The Seattle Seahawks opened their title defence with a comeback win, beating the New England Patriots 13-10 in the NFL season opener at Lumen Field. The defending champions trailed 10-0 before rallying behind their backup quarterback and a defence that forced three fourth-quarter interceptions.
A rematch of the Super Bowl opened the season for the first time in 10 years, and it featured a Patriots team facing a Seahawks defence known as ‘the Dark Side’. That unit had dominated New England in the championship game, and it stepped up once more after Seattle lost its quarterback, Sam Darnold, to a hip injury on the game’s opening drive.
Darnold’s Injury
The Seahawks lost their starting quarterback early, leaving backup Drew Lock to run the offense. Coach Mike Macdonald reported that early tests did not show a fracture in Darnold’s hip.
New England’s offence seized an opportunity when Seattle’s starter was sidelined. In the second quarter, rookie tight end Eli Raridon crossed the goal line for the opening touchdown of the campaign, giving the Patriots a 10-0 lead. The Seahawks’ offence had no answer for it, unable to get anything going without their starting quarterback on the field.
Lock Gets Seattle Moving
Back-up quarterback Drew Lock got the Seattle offence going late in the third quarter. Jason Myers cut the gap with a field goal, making it 10-3 and giving the home crowd something to cheer.
Nehemiah Pritchett grabbed his first career pick at the beginning of the fourth quarter when a pass from Drake Maye was tipped by rookie Rodney Thomas. That change in momentum re-energised the Seahawks, and their defence seized upon it.
Lock connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the following series, finding him open and allowing the last season’s offensive player of the year to race past the Patriots defence for a 45-yard touchdown. That score tied the contest at 10-10.
The Defence Takes Over
Julian Love then picked off Patriots quarterback Maye, giving Myers the chance to edge the Seahawks in front with a 26-yard field goal. Seattle led 13-10, and the defence had to hold on.
The Patriots were close enough for a field goal attempt when time ran down to 21, which would have forced extra play. They opted instead to try to win the game directly, and that decision went wrong.
The ball thrown to Mack Hollins was taken away by Josh Jobe in the end zone, ending the game. That interception sealed the Seahawks’ comeback win.
Maye’s Rough Night
Maye struggled with interceptions throughout his time, with the Super Bowl standing out as the only contest where he tossed two or more picks. His quarterbacking woes were most visible at the end of the season opener, when he was intercepted on the Patriots’ final three possessions.
- First quarter: Darnold injured, Seattle offence stalls.
- Second quarter: Raridon scores, Patriots lead 10-0.
- Third quarter: Lock gets going, Myers cuts the lead to 10-3.
- Fourth quarter: Pritchett’s first career interception.
- Fourth quarter: Smith-Njigba’s 45-yard touchdown ties the game.
- Fourth quarter: Love’s interception sets up the go-ahead field goal.
- Final seconds: Jobe’s end-zone interception seals the win.
The game’s course was entirely altered by a shift from one team’s dominance to another’s. The Patriots held the upper hand through the opening half, while the Seahawks took over the fourth quarter.
Smith-Njigba’s Touchdown
The game-changing touchdown came on a 45-yard play. Lock delivered the ball to Smith-Njigba, who then broke free into open space and raced through the Patriots’ defenders to knot the contest.
The contest’s entire complexion changed because of a single play, and it served as a reminder of why he was named last season’s offensive player of the year.
What This Means
Seattle made a statement by beating the team that beat them in the Super Bowl even after losing their starting quarterback. The defence, known as ‘the Dark Side’, delivered when it counted most.
New England’s defeat will hurt them deeply. The game was within their grasp, and they were down three points, with possession and advantageous positioning on the field to even it up. Then one choice altered everything.
The choice to go for the win instead of settling for overtime was a bold one. It ended up working against them here. Maye will be carrying this one for a while.
The Road Ahead
The opening week carries on with the league’s first regular-season match held in Australia. The Los Angeles Rams face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne on Thursday, with a start time of 01:35 BST on Friday.
The upcoming match will mark a historic occasion for the competition, though it cannot undo what transpired at Lumen Field. Seattle opened its championship defence with a victory.
Seattle’s biggest uncertainty is whether Darnold will play, given his hip injury. Should he sit out, Lock steps in under centre. He has already proven capable of running a game, though the defence was the one doing most of the work.
The Seahawks will come away with the victory. They will come away with the early word on Darnold. And they will come away with the self-assurance that arrives from defeating a rival despite things going badly.
When the Patriots review the footage, they will see a game they handed over. They will spot a defence that failed to seal the contest. They will notice a quarterback who threw three interceptions in the last period.
The Bottom Line
The team that held the championship title enters with a perfect record of 1-0. The Patriots, meanwhile, sit at 0-1 after two games. The early stretch of the schedule has come to an end, and it’s clear which side made its case first.
The Seahawks’ defensive line showed it can still control the game, while Lock demonstrated his ability to fill in for a starter. Smith-Njigba, meanwhile, showed exactly why he earned the offensive player of the year award.
The Patriots showed they can still compete with anyone, yet they remain chasing the squad that defeated them in the championship game.
This time around, the outcome was identical to that earlier contest. Seattle discovered a path through, and New England will need to come up with solutions of its own.
The opening week has barely started, with the Rams and 49ers set to meet in Melbourne as the rest of the league gets its first look at the new season. On one night, though, the reigning champions proved they remain the team to catch.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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