The bad news for the Seattle Seahawks is that they have lost quarterback Sam Darnold for an undetermined length of time. The good news is the Super Bowl champions started the season in the win column with a 13-10 comeback over the New England Patriots (0-1). Despite having a banged up secondary missing Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada, the Seahawks defense still produced three Drake Maye interceptions in the final quarter, including a game-winning pick by Josh Jobe on a ball Maye should’ve never thrown.
Drew Lock once again has a game-winning drive in primetime, while “The Dark Side” once again reminded everyone of how dominant they are even when undermanned. Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored Seattle’s only touchdown on a 4th-and-1 throw from Lock, and even without Darnold for almost the whole game he still had 8 catches for 122 yards and a score.
Seahawks-Patriots 1st half recap
The first play-call of the season and therefore of Brian Fleury’s career as offensive coordinator was a 13-yard run by rookie running back Jadarian Price. Sam Darnold’s first pass was an over the middle throw to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for another 13 yards. An Eric Saubert false start penalty put them behind the sticks, and then a worrisome sight happened when Sam Darnold was sacked by former Seahawk Dre’Mont Jones and he limped off the field with a hip injury.
New England’s opening drive ended in a punt but nevertheless was briefly extended after Derick Hall committed a personal foul penalty by shoving Drake Maye when he was already out of bounds. Sending the house on Maye led to a throwaway on the next third down.
Drew Lock came in for Darnold but was predominantly handing the ball off, and nearly got intercepted by Christian Gonzalez early in the second quarter on an underthrown ball to Cooper Kupp.
The Patriots finally opened the scoring with a methodical 10-play, 77-yard drive. Multiple third-down conversions, including a pass interference on Josh Jobe when he was beaten on a flea-flicker by A.J. Brown. Drake Maye found a wide open Eli Raridon for the first touchdown of the season. The rookie tight end has his big moment.
Seattle’s sloppy penalties persisted on offense, pushing them into 3rd and 22. Drew Lock still threw a dime to JSN for 21.5 yards, setting up the Barnyard shove with A.J. Barner. The conversion was successful, but a mysterious offside penalty on the offense negated the conversion and led to another punt.
No further scoring happened in the half, but Darnold was ruled out with a hip injury.
Seahawks-Patriots 2nd half recap
The Patriots’ opening drive stalled out in Seahawks territory, but a Chazz Surratt roughing the punter infraction not only gifted New England a new set of downs, it set up an Andy Borregales 50-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0 Patriots.
Another Seahawks drive with Lock ended in a punt, but the Pats were backed up and went three-and-out. Jay Harbaugh forced a delay of game through showing punt block and limiting the number of gunners the Patriots could send down the field. He showed the same look again and Rashid Shaheed was able to at least get into New England territory on his return.
Faced with 3rd and short and maybe thinking about a long field goal or having to go for it on 4th, Drew Lock lofted a long throw to Cooper Kupp, who made a remarkable one-handed diving catch to set Seattle up in the red zone.
A touchdown to Kupp was taken away due to an illegal shift penalty, but it looked like Seattle also got away with a delay of game penalty so it shouldn’t have counted either way. Lock’s back-foot throw to JSN in the end zone was too long and Jason Myers had to come on for a 30-yard field goal. First attempt after a rough preseason? No problem. 10-3 Patriots.
Seattle could’ve used a stop when the Patriots were faced with 2nd and 19. A checkdown to Rhamondre Stevenson got a good chunk of yards, and a blitz by Mike Macdonald was burned when Pop Douglas caught a screen and gained 9 on 3rd and 8. Tough way to end the third quarter.
Great way to start the fourth, though! Rodney Thomas II and Nehemiah Pritchett combined for a huge turnover, with Thomas on the tip drill and Pritchett snagging his first career interception.
When Seattle was stuffed on 3rd and 1 with Emanuel Wilson, the Seahawks went for it on 4th and 1. Barnyard? Nope. Play-action pass to Smith-Njigba, who caught it and took off for the end zone. How about a 45-yard game-tying touchdown for Seattle’s first of the season? 10-10.
The Pats were backed up after a block in the back penalty on the rookie Gabe Jacas. Romeo Doubs had a huge play laid on a platter and he dropped the ball. That proved costly, as Drake Maye’s over the middle shot on 3rd and long was picked off by Julian Love! He was touched down at the Patriot 47, so no yardage on the return.
Drew Lock led Seattle into the red zone, but after scrambling for 14 yards on 2nd and 15 he committed a costly delay of game penalty. Back-to-back incomplete passes meant Jason Myers was tasked with another short field goal, which he converted from 26. 13-10 Seahawks with 5:50 to go.
Following a holding penalty, Leonard Williams sacked Drake Maye after initial pressure from Byron Murphy II. A long play to Mack Hollins turned 2nd and 21 into 3rd and 2. In a big decision, Mike Vrabel went for it on 4th and 2 and Maye scrambled for a first down. An ineligible man downfield was induced thanks to Dante Fowler Jr blowing up an Eli Raridon screen. A throw out to Lan Larison went for a loss of two thanks to Josh Jobe. After the two-minute warning and a 10-yard gain by Hunter Henry, the Pats went for it on 4th and 9 in Seattle territory. Mack Hollins was wide open for a first down as Ernest Jones IV was late on the rotation.
On 3rd and 1 with :44 left, the Patriots called timeout to talk it over. Drake Maye converted on the naked bootleg for another first down. Derick Hall pressured Maye, who was sacked by DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II. Maye with another completion to set up 3rd and manageable. Just don’t throw it in harm’s way and a field goal attempt is secured…. DRAKE MAYE JUST THREW THE GAME AWAY TO JOSH JOBE! SEAHAWKS WIN! 13-10 Seahawks FINAL.
Seahawks injury report
- QB Sam Darnold injured his hip in the first quarter and was ruled out before halftime. Drew Lock replaced him for the rest of the night.
- EDGE Uchenna Nwosu was pulled out of the game for a possible concussion while chasing down Drake Maye in the fourth quarter.
Full Seahawks-Patriots box score
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks have a mini-bye before a road game against the Arizona Cardinals (0-0) on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:25 pm PT on FOX.
