Patriots’ Season-Opening Fourth Quarter Was One the NFL Hasn’t Seen in Three Decades

The New England Patriots appeared to be cruising toward a Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, holding a 10-0 lead well into the second half while Seattle played without injured starting quarterback Sam Darnold. What followed in the fourth quarter, however, was a collapse statistically unlike anything the league has witnessed in 30 years.

Seattle first trimmed the deficit to 10-3 late in the third quarter, and then the game’s final period unraveled for New England in remarkable fashion. Per a possession-by-possession account of the quarter:

• Patriots: 6 plays, 23 yards, ending in an interception
• Seahawks: 5 plays, 67 yards, ending in a touchdown
• Patriots: 5 plays, 8 yards, ending in an interception
• Seahawks: 8 plays, 39 yards, ending in a field goal
• Patriots: 15 plays, 57 yards, ending in an interception

The last of those three picks came from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on a marathon 15-play drive that consumed five-and-a-half minutes and moved New England into position for a potential game-winning field goal.

Historically Bad Company

According to OptaSTATS, the Patriots became the only NFL team in the past three decades to throw three or more interceptions, allow three or more sacks, commit three or more penalties, and score zero points — all within a single quarter of a single game.

Seattle’s rally also came despite missing Darnold, who exited with a hip injury, making the Patriots’ late-game meltdown all the more striking.

Media and Market Context

Games of this profile draw outsized attention across the sports media ecosystem, which remains big business. The Walt Disney Company, whose entertainment portfolio includes ESPN and ABC — long the home of high-profile NFL broadcasts — saw its shares trade at $105.82, up 1.57% from a previous close of $104.18, valuing the company at roughly $181.8 billion. The Entertainment segment company’s sports division benefits directly from the audience spikes that dramatic finishes like Wednesday night’s tend to generate.

For New England, the loss converts a promising season opener into an early referendum on a young offense and its second-year quarterback.

What to watch

• Updates on Sam Darnold’s hip injury and his availability for Seattle’s next game
• Drake Maye’s status and any coaching-staff commentary on the late-game play calling
• New England’s upcoming schedule and whether the offensive issues carry into Week 2

Source: original release