Few are giving the New England Patriots a legitimate shot at rolling into Lumen Field and upsetting the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of the regular season.
However, the defending AFC champions are capable of providing a bigger threat to the defending Super Bowl champions than initially expected. Granted, they'll have to avoid the same pitfalls that got them blown out at Super Bowl LX.
The offensive line has to protect better, Drake Maye has to limit the turnovers and the defense can't allow themselves to get gashed so easily on the ground. If the Patriots manage to play sound, fundamental football on Wednesday night, they'll have a better shot than most think.
Here are three reasons why the Patriots could upset the Seahawks in the season opener:
Seahawks might be vulnerable in defensive backfield
Seahawks safety Ty Okada has already been ruled out for the game, and Nick Emmanwori, a huge piece to the defensive puzzle for Seattle, is questionable with an ankle injury. Emmanwori hasn't practiced fully in training camp, and it would be asking a lot for him to be game ready in this matchup.
Not to mention, the Seahawks also lost safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Riq Woolen in the offseason. The weakened depth on the back end is tough when going up against a revamped Patriots offense with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs at wide receiver. And everyone knows how much Maye loves to push the ball downfield. If Emmanwori can't go, it is going to create a real problem for the Seahawks in this matchup.
New offensive coordinator for Seahawks
With Klint Kubiak taking the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seahawks will be depending on first-year offensive playcaller, Brian Fleury. That creates all kinds of questions for the team heading into the season, especially in the first game on the schedule.
There is an acclimation period that can't be replicated in the preseason or during training camp. Fleury is being thrown right into the fire against a tough Patriots defense. Also, how will not having Kubiak impact Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold? The NFL world saw the best version of Darnold last season when he was paired with Kubiak.
Patriots fans know more than most how important an offensive coordinator can be for a football team. Their offense has looked like a day-and-night comparison with Josh McDaniels than without him.
How will the Seahawks and Darnold look without Kubiak?
Timing and circumstance on Patriots' side
If the Patriots were ever going to upset the Seahawks, their best chance of doing so would be in Week 1. Like every NFL team, the Seahawks are still trying to figure things out, and it makes them susceptible to slipping at home.
The Patriots will enter Seattle with a bevy of offensive weapons and an improved offensive line. They also have a talented young quarterback expected to experience another significant jump in Year 3. Make no mistake, the Seahawks are still a talented football team, but given the injuries and roster losses, they face a significant challenge with the Patriots on Wednesday night.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 3 reasons Patriots could upset the Seahawks in season opener
