The Seattle Seahawks managed to stop the New England Patriots at their 10-yard line, getting the ball back while trailing 10-0. This was a crucial moment for Seattle’s defense.
The Seahawks have struggled offensively, having punted five times. Their longest drive under backup quarterback Drew Lock reached just 25 yards. Without their starting quarterback Sam Darnold, who is out with a right hip injury, Lock has completed 8 of 11 passes for a mere 68 yards. Seattle’s ground game averages 4.6 yards per carry, but it hasn’t helped open up the passing attack.
New England extended their lead with a 50-yard field goal by Andy Borregales. A Seattle penalty on fourth down helped sustain the Patriots’ drive, marking the second penalty of the night that led to New England scoring.
Seattle’s performance on penalties has been poor, with seven penalties for 83 yards. New England has not committed a penalty, highlighting Seattle’s lack of discipline. Roughing the kicker helped prolong a Patriots drive, adding to the Seahawks’ penalty woes.
Patriots player A.J. Brown suffered a right ankle injury on the opening third-quarter drive. Brown, a key offseason acquisition for New England, had a significant impact prior to his injury with three catches for 26 yards.
New England’s Drake Maye has completed 10 of his 12 passes for 66 yards and rushed five times for 36 yards. The Patriots benefited from Seahawks penalties and have converted more third downs than Seattle.
With Sam Darnold now out, Drew Lock has the responsibility to lead Seattle. Despite some faith from the Seahawks’ coach, Lock’s passing has not yet impacted the score substantially.
Halftime saw New England leading 7-0. Both teams managed only 250 combined yards. The game saw penalties race to seven for Seattle, while New England remained penalty-free.
Prior to Sam Darnold’s injury, he was seen as critical to Seattle’s success with their new offensive coordinator. Darnold’s absence poses challenges for the Seahawks as they aim for consecutive championships.
The NFL made several rule changes for 2026, with a focus on player safety and new options for challenge flags. Coaches now can designate an assistant to handle these flags.
In ownership news, the Seahawks were sold to a new group led by Vinod Khosla for $9.6 billion, marking significant changes following their Super Bowl championship.