Radio Network affiliates. Patriots fans can hear the game on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM), the flagship station of the Patriots Radio Network, with Bob Socci and Scott Zolak on the call.

For national and out-of-market audio, SiriusXM carries the team feeds and the national broadcast for this game, while NFL+ includes live game audio for every game, including home, away, and national calls, in its $6.99/month base tier. These are good fallback options if you prefer listening or if your video stream is delayed.

Wrapping up

Seahawks vs Patriots kicks off the 2026 NFL season on Wednesday, September 9, at 5:20 PM local time (8:20 PM ET) from Lumen Field in Seattle. It is a Super Bowl LX rematch, a Week 1 spotlight game, and a strong test for both teams right away.

For US viewers who want a free stream, 7plus is the key option because it carries the game free in Australia. Since 7plus is geo-restricted outside Australia, you’ll need a VPN connected to an Australian server to watch from the US.

NordVPN is the best fit for this stream because it offers Australian servers, fast live-streaming performance, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Set it up before kickoff, test 7plus early, and you’ll be ready for the Patriots at Seahawks opener.

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