The Seattle Seahawks opened their season with a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Wednesday night, a game decided on the final play when cornerback Josh Jobe intercepted Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the end zone.
Maye had driven New England into scoring range, converting a fourth-and-9 to set up a potential game-tying or go-ahead field goal with under a minute left. But on third-and-5 from Seattle’s 16-yard line, he scrambled right and, rather than throwing the ball away or running out of bounds, threw up a jump-ball pass toward Mack Hollins in the end zone. Jobe made an acrobatic, both-feet-in-bounds catch to end the game.
Maye finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards and one touchdown, a pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon that was the first touchdown of the NFL season. He also threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter alone, two of which set up Seattle scoring opportunities before the final one ended the game.
Seattle’s night got complicated early when starting quarterback Sam Darnold was hurt on a first-quarter sack by Dre’Mont Jones, landing awkwardly on his knee. He went to the medical tent, tried to return, then was ruled out for the rest of the game. Backup Drew Lock took over and went 16 of 22 for 187 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.
Lock’s touchdown came on a fourth-and-1 pass play that caught the Patriots off guard. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, last season’s Offensive Player of the Year, was left wide open and turned the short pass into a 45-yard touchdown, tying the game after New England had taken the lead. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 122 yards.
Maye’s first interception came on a deep pass intended for new Patriots receiver Romeo Doubs, picked off by Nehemiah Pritchett. His second came when veteran safety Julian Love jumped a route intended for Pop Douglas, setting up good field position that Seattle turned into a Jason Myers 26-yard field goal — the eventual game-winning points.
Patriots receiver A.J. Brown, acquired this offseason in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, left the game with an ankle injury after catching three passes for 26 yards in his Patriots debut.
Seattle improved to 1-0 to open the season. The Seahawks are expected to learn more about the severity of Darnold’s knee injury in the coming days, a significant concern given his role as the team’s starting quarterback.
