The New England Patriots scored the first touchdown of the NFL season courtesy of rookie tight end Eli Raridon.
It came on a two-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye that put the Patriots up 7-0 in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks.
This was the first breakthrough in a game that was mostly defensive in the first half. The touchdown score was aided by a 35-yard penalty on Seattle’s defense that came on a throw to star wideout A.J. Brown. From there, the Patriots were able to set up in the red zone and score the key points.
The drive itself took 10 plays, 77 yards, and 5:37 off the clock.
First NFL catch, first NFL TD @EliRaridon!!
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2026
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/M9ZmApdGAt
It was good for the Patriots to see the rookie involved early in Wednesday’s
game.
The Patriots need younger depth at the tight end position, and Raridon could be a major weapon for the future. The Notre Dame product has clearly gotten things started in the right direction.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Watch: Patriots rookie scores first NFL touchdown against Seahawks
