Any grass you covered up will die. If it is not at least peeking through the soil, it will be smothered.

As for the seed, it has a great chance for sprouting now. Grass seed normally gets spread on top of the soil - that's what happens in nature. When people come along, they do all sorts of unnatural things with straw, peat moss, sand, and topsoil. I don't have a perfect understanding of the impact but it is my belief that the more covered up the seed, the less successful germination you'll get. Why? As soon as the seed germinates, it needs direct sunlight to photosynthesize and grow roots. So what you did is the best thing for seeding now. However, don't expect that new grass to make it all the way through the summer heat. That depends on where you live and what kind of summer you get.

Don't even think about seeding in the summer unless you are seeding bermuda. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass will germinate and die immediately in the heat of summer. Wait until the end of August for the summer heat to break and night time temps to start falling.

Thanks for your response.

Should I have removed the grass before covering it up? I had a feeling what didn't end up peaking through would die. However, I assumed new grass will be able to establish itself in those same spots?

Hoping I didn't mess up?

Worst case, the grass dies and I seed in the fall?

I am in NJ. The sun rises on the side of the house I am referring to.
Thanks again.