Patriots Open 2026 Season With Loss to Seahawks as Maye’s Fourth Quarter Unravels

New England’s bid for early-season revenge fell short Wednesday night, as the Patriots dropped their 2026 opener 13-10 to Seattle in a rematch of Super Bowl 60. The game aired on NBC, part of Comcast’s media portfolio — Comcast shares closed at $24.59, down 6.61% from the prior close of $26.33, valuing the media and telecom company at roughly $92.5 billion.

Seattle’s night took a difficult turn early when starting quarterback Sam Darnold exited with a hip injury on the opening drive. Backup Drew Lock steadied the offense after halftime, directing three scoring drives as the Seahawks erased a 10-0 deficit.

Defense Carries New England; Offense Falters Late

The Patriots’ defense largely did its job, keeping Seattle off the scoreboard until a 30-yard Jason Myers field goal late in the third quarter. New England held the Seahawks to 13 first downs and 285 total yards, giving the offense ample opportunity to close out the win.

Two rookies delivered promising debuts. Second-round pick Gabe Jacas, out of Illinois, registered a sack and two tackles for loss, while third-rounder Eli Raridon from Notre Dame caught his first NFL touchdown, a red-zone score that underscored his potential as a target in scoring situations.

The story of the night, however, was quarterback Drake Maye’s second-half collapse. After a composed first half, Maye threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, with the final turnover coming while New England was in field goal range — a mistake that likely cost the Patriots a chance to force overtime. Wide receiver A.J. Brown also had a quiet outing, finishing with three catches on four targets for 26 yards, though he drew a penalty on a flea-flicker near the goal line.

What to watch

• Updates on Sam Darnold’s hip injury and his availability for Seattle’s next game.
• How New England’s coaching staff responds to Maye’s late-game turnovers in Week 2.
• Additional rookie contributions from Jacas and Raridon as the season progresses.
• Comcast’s next quarterly earnings report and any commentary on NBC’s NFL viewership.

Source: original release