League confirms Hawks-Pats in China

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face each other in an exhibition game next August in Beijing exactly one year before the start of the Olympic Games in China.

The Patriots and Seahawks were chosen, commissioner Roger Goodell said, because of their success and “because we think they represent the best of the United States and the best of the NFL both on the field and off the field.” The Patriots have won three of the last five Super Bowls. The Seahawks lost last season’s Super Bowl.

The Aug. 8 game will be held at Workers Stadium at 8:30 p.m., a 12-hour time difference with the United States. It will be shown live on NBC at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 9.

On the previous Thursday night, the Patriots will play at the Seahawks before both teams leave for China. Each team will play five exhibition games, one more than the usual number.

The extra game and trip to China will cause coaches of both teams to make substantial adjustments to their training camp schedules.