SEATTLE – The rematch of a largely non-competitive Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots turned out to be arguably worse – if at least much closer – as a season-opening kickoff game as the NFL began its 2026 season on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The Seattle Seahawks prevailed 13-10 in a largely ragged game at Lumen Field that also saw both teams lose star players to injuries. But at least the Seahawks emerged unscathed in the loss column as they attempt to navigate what projects as a very competitive NFC.
Your winners and losers, beyond the scoreboard, from the first of the league’s 285 games this season:
WINNERS
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year catalyzed a stagnant Seattle offense with his game-tying 45-yard touchdown catch
in the fourth quarter, JSN doing most of the work while weaving through New England’s defense after catching a short pass just beyond the line of scrimmage from QB2 Drew Lock. With eight catches for 122 yards, Smith-Njigba was really the only offensive player who made a major impact on the night.
THERE GOES JSN
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2026
NEvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/SIt21pDRO8
The Khosla family
Hours before kickoff, the new owners of the Seahawks – after spending a league record $9.6 billion to purchase the franchise – met with reporters, excited to take the reins of the defending Super Bowl champions and eager to engage with the team’s legendary fan base.
“I never realized how popular of a brand the 12s are,” said Vinod Khosla, the family’s patriarch. “(W)e are excited for Seattle. The biggest impression was Lumen Field as an iconic venue, the loudness, how exciting and energetic it was, and of course the 12s.”
Jadarian Price
The final first-round pick of this year’s draft had a rather enticing debut for Seattle while essentially taking over for departed Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III. Price flashed with several long gainers on his way to 52 yards on just 10 carries. Good case to be made that he should be a bigger component of Seattle’s offensive gameplan moving forward.
12s
The Seahawks fans were in full throat early in the night as the team’s second Super Bowl banner took its place in Lumen Field’s rafters – and after their beloved team won the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium, home of the archrival San Francisco 49ers. And though they didn't have much to cheer about in the first half, they liked the final outcome.
Mike McCready
Gotta have some grunge when you’re in the Emerald City, right? Pearl Jam’s extraordinary guitarist delivered a rousing rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before kickoff, one that doubtless would have made fellow local legend Jimi Hendrix proud. “Authentically Seattle,” said NBC play-by-play man Mike Tiricio. Indeed.
Guitarist from Pearl Jam, Mike McCready, performs the The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of the NFL's opening game in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/lqMFW50rns
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 10, 2026
A.J. Brown
The three-time Pro Bowler and former co-captain of the Philadelphia Eagles made his Patriots debut and had an instant impact following his offseason acquisition. Brown got behind the defense on a second-quarter flea flicker and drew a 34-yard pass interference on an underthrown pass from Maye to set up New England’s only touchdown.
LOSERS
A.J. Brown
He left the game in the third quarter, hobbled by an ankle injury that left New England – which was also without RB TreVeyon Henderson (inactive with his own ankle injury) – without the player most able to dictate defensive coverages. He finished with three catches (on four targets) for 26 yards and left the Pats offense powerless to do much.
Sam Darnold
Seattle’s QB1 lasted only five plays before a hip injury suffered on a sack by former Seahawk Dre’Mont Jones knocked him out of the game. Now a two-time Pro Bowler after throwing 60 TD passes over the course of the 2024 and ’25 seasons – and the first quarterback of the vaunted 2018 draft class to lift the Lomardi Trohy – Darnold’s absence clearly had a cascading effect on an offense that posted just 120 yards and nary a point in the first half before finally finding some traction after halftime.
Drake Maye
Ugh. Rough night for the quarterbacks, last year's runner-up for league MVP served up three second-half interceptions, including into the end zone on New England's final offensive snap with the Patriots driving for a potential game-winning touchdown. After helping craft a 10-0 lead, Maye was also largely responsible for a team that was outscored 13-0 after that point.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners and losers from the Seahawks win over Patriots in NFL opener
