Patriots fall 13-10 to Seahawks in season opener rematch of Super Bowl

Seven months after losing to Seattle in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots opened their new season Wednesday night at Lumen Field with a shot at revenge. Instead, they walked away with another narrow defeat, dropping a 13-10 decision to the defending world champions in a game defined as much by injuries and mistakes as by highlights.

The game aired on NBC, part of the Comcast (CMCSA) portfolio whose broadcast and Peacock streaming platforms carry much of the NFL schedule. Comcast shares were trading at $24.59 in Thursday trading, down 6.61% from the prior close of $26.33, valuing the telecom and media giant at roughly $92.5 billion.

Darnold injury shifts the game

Seattle’s opening drive ended when offseason addition Dre’Mont Jones tracked down quarterback Sam Darnold for a 5-yard sack. The play seemed routine, but Darnold hurt his hip on the takedown and departed for the medical tent and later the locker room, never returning. Backup Drew Lock finished the game under center for the Seahawks.

Rookie tight end makes history

New England broke a defensive stalemate midway through the second quarter with a 10-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that converted three third downs. Drake Maye capped it with a 2-yard scoring strike to third-round rookie tight end Eli Raridon, who found himself wide open behind the Seattle defense. Raridon became the first Patriots player to catch a touchdown in his NFL debut since wide receiver Aaron Dobson in 2013.

Mistakes prove costly

Turnovers undermined New England’s momentum. A tipped pass was intercepted by Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, part of a stretch of sloppy complementary football that kept Seattle within reach despite the loss of its starting quarterback. Seattle sealed the outcome in the fourth quarter when Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run past Patriots safety Kevin Byard.

The loss drops New England to 0-1 in a season opener that carried extra emotional weight given February’s championship defeat, while Seattle — even with Lock at the controls — showed the depth that helped carry it to a title.

What to watch

• Injury updates on Sam Darnold’s hip and his availability for Seattle’s Week 2 matchup.
• Drake Maye’s development and whether the Patriots’ third-down efficiency carries over.
• Eli Raridon’s role in the offense after a record-tying debut.
• Upcoming quarterly results from Comcast, which will offer a read on NFL viewership and Peacock streaming engagement.

Source: original release