Drake Maye and the New England Patriots spent most of Wednesday night looking in control. Then the fourth quarter hit, and everything unraveled.
What had been a 10-3 lead against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field turned into a 13-10 loss in the 2026 NFL season opener, with New England coughing up the game in a brutal final 15 minutes.
Through three quarters, Maye had been sharp enough to keep the Patriots in command. He was 17 of 22 for a touchdown and no interceptions, while the defense held Seattle to just three points. New England also had to deal with a Seahawks quarterback change after Sam Darnold went out early with a hip injury and Drew Lock stepped in.
The finish, though, belonged entirely to Seattle.
Maye was picked off three times in the fourth quarter, with Nehemiah Pritchett, Julian Love and Josh Jobe all getting in on the action. Jobe’s interception came with 21 seconds left and shut down New England’s last shot to force a tie. In the process, Maye became the first quarterback since Tua Tagovailoa in 2022 to throw three interceptions in the fourth quarter of a one-score game.
The turnovers were only part of the damage. New England was also sacked three times in the fourth quarter after avoiding any sacks in the first three periods, giving Seattle six major defensive plays in that final frame alone.
The numbers from the collapse were ugly in a way that almost defied belief. Per OptaSTATS, the Patriots became the first NFL team in the last 30 years to log at least three interceptions, three sacks, three penalties and zero points in a single quarter.
Seattle cashed in after Maye’s first two interceptions. Pritchett’s pick helped set up a 45-yard completion from Lock to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Seahawks tied the game. On the next Patriots drive, Love intercepted Maye and Seattle answered with a 26-yard Jason Myers field goal to go up 13-10.
New England still had one last chance to salvage something, but Jobe ended that hope with the end-zone interception. Maye’s final line: 23 of 33 for 178 yards, one touchdown and three picks.
The Patriots return home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20. Seattle heads to the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 20, carrying an 11-game winning streak into its first road game of the season.
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