Patriots vs. Seahawks live updates: Score, news, discussion from Week 1
Coming off a loss in Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots spent their offseason overhauling a roster that led them to a conference title but that ultimately over-performed in 2025. So, in order to establish themselves as a true powerhouse in the league rather than a one-hit wonder, Mike Vrabel and company invested serious resources - from high-profile free agency signings, to draft investments, to one of the biggest trades in recent franchise history.
Training camp and to a lesser degree preseason already allowed for some first insight into the new-look Patriots' progress in Year 2 under Vrabel. However, the overall stakes were still relatively minimal throughout the summer.
On Wednesday night, all of that changes. In a rematch of said Super Bowl, the Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks to kickstart the 2026 NFL regular season.
Live score: Patriots 10 : 13 SeahawksWednesday, Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA |Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster
First QuarterStarting the game on defense after winning the coin toss, the Patriots surrendered back-to-back first downs to open the game. However, aided by a subsequent false start penalty against the Seahawks, the unit eventually got off the field thanks to a Dre'Mont Jones sack on third down - a play that forced Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold to take a trip to the blue medical tent.
The Patriots offense opened deep in its own territory, but a 10-yard Drake Maye scramble gave the unit some breathing room and moved the chains for a first time. It would have remained New England's only first down of the series if not for a late hit on Maye following another rushing attempt on a 3rd-and-5. The team was unable to capitalize on the Seattle error, however, and was forced to punt after Maye was pressured into throwing incomplete on the next third down.
The next drive saw a change at quarterback for the Seahawks. With Darnold heading to the locker room due to a hip injury he sustained on the opening series, backup Drew Lock entered the contest. Seattle's offense did manage one first down on Lock's first possession, but stalled when Christian Elliss met running back George Holaniin the hole and short of the line to gain on a 3rd-and-2 rushing attempt.
New England's second offensive series saw Drake Maye's first pass completions of the night to Mack Hollins and A.J. Brown, respectively. However, the momentum built by those plays was not sustained and the Patriots eventually had to punt after Rhamondre Stevenson was tackled for a loss on a 3rd-and-1 carry.
Second quarterThe defensive battle continued into the second quarter. Seattle gained one first down on its third drive, but had to punt the ball away after a Drew Lock throw on third down came close to being picked off by Christian Gonzalez.
Their third drive was one of multiple firsts for the Patriots. They converted their first third downs of the game on throws to DeMario Douglas and A.J. Brown, and they moved into Seattle territory for the first time on the day. Most importantly, they scored their first points: after a pass interference penalty drawn by Brown on a flea-flicker, Maye hit a wide-open Eli Raridon for a touchdown. | Patriots 7, Seahawks 0
First NFL catch, first NFL TD @EliRaridon!!
- New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2026
NBC pic.twitter.com/M9ZmApdGAt
The Patriots' rookies began leaving their mark in the second quarter. After the Eli Raridon touchdown on the previous drive, fellow draft pick Gabe Jacas registered his first career sack the next series: he took down Drew Lock on a second-effort play for a loss of 7 yards. Seattle nearly dug itself out of a 3rd-and-22 hole thanks to a 21-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but an offsides penalty on the ensuing 4th-and-1 prompted yet another. Seahawks punt.
The Patriots continued to find some offensive success on their first drive after the Raridon touchdown, but they were unable to sustain it. Despite returning into Seahawks territory thanks to a third-down conversion to A.J. Brown and another Drake Maye scramble, the series eventually ended in Mitch Wishnowsky's third punt of the night.
Seattle didn't do anything with the ensuing possession to close out the first half.
Third quarterThe Patriots' first drive of the second half was halted after an incompletion on third down intended for A.J. Brown. That was not the biggest problem, though: the offseason trade acquisition remained on the ground after hurting his ankle while trying to make the catch; he limped off the field and into the blue medical tent; he later left for the locker room and was ruled out. In the meantime, New England was gifted a fresh set of downs after Seattle made contact with Mitch Wishnowsky on a punting attempt. The team took advantage, adding three points to its total on a 50-yard Andy Borregales field goal. | Patriots 10, Seahawks 0
Now defending a 10-point lead, the Patriots defense continued to put the straps on Seattle's Drew Lock-led offense. Gabe Jacas added a tackle for loss, while Dre'Mont Jones pressured Lock into a short throw on third down. The Michael Dickson punt that followed was a good one, however, and pinned New England at its own 6-yard line.
Backed up deep in their own territory, the Patriots opened their next drive with a 2-yard loss on a Rhamondre Stevenson carry. A pair of short completions did not salvage the possession, and New England was forced to punt. The 46-yard kick was accompanied by a 9-yard return, allowing the Seahawks to take over on the Patriots' 43-yard line.
Starting out from a favorable field position, the Seahawks marched deep into the Patriots red zone in part due to an impressive Cooper Kupp grab over tight coverage from Marcus Jones. It appeared that they scored their first touchdown shortly thereafter, but an illegal motion penalty negated the score and ultimately prompted Mike Macdonald to send his field goal crew onto the field for a 30-yard kick. | Patriots 10, Seahawks 3
The Patriots started their next drive behind the chains due to a Morgan Moses false start, but managed to make up the lost yardage and more on a 17-yard swing pass to Rhamondre Stevenson. Another big play - a screen to DeMario Douglas to convert a 3rd-and-8 - closed out the third quarter with New England in possession of the ball at the Seattle 46-yard line.
Fourth quarterThe fourth quarter started in unfortunate fashion for the Patriots. Attempting a deep shot intended for a double-covered Romeo Doubs, Drake Maye's pass popped into the air only to be intercepted by Seattle's Nehemiah Pritchett. The pick and subsequent return allowed the home team to take over at its own 33-yard line.
The Seahawks moved the chains to start their next drive, but New England's defense set up a 4th-and-1 after a Milton Williams run stuff. However, the Patriots defense fell hard for a run fake on that play, allowing Jaxon Smith-Njigba to get wide open behind. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year caught Drew Lock's pass uncontested, and quickly turned up field to tie the game on a 45-yard catch-and-run. | Patriots 10, Seahawks 10
New England responded to the Seahawks touchdown with two good runs by Rhamondre Stevenson, but followed those up with three bad plays. First, a Stevenson run for a loss of 4 yards. Next, a bad drop by a wide open Romeo Doubs that would have turned a 2nd-and-14 into a fresh set of downs. Finally, Drake Maye getting picked off again while trying to hit DeMario Douglas over the middle. Instead of the Patriots putting the pressure back on, Seattle took over at the Patriots 47-yard line with a chance to take its first lead of the night.
Just like they did after the first interception, the Seahawks were able to get some points out of the second Drake Maye pick. Chunk passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp quickly allowed the team to drive into the New England red zone. The Patriots started showing some resistance at that point, particularly in the form of their best player, Christian Gonzalez, breaking up a slant intended for JSN. However, a 26-yard field goal still allowed Seattle to take the lead with 5:50 left in the game. | Patriots 10, Seahawks 13
The Patriots offense moved backwards to start its next drive. A Will Campbell holding penalty and quick loss by Alijah Vera-Tucker for a sack put the unit into a 2nd-and-21 situation. A deep pass to Mack Hollins brought back some of the lost yardage, but an incompletion intended for Romeo Doubs set up a 4th-and-2. Once again, however, Drake Maye used his legs to find space, moving the chains on a 5-yard scramble. The conversion only temporarily stopped the bleeding, though; the unit continued to struggle putting positive plays together and ultimately couldn't keep the drive alive on a 3rd-and-19 - setting up a 4th-and-9 right inside the two-minute warning.
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