Patriots Concern in Seattle: Brown Injury and Maye Interceptions
Before the Patriots took the field against the Seahawks in the NFL Kickoff game, they had to deal with something that few NFL teams deal with in opening games: watching the opposing team raise a Super Bowl banner as losers of the Super Bowl.
The Patriots stop Sam Darnold on the Seahawks first drive. The Patriots were unable to score on their first drives. Darnold of the Seahawks was injured on the first Seahawks drive and backup quarterback Drew Lock had to come in for the Seahawks. Darnold would be out for the rest of the game with a hip injury. Seahawks were unable to produce points. Seahawks fans are now nervous without their starting quarterback in the game. It looks grim as he went to the locker room. Patriots were unable to score on their third drive. The 1st quarter ended with no points but concern for Seattle.
Seahawks did not score on Lock’s second drive. Patriots score on a clever pass interference penalty and Eli Raridon gets the Pats and the NFL’s first touchdown of the 2026-27 season. The extra point makes it 7-0. Patriots’ defense almost gave up a drive involving a 3rd and 22. But an offside on 4th and inches by the Seahawks save them. Recently acquired AJ Brown for the Patriots has proven to be a key factor in the game so far. It will be 7-0 at halftime.
Patriots’ 1st drive in the second half stall, but Seahawks ran into the Pats kicker and the Patriots drive was extended. Brown injured his ankle on the drive much to the concern of the Patriots and was ruled out of the rest of the game as he slowly went to the locker room. Patriots got a field goal on the drive to make it 10-0 over the Seahawks. Patriots’ defense holds against Seattle offense on Lock’s first third quarter drive. Patriots went three and out on their next drive. Patriots almost gave up a touchdown but an illegal shift was called on the Seahawks and instead Seattle gets a field goal to make it 10-3 Patriots.
The Patriots begin the 4th quarter with the ball and as the game was going into crunch time. Drake Maye did a terrible interception to end the drive. Patriots blow the lead as a result of Maye’s interception and give up the touchdown to make it 10-10. Doubs struggles to catch the ball on the next drive on an easy pass. Maye panicked and threw another interception. Patriots are imploding as they have given up another field goal to make it 13-10 Seattle.
Patriots were unable to do anything on the final drive as the Seahawks did the same blitzes that plague the Patriots in the Super Bowl last season. Maye threw his third interception when they could have run the ball for a field goal to tie the game Patriots would lose the game 13-10.
With Brown out for an undetermined period of time, the Patriots lacking maturity from last season’s Super Bowl, and Maye continuing to throw interceptions like he did last season, it could be a long season for Pats fans. This game could be the beginning of the end for Maye being starting quarterback for the Patriots if he cannot shake his interception habits as this blown loss rests on his and Doubs’ shoulders. Furthermore, with the next NFL Draft having top tier quarterbacks unlike last year, the Patriots front office may not want to pass up on this opportunity if the season takes a downward turn.