The Seahawks didn’t just survive Week 1 against the Patriots. They found a way to win after losing Sam Darnold on the opening drive, and they did it with a second-half push that flipped the game on its head.
Darnold exited with a hip injury and did not return, but Drew Lock stepped in and kept Seattle steady. The backup wasn’t perfect right away, which is exactly what you’d expect in that spot, but he settled in and avoided the kind of mistake that can sink a comeback. He also benefited from having Jaxon Smith-Njigba to lean on, and that relationship ended up mattering a lot.
Smith-Njigba was the clear headliner on offense. After a quieter start, he finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown, and that score came in the biggest moment of the game.
On fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, Lock hit him with a short pass in the middle, Smith-Njigba turned it upfield, and he outran everyone for the tying touchdown. He looked every bit like one of the league’s best receivers again.
Seattle’s defense also kept the whole thing from slipping away. The Seahawks intercepted Drake Maye three times, sacked him three times, and held New England to 3.5 yards per carry. That was the kind of night where the defense kept handing the offense more chances until one finally stuck.
There were also some encouraging individual performances in the secondary. With no Nick Emmanwori and no Ty Okada, Seattle turned to Rodney Thomas II and AJ Finley, who had just been signed or elevated from the practice squad, and both held up well. Nehemiah Pritchett stood out too, and he was around the ball often, including on an interception.
Lock’s night should only help his value, too. He looked composed after taking over, made smart throws, protected the ball, and even handled plays he hadn’t practiced. He’s a free agent next offseason, and this showing gave him a little more leverage if he decides to chase another shot as a starter in 2027.
And then there was Jadarian Price, who wasted no time making his presence felt. He started fast and on his first six carries was averaging seven yards per rush.
It wasn’t built on one explosive run, either; he was consistently picking up solid gains. Whatever the debate was around taking a running back in the first round, Price’s Week 1 made one thing look pretty clear: he’s going to be a really good player.
In Other News...
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
The Raiders interest in former Seahawks talent has not slowed down, and Bryce Cabeldue is the latest name to follow that path. Las Vegas claimed the rookie offensive lineman off waivers after Seattle moved on, adding another player with familiarity to the Seahawks recent roster churn and another piece for a group that has been reshaped under head coach Klint Kubiak, who previously served as Seattles offensive coordinator.
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 🡒]