The Seahawks opened the season with a win, but it came with a warning label attached.
Seattle beat the New England Patriots 13-10 at Lumen Field, and the final score only tells part of the story. The defense bailed the Seahawks out late, the offense never fully settled in, and Sam Darnold left after a hip injury just seven plays into the opening drive.
That injury is the headline coming out of Week 1. Drew Lock stepped in and did enough to help Seattle survive, but the Seahawks suddenly have to navigate an uncertain stretch without their quarterback. How long Darnold is out remains unclear, and that puts a lot more pressure on the rest of the roster.
The good news for Seattle is that the defense looked exactly like the unit it was supposed to be. The Seahawks intercepted Drake Maye three times in the fourth quarter, and Josh Jobe sealed it with a pick on 3rd and 5 with 26 seconds left.
At that point, New England likely would have settled for a field goal and overtime if the pass had fallen incomplete. Instead, Seattle ended the game on the spot.
That kind of closing punch is a big reason the Seahawks can breathe a little easier while Darnold is sidelined. If this defense plays like a top unit again, it can keep the team upright through a rough patch.
Lock did what a backup is supposed to do. He didn’t light it up, but he helped the Seahawks score on three drives, starting late in the third quarter, and that was enough to get the job done. Still, if Darnold misses multiple weeks, Seattle’s early-season margin for error gets much thinner.
The schedule doesn’t exactly offer a soft landing, either. The Seahawks have nine games before their Week 11 bye, and four of those opponents made the playoffs last year.
That’s where rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price comes into the picture. He only got 10 carries in his NFL debut, but he made them count, opening the game with a 13-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with 52 yards, which led the team, and Seattle may need even more from him now.
The Seahawks were careful with Price after he dealt with injuries during the preseason, and that makes sense. But they drafted him in the first round for a reason: they need a runner who can help steady the offense, especially if the passing game takes a hit without Darnold.
If Price can handle 15 to 20 carries a game and get close to 100 yards each week while Darnold is out, Seattle can survive this stretch without too much damage.
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 🡒]