The Seahawks’ 2026 season opener had the kind of finish that leaves everyone reaching for a pulse check.
Seattle beat the New England Patriots 13-10 on Wednesday in a Super Bowl rematch that turned into a defensive grind before the reigning champs finally broke through with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. For Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla, it was equal parts joy and nerves.
“I’m going to get a cardiac test before the next Seahawks game,” Khosla wrote on X. “The team and 12s won it tonight. Hard to imagine a better roller coaster.”
The game matched the billing as a tense, physical battle between last season’s Super Bowl finalists. It never opened up much, with both teams trying to outmaneuver each other in a slugfest that stayed tight deep into the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s win came with a serious scare, though. Star quarterback Sam Darnold exited in the first half after suffering a hip injury on the opening drive, when he was sacked.
After the game, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald offered a cautiously optimistic update, ruling out a fracture.
“At this point, we’re able to rule out a fracture,” Macdonald said. “There are more tests to be done.
That’s why I’m saying that it’s positive [news]. We’re still working on that but right now, I think fracture is out, which is great news.”
Khosla’s reaction landed against the backdrop of a major ownership change. After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season, Jody Allen agreed to sell the team to the Khosla family in a record $9.612 billion deal.
The agreement was reached on July 11, 2026, and finalized last week. Vinod Khosla, part of the ownership group, has been named team chairman.
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
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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 🡒]
