Defending champions the Seattle Seahawks mounted a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the New England Patriots 13-10 in the opening game of the NFL season, marking the first Super Bowl rematch to launch a campaign in a decade.
The Seahawks' renowned defence, famously called 'the Dark Side' for their dominant Super Bowl performance, proved decisive once again. After losing quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury on the opening drive, Seattle's secondary stepped up to claim three interceptions in the final quarter at Lumen Field, ultimately securing the victory.
According to reports from the game, Darnold was sacked by Dre'Mont Jones on the play that caused his injury, completing just one of two passes for 13 yards on his only drive before being ruled out. ESPN noted that Darnold landed on his right knee as he was hit from behind, then limped into the locker room as Seattle prepared its second possession. The team initially listed him as questionable to return before officially ruling him out just before halftime.
New England dominated the opening half, establishing a 10-0 lead with rookie tight end Eli Raridon scoring the season's first touchdown in the second quarter. The Patriots' early control appeared to have the defending champions in trouble, but the Seahawks' defensive reputation would soon reassert itself.
How did Seattle mount its comeback?
Back-up quarterback Drew Lock ignited the Seahawks' offence late in the third quarter, with kicker Jason Myers narrowing the deficit with a field goal. The turning point came at the start of the fourth quarter when cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett claimed his first career interception after a Drake Maye pass was deflected by rookie Rodney Thomas.
On the ensuing possession, Lock found wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in space, and last season's offensive player of the year charged through the Patriots defence for a 45-yard touchdown that gave Seattle its first lead. Julian Love then intercepted Maye on New England's next drive, setting up Myers for a 26-yard field goal that extended the Seahawks' advantage.
What sealed the victory?
New England had one final opportunity with 21 seconds remaining and were well within field-goal range, but head coach Mike Vrabel's team chose to pursue victory rather than force overtime. The gamble proved costly as Maye's pass towards Mack Hollins was intercepted by Josh Jobe in the end zone, ending the game.
Maye's three interceptions marked only the second time in his career he had thrown multiple picks in a single game, with the previous instance occurring in the Super Bowl. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged the performance, saying:
You can't throw three interceptions. Drake knows that.
Maye reflected on his final interception, calling it
unacceptableand adding:
We could have sent it to overtime at the worst, and the only thing I could do was turn the ball over.
What is Darnold's status going forward?
Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said initial tests showed Darnold had not fractured his hip. However, according to reports from the Lethbridge Herald, further MRI testing was planned to determine the full extent of the injury. Darnold was scheduled for an MRI on Thursday, 10 September 2026, to clarify his status for upcoming games. The loss of the reigning Super Bowl-winning quarterback represents a significant blow to Seattle's title defence.
What's next in the NFL season?
Week one continues with the league's first regular-season game in Australia. The Los Angeles Rams meet the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne on Friday, 11 September 2026 at 01:35 BST, with the match taking place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Key Facts:
- The Seahawks defeated the Patriots 13-10 in a Super Bowl rematch, the first season opener featuring a rematch of the previous year's championship in 10 years
- Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury on Seattle's opening drive and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, with further testing scheduled
- Drake Maye threw three interceptions, matching his only other multi-interception game from the Super Bowl
- The Seahawks' defence recorded three fourth-quarter interceptions to secure the comeback victory
- The NFL's first regular-season game in Australia features the Rams and 49ers in Melbourne on Friday
