The Seattle Seahawks are back in the spotlight, and this one comes with a familiar opponent. On Wednesday night, in a Sunday Night Football opener that lands a little awkwardly on the calendar, the defending Super Bowl champions host the New England Patriots - the same team they beat 29-13 in Super Bowl LX.
To get a better read on what Seattle should expect, Field Gulls turned to Taylor Kyles of Pats Pulpit for a five-question look at the Patriots heading into the regular season.
One of the biggest changes for New England starts up front. The Patriots’ offensive line is not the same group that took the field in the Super Bowl, with former LG Jared Wilson sliding back to center and Alijah Vera-Tucker brought in to handle the vacancy.
Wilson has looked more comfortable in the middle, while sophomore Will Campbell has made progress on the blindside, even if that’s come against a Patriots edge group that hasn’t exactly been a terror. Campbell is healthier now than he was in February, when he played through a sprained MCL, but his communication with Vera-Tucker will be tested right away.
On the right side, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses remain steady pieces, though both still have work to do against line games.
The passing game could also look a little different this time around. Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte are out, and A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs are in. That swap should bring more vertical juice to the offense.
Boutte was one of the league’s best deep threats last season, but Brown is viewed as a step up as the top replacement, while Doubs brings size and production on jump balls and high-point throws, even if his timing routes remain less consistent. Both receivers drew praise from OC Josh McDaniels for handling a complicated offense and turning that knowledge into production on the field.
DeMario Douglas also turned in a strong summer as a speed option from the slot, and rookie TE Eli Raridon was one of the best deep threats at his position in college.
Raridon is one of the lesser-known names Seattle fans may want to keep an eye on. He’s expected to be a key part of New England’s base packages and to serve as the primary blocking tight end.
And in New England, that still matters - if you can block, they’ll find a way to get you the ball. Raridon’s final season at Notre Dame also showed off his ability as a deep threat.
Another under-the-radar name on the other side of the ball is ED Elijah Ponder. He went from undrafted role player to full-time starter, and the hope is that he takes another jump.
He’s a big, explosive athlete who flashed multiple times over the summer. His run defense still has room to grow, but his pass-rush tools have clearly improved from last season.
The biggest off-field storyline around the Patriots has been the Russini-Vrabel situation, but so far there’s no sign it has spilled into the locker room. If anything, players have backed their head coach against what some view as outside noise.
That can change if New England stumbles early, but a Super Bowl appearance has earned the team a lot of goodwill. Vrabel has also kept his distance from questions about the incident since draft weekend and has at least publicly moved on.
As for how Josh McDaniels might try to get points on the board earlier after both teams were held without a touchdown until the fourth quarter in the Super Bowl, the answer starts with variety. The Patriots were in 11 personnel on 80% of their offensive snaps in that game and eventually shelved the run in the second half.
That kind of predictability won’t work against a Mike Macdonald defense, even with Maye’s upgraded weapons and better command of the offense. Expect more 21 personnel with the addition of FB Reggie Gilliam, whether that shows up in traditional run looks, empty sets, or spread formations with Gilliam giving coverage tells from out wide.
If the Patriots can at least run the ball well enough to stay balanced, they should avoid the true dropback-heavy approach that got them in trouble in February.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Sent Their Strongest Signal Yet About Melbourne
The Seahawks are leaning harder into their push in Australia and New Zealand, announcing a strategic partnership with Collingwood that ties the NFL club to one of the biggest names in Australian football. It is part of Seattles marketing rights under the NFL Global Markets program, and it gives the team a more visible platform in a region where it has been looking to build real traction rather than just occasional awareness.
Melbourne will be the first major stage for that effort, with the two clubs set to co-host a kids AFL and NFL crossover flag football clinic. For Seattle, the move is less about a single event than about showing it is serious about planting roots abroad, using a local partner to connect with fans who may already know the sport through a different lens. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Secondary Suddenly Faces A Week 1 Problem
A thin-looking Seahawks secondary got thinner this week when Ty Okada was ruled out for the upcoming game because of a hamstring injury. Seattle also listed Nick Emmanwori as questionable, leaving the safety group in a shaky spot heading into a matchup where depth could matter quickly. Tory Horton is also questionable, but the bigger concern for Seattle is how it will patch together the back end if the injury picture does not improve before kickoff.
The roster math becomes even more important because the Seahawks may need to elevate safeties from the practice squad to cover the gaps. Across the field, New England has already ruled out running back TreVeyon Henderson and backup center Ben Brown, while defensive tackle Christian Barmore is expected to play, so both teams are still sorting out their Week 1 availability. For Seattle, the question now is not just who is healthy enough to suit up, but whether the secondary can survive the day if the list stays this short. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Open With A Rematch That Feels Different This Time
A season opener against New England already carries some extra weight for Seattle because it comes as a rematch of the previous years Super Bowl, and the game now has even more intrigue after the Patriots locked up Christian Gonzalez on a four-year, $135 million extension. The deal made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and adds another layer to a matchup that figures to be watched closely in both cities, especially with the Seahawks and Patriots each trying to show how much they have changed since that championship meeting.
For Seattle, the bigger picture is not just the logo on the other sideline but the shifting cast around it. New Englands offensive line and receiving corps have both been upgraded, which gives the Patriots a better chance to stress a Seahawks defense that will have to answer some different problems this time around. However it plays out, it is the kind of opener that can tell a lot about where Seattle stands right away, and it sets up a meeting that feels less like a replay than a test of how far both teams have come. [Read more 🡒]