Backup signal‑caller Drew Lock stepped up in the final quarter, engineering two decisive scoring drives while the Seattle defense snatched three interceptions from New England quarterback Drake Maye. The Seahawks overcame an early setback when starter Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on the opening possession, ultimately prevailing 13-10 in a season‑opening clash that echoed last year’s Super Bowl showdown. Seattle’s offense was virtually silent for the first three quarters, managing only a solitary field goal. Darnold’s hip problem, sustained after a third‑down sack by Dre'Mont Jones, forced him out of the game after the first drive.
He was briefly examined on the sideline before being escorted to the locker room, leaving the Seahawks to rely on Lock, who had thrown just three passes all season with the Vikings last year. The lack of rhythm persisted until the final period when Lock finally found his groove.
The Patriots, too, struggled to generate consistent offense. Their only first‑half points came when a deep flea‑flicker pass intended for recent acquisition A.J.
Brown was disrupted by Seattle defensive back Josh Jobe, setting up a short‑range touchdown pass from Maye to rookie Eli Raridon. The score made it 7-0.
In the second half, a roughing‑the‑punter penalty on Patriots’ linebacker Chazz Surratt gave Seattle favorable field position, and Andy Borregales converted a 50‑yard field goal to narrow the gap. Seattle finally got on the board with a field goal in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 7-3. The turning point arrived in the fourth quarter after a pivotal interception by Nehemiah Pritchett.
Lock capitalized on the turnover, delivering a 45‑yard strike to wide receiver Jaxon Smith‑Njigba on a fourth‑and‑one situation, tying the game at 7-7. The momentum shift was palpable as the home crowd sensed a comeback. Maye responded by engineering a drive that placed the Patriots in position to either tie or seize the lead with under a minute remaining.
However, his efforts unraveled when Josh Jobe positioned himself perfectly in the end zone and secured a toe‑tapping interception, effectively sealing Seattle’s victory. Shortly thereafter, Julian Love intercepted Maye again, and Jason Myers added a 26‑yard field goal, giving the Seahawks a 13-10 advantage that held for the remainder of the contest.
The game opened with a ceremonial raising of the Super Bowl banner and a highlight reel on the stadium’s video board, marking the third Week 1 Super Bowl rematch in league history—the previous one occurring in 2016 when the Denver Broncos celebrated a title win over the Carolina Panthers. The atmosphere was electric, but the early injury to Darnold quickly turned optimism into concern.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald later clarified that medical staff ruled out a fracture, describing the diagnosis as “positive” and noting that Darnold’s hip, while bruised, had not been broken. Darnold’s 2025 season had been impressive: 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, culminating in a Super Bowl victory. Drafted third overall in 2018, he signed with Seattle last offseason after reviving his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
His absence was felt, but teammates rallied. Smith‑Njigba remarked, “It’s tough losing Sam. He’s the head of the snake, but we have each other’s backs.” He added, “We fully trust Drew Lock to come in and do his thing; he’s proven that time and again.” Maye, reflecting on his own performance, admitted his three‑interception night was a personal low point. After converting two crucial fourth‑downs to drive the Patriots into the red zone, he forced a pass to Mack Hollins on third‑and‑five from the 16‑yard line, only to have Jobe intercept it in the end zone.
Maye said, “I tried to get rid of it, realized Mack was back there, and didn’t put enough on it. It was unacceptable. I stopped being patient and made decisions that cost us the game.” The victory gave Seattle a morale‑boosting start to the 2026 NFL season, while New England will need to regroup after a disappointing defensive showing. Both teams will look ahead to the upcoming weeks, where the league’s biggest storylines—Super Bowl predictions, MVP races, and emerging talent—will continue to unfold.
Fans can follow the rest of the 2026 season live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every playoff game and the Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027. For those without a subscription, the NOW streaming service offers contract‑free access to all games.