Three fourth-quarter takeaways and a complete effort in response to an injured captain pushed the defending champions to a win in the Week 1 rematch of Super Bowl LX.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold played just five snaps for the reigning Super Bowl champs before leaving Wednesday night's opener to the 2026 NFL season, a rematch with the New England Patriots
But stout defense reminiscent of last season's historic run and a late burst of offense from its most reliable source helped Seattle escape Lumen Field with a thrilling 13-10 win.
Darnold was sacked to end the Seahawks' first possession to open the first quarter and would not return. He finished with one completion on two attempts and 13 passing yards.
Drew Lock, who attempted just three passes last season, filled in under center and completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Patriots quarterback and last season's MVP runner-up Drake Maye was intercepted three times in the fourth quarter and finished 23/33 for 178 yards passing to go with 47 yards rushing.
Maye's top target, Pro Bowl offseason acquisition A.J. Brown, ended with three catches for 36 yards after leaving the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
The difference proved to be Jason Myers' field goal in the fourth quarter, which continued his impactful performance from February's big game, where he hit a Super Bowl-record five field goals.
First Quarter
The Seahawks began the period with a pair of first-down plays: rookie Jadarian Price, the No. 32 pick in the draft, took his first career handoff for 13 yards, and the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Smith-Njigba, picked up 13 of his own on a pass from Darnold.
Ultimately, a sack by Patriots defensive end Dre'Mont Jones forced Seattle to punt and injured the Seahawks' QB. Darnold limped off the field as Lock came on after the Patriots punted on their first possession.
Darnold, who was initially listed as questionable to return, spent the next few minutes in the X-ray room. He initially waved off the medical staff on the sideline and massaged his right hip as he left the field under his own power.
The Seahawks put pressure on Maye early, and each team combined for four punts in the opening quarter of the NFL season.
Second Quarter
The punting pattern continued as Lock was nearly intercepted by Patriots All-Pro Christian Gonzalez, the new highest-paid cornerback in the league after signing a four-year, $135 million rookie extension two days ago.
New England moved into Seahawks territory with two third-down conversions on quick throws to the outside, the second of which found former disgruntled Philaelphia Eagle A.J. Brown.
The big receiver was the target on a Patriots flea-flicker deep ball, but an underthrow worked in New England's favor as Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe was whistled for pass interference after Brown crashed into him coming back to the ball. Maye threw a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon from just outside the goal line to put the Patriots up 7-0.
Lock rocketed a 21-yard pass to Smith-Njigba, but coming up two yards short, Seattle snuggled into the first "Tush Push" formation of the year. After much controversy in recent years, the Seahawks were flagged for offside as the offensive line leaned over the ball before it was snapped.
New England went into the break leading 7-0 just as it was announced that Darnold would be out for the remainder of the game.
Third Quarter
The Patriots were struck with their own significant injury on first series of the second half as Brown's ankle was rolled onto during a tackle. He would not return. Seattle, however, didn't take advantage, as the Seahawks were whistled for a crucial roughing-the-kicker penalty on a punt, extending New England's drive.
Andy Borregales drilled a 50-yard field goal to extend the visitors' lead to 10-0.
Seattle benefited from another excellent punt by Michael Dickson to force New England into a three-and-out, and a delay-of-game penalty came as a result after the Seahawks showed pressure at the line.
Cooper Kupp's first reception of the game was a one-handed gem on third down to get Seattle deep into New England territory after starting the drive with good field position. Kupp came open on a slant, but his would-be touchdown catch was called back for an illegal shift, yet another costly Seahawks penalty.
Jason Myers connected on a 30-yard field goal to put the Seahawks on the board, trailing 10-3 before the Pats marched into scoring position in response.
Fourth Quarter
Maye's downfield shot to Romeo Doubs bounced off the receiver and fell into the arms of Seahawks corner Nehemiah Pritchett for the third-year pro's first career interception.
Smith-Njigba flipped an otherwise quiet game with his seventh reception, a short catch in which he sprinted past the Patriots' secondary for a 45-yard touchdown that tied the game at 10 points apiece.
Maye was intercepted for a second time as Julian Love covered ground for another Seahawks takeaway, squarely putting momentum on the side of the defending champs and their home crowd.
A sequence of poor execution in scoring position resulted in a Myers field goal that ended in points nonetheless. Seattle had taken its scoring run into a 13-10 lead.
Maye and the Patriots - who had already converted a fourth-down on the drive - faced a fourth and 9 at the two-minute warning from just inside the Seahawks' side of midfield. Mack Hollins hauled in a 10-yard slant to move the chains.
Maye was sacked to back the Patriots out of the red zone with half a minute remaining. Jobe toe-tapped Maye's next pass in the end zone, sealing the Seahawks' victory with Seattle's third takeaway of the game.
