Seahawks Rally Past Patriots 13-10 in NFL Season Opener

BBC Sport reported that the defending champion Seattle Seahawks came from behind to beat the New England Patriots 13-10 at Lumen Field in the opening game of the NFL season. The matchup was the first season opener in 10 years to feature a rematch of the previous Super Bowl, which Seattle had also won behind a dominant defensive performance.

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Seattle faced immediate trouble when starting quarterback Sam Darnold sustained a hip injury on the opening drive. New England built a 10-0 advantage, with rookie tight end Eli Raridon scoring the season's first touchdown during the second quarter. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald later said initial tests indicated that Darnold had not fractured his hip.

Backup quarterback Drew Lock began moving the Seattle offense late in the third quarter, when Jason Myers put the Seahawks on the scoreboard with a field goal. The defense then created the first of its three decisive fourth-quarter turnovers. Nehemiah Pritchett recorded the first interception of his career after rookie Rodney Thomas deflected a pass from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

On Seattle's next possession, Lock found Jaxon Smith-Njigba in space. Smith-Njigba, named the NFL's offensive player of the year last season, ran through the New England defense for a 45-yard touchdown that erased the Patriots' remaining advantage and brought Seattle level.

Julian Love intercepted Maye on New England's following possession, and Myers converted a 26-yard field goal to put Seattle ahead. The Patriots still drove within field-goal range with 21 seconds remaining, but they pursued a winning touchdown instead of attempting to force overtime. Maye sent a pass toward Mack Hollins in the end zone, where Seattle cornerback Josh Jobe intercepted it to close the game.

All three of Maye's interceptions came on New England's final three possessions. According to BBC Sport, the only game in which he threw multiple interceptions last season was the Super Bowl against Seattle. The Seahawks' late defensive response therefore decided another low-scoring meeting with the Patriots, while Lock steadied the offense after Darnold's early departure.