The New England Patriots opened their season with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and it left one of the franchise’s most visible fans completely steamed.
Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder and longtime Patriots backer, unloaded after watching New England blow a 10-0 third-quarter lead in a game the Seahawks were able to keep alive with defense, a few field goals and a big play from Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seattle pulled out the win even after quarterback Sam Darnold exited for good on the opening drive with a hip injury.
Portnoy took to X after the game and made his feelings clear.
“Only the first game of the season but that was tough to watch,” Portnoy said. “Horrible game from Drake (Maye), that last throw… disgusting.
We lose A.J. Brown with what I guess is gonna be a pretty severe injury.
The other guy, new guy, (Romeo) Doubs, just a disgusting drop.
“Play-calling sucked most of the night I thought on offense. The game was right there for the taking obviously.
It’s only Week 1 but that was a s***** way to start the season. Gotta be a lot better than that.
That was F-minus s***.”
Drake Maye had a rough night, but the final minute made it sting even more. With a chance to win the game or at least send it to overtime, he threw an interception on a desperate end-zone attempt, ending New England’s hopes right there.
Maye finished with three interceptions in the game, giving him five in his last two games against the Seahawks.
A.J. Brown also had a frustrating Patriots debut.
He caught three passes for 26 yards before leaving in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Portnoy called it possibly severe, though there has been nothing to confirm that.
New England now turns to Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the possibility that it may have to get there without its No. 1 wide receiver.
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Drake Maye Hit Could Leave Patriots Fans Wanting More After Loss
Drake Maye gave the Patriots a mixed afternoon in Seattle, moving the ball well enough to keep New England in striking range but also giving the Seahawks plenty of help along the way. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, yet the three interceptions and three sacks were enough to tilt a tight game that ended 13-10 in Seattles favor.
The sequence that drew the most attention came when Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a late hit on Maye, a play the NFL is now reviewing for possible further punishment. Maye stayed in the game after the hit, and while the Patriots left with another narrow loss, they now have a short week to reset before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 20. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Keep Targeting Seahawks Talent After Another Seattle Departure
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Cabeldue entered the league as a 2025 sixth-round pick and saw action in a small but useful sample last season, logging snaps at multiple spots along the offensive line. For Seattle, his departure is another reminder of how quickly late-round development projects can become roster casualties, while for the Raiders it continues a clear pattern of looking toward familiar Seahawks connections as they build out their depth. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Opener Chaos Turned A Tense Win Into Something Else
The NFL season opener at Lumen Field had enough on-field edge already, but the scene in the stands briefly stole the attention away from the Seahawks and Patriots. A dispute over seating escalated when a Patriots fan allegedly would not move from seats belonging to other spectators, and what began as an argument turned into a physical confrontation that drew in ushers, security and police before order was restored.
For a few tense minutes, the football game was secondary to the disruption above it, a reminder of how quickly a night at the stadium can veer off script. The fan was eventually handcuffed, and while the crowd settled back in, the incident lingered as one of the stranger moments of an opener that already had plenty of bite. [Read more 🡒]