Seattle Seahawks Hold Off Visiting New England Patriots 13-10 In Super Bowl Rematch, NFL Regular Season Opener: Late End Zone Interception Sends Pats Home 0-1

In a bruising defensive battle that mirrored the intensity of their championship clash seven months ago, the Seattle Seahawks kicked off their title defense with a gritty 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots at a raucous Lumen Field on Wednesday night.

The highly anticipated 2026 NFL regular season opener quickly devolved into a war of attrition, marked by costly turnovers and devastating early injuries to key stars on both sides of the ball. Ultimately, it was Seattle’s opportunistic defense and the steady hand of a backup quarterback that made the difference.

Early Disaster, Patriots Strike First

The festive atmosphere in Seattle turned hushed on the game’s opening drive. Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold was forced out of the game with a hip injury and did not return. Shortly after, the Patriots suffered a major blow of their own when superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown limped off the field with an ankle injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the contest.

New England capitalized on the initial shock, stifling the Seattle offense under backup quarterback Drew Lock. Patriots signal-caller Drake Maye orchestrated a methodical attack, finding Eli Raridon for a touchdown to break the ice. A booming 50-yard field goal by kicker Andres Borregales extended New England’s lead to 10-0, silencing the home crowd.

The Tide Turns

Seattle’s defense refused to let the game slip away, clamping down on Maye and forcing a total of three interceptions on the night. The turning point came early in the fourth quarter. With New England clinging to their lead, Seattle cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett picked off an errant Maye pass, shifting the momentum entirely.

Lock, settling into the rhythm of the game, seized the moment. Moments after the turnover, he launched a brilliant 45-yard touchdown strike to a streaking Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who evaded the Patriots’ secondary to tie the game at 10-10. Smith-Njigba was the undisputed star of the Seahawks’ aerial attack, racking up 122 yards on 8 receptions.

Jobe Puts A Fork In It–And Keeps His Feet In-bounds

Trailing 13-10 in the final minute, the Patriots were driving down the field and looked poised to at least get into range for a game-tying field goal attempt by Andy Borregales.

On a critical decision, Drake Maye attempted to loft a pass directly into the end zone. But Seattle’s Josh Jobe leaped into the air, snared the football, and artfully managed to tap both feet in bounds to secure the turnover.

This marked Maye’s third interception on consecutive second-half possessions, shutting the door on New England’s comeback and allowing Seattle to run out the clock for the 13-10 victory.

Box Score Summary