Seattle’s 13–10 comeback: the four plays that changed the opener

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Seattle opened the 2026 season with a 13–10 win over New England at Lumen Field, but the final score hides how sharply the game changed after halftime.

The Patriots led 10–0 early in the third quarter. Seattle had already lost starting quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury on its opening possession. Drew Lock entered in relief, and the defending champions needed their defense to keep the game within reach while the offense reorganized.

That is exactly what happened. Seattle intercepted New England three times, Lock connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 45-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, and Josh Jobe sealed the result with an interception in the end zone.

Here are the four moments that best explain the comeback.

• Seattle survived the quarterback change

Darnold’s early exit forced Seattle to abandon the opening script almost immediately. Lock did not need to reproduce an entire starter’s game plan. His job was narrower: protect the ball, keep the offense on schedule and create enough explosive value to support the defense.

FOURTHWIRE ANALYSIS: The useful signal was not passing volume. It was composure after a first-drive disruption. Seattle avoided turning one injury into a sequence of hurried decisions, which allowed the game to remain one possession away.

• New England’s 10–0 advantage did not become separation

The Patriots scored on an E.J. Raridon touchdown reception from Drake Maye and added a 50-yard field goal from Andy Borregales. That established control, but New England never scored again.

Seattle’s defense limited the Patriots to 205 total net yards and created three takeaways. A 10-point lead is valuable; it is not decisive when the opponent continues winning possessions.

FOURTHWIRE ANALYSIS: New England’s central problem was conversion. The Patriots reached enough favorable situations to lead, but the offense did not create the second-half drive required to force Seattle away from a conservative recovery plan.

• One explosive play erased the structure of the game

Lock’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba tied the game at 10 in the fourth quarter. It was Seattle’s only touchdown, but it changed every remaining decision.

Before that play, the Seahawks needed both points and time. After it, field position and one defensive stop were enough to produce a winning opportunity.

FOURTHWIRE ANALYSIS: Explosive plays matter because they compress the field and the clock at the same time. Seattle did not need a long sequence of perfect offense. One clean connection converted a difficult comeback into a short-game contest.

• The final interception turned pressure into a result

Jason Myers’ 26-yard field goal gave Seattle a 13–10 lead. New England still had an opportunity to answer. Jobe’s interception in the end zone ended that opportunity and completed the comeback.

The play belongs in the same conversation as Seattle’s first two interceptions. The defense did not merely keep the score low; it repeatedly ended New England possessions without points.

FOURTHWIRE ANALYSIS: One Week 1 result should not become a season-long verdict. It does establish the first evidence. Seattle showed it can survive an abrupt quarterback change when its defense creates extra possessions. New England showed enough to build a lead, but not enough to protect it when the game shifted into late-down execution.

What comes next

Seattle’s immediate priority is Darnold’s health. Any projection about the Week 2 offense should wait for a confirmed medical update. New England’s review should focus on the three interceptions, the missing second-half scoring drive and the situations that allowed Seattle to stay within one explosive play.

The final score is confirmed. The longer-term meaning is not. Week 1 gives both teams a first piece of evidence—not a finished identity.

SOURCES

NFL Patriots–Seahawks game center: https://www.nfl.com/games/patriots-at-seahawks-2026-reg-1 Seattle Seahawks official rapid reactions: https://www.seahawks.com/news/rapid-reactions-seahawks-make-thrilling-comeback-win-over-new-england-to-open-the-season Seattle Seahawks official game center: https://www.seahawks.com/game-day/2026/reg-week1/seahawks-vs-patriots/ New England Patriots official game observations: https://www.patriots.com/news/game-observations-8-takeaways-from-the-patriots-loss-to-the-seahawks-in-week-1 New England Patriots official postgame quotes: https://www.patriots.com/news/new-england-patriots-postgame-quotes-9-9