NFL Kickoff Game: Winners, Losers from Seattle Seahawks’ Comeback Win Over New England Patriots

The 2026 NFL season kicked off on Wednesday night in fitting fashion, a Super Bowl rematch of the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks. A highly anticipated matchup did come with two devastating blows, as Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) and Patriots receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) both left the game with injuries that could impact each team moving forward.

For now, we will focus entirely on what happened in the Patriots vs. Seahawks game tonight. It was a defensive battle with points at a premium, as many anticipated, with both teams showing glimpses of what got them to the Super Bowl in February. Of course, tonight also showed the reasons why it will be difficult to get back there.

Let’s dive into our winners and losers from the NFL Kickoff Game, a comeback victory from the reigning Super Bowl champions that we certainly won’t forget.
, Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was blanketed in the Super Bowl by Christian Gonzalez, hauling in just 4 receptions for 27 receiving yards on 10 targets. After Darnold’s injury, there was all the more reason to assume the reigning Offensive Player of the Year would be completely shut down on Wednesday night. He was the lone bright spot in the passing game. Smith-Njigba’s 21-yard reception on 3rd-and-22 actually gave Seattle a chance to go for it on 4th-and-1 at midfield. Later in the game, JSN got open for a 6-yard reception on 3rd-and-5 that prevented New England from getting the football back to try and score a field goal before halftime. He wasn’t done coming up in the clutch. Trailing 10-7 early in the fourth quarter on 4th-and-1, JSN turned the quick conversion into a catch-and-run, 45-yard touchdown. Clutch catches and more than quadruple the amount of receiving yards that he had in the Super Bowl.
, New England Patriots Quarterback

Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images

Drake Maye was phenomenal in the 2025 regular season. It has been rough ever since. In his four playoff starts, Maye completed just 58.3 percent of his passes with 21 sacks taken, 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles lost. In many ways, New England reached the Super Bowl despite him. That gave the young quarterback an opportunity for revenge in the NFL Kickoff Game, a chance to exorcise his demons. Instead, Josh McDaniels seemingly did not trust Maye to throw it deep or make risky throws in the first three quarters with a conservative approach. What happened once Maye started throwing downfield? A pair of costly interceptions. Just when it seemed as if he might get some form of redemption on a potential game-tying drive, Maye put gift-wrapped the win and put a bow on it for Seattle with a dumbfounding throw off his back foot in the red zone that was intercepted for the dagger.

The third-year quarterback is still an outstanding player, but this five-game stretch with 7 interceptions while averaging under 6.8 yards per attempt with a sub-80 passer rating will raise more questions about whether his success last season was more so a result of an easy schedule.

• Drake Maye stats: 23-of-33, 178 passing yards, 5.4 yards per attempt, 1-3 TD-INT 3 sacks taken, 54.9 passer rating

Drake Maye stats: 23-of-33, 178 passing yards, 5.4 yards per attempt, 1-3 TD-INT 3 sacks taken, 54.9 passer rating
, Seattle Seahawks Linebacker

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

As we mentioned with Jobe, Darnold’s injury meant Seattle couldn’t afford to make any mistakes that would gift points to New England. With the team already trailing 7-0 and unable to get into Patriots territory, linebacker Chazz Surratt effectively put the Seahawks into an even deeper hole. Seattle’s defense got a big stop on 3rd-and-4 at the Patriots 48-yard line to force a punt, but Surratt came in too aggressively and drew a 15-yard penalty for roughing the punter. While New England only gained 5 yards on the next 3 plays, it was close enough for Andy Borregales to drill the 50-yard field goal to take a two-score lead in the third quarter. Thankfully for Surratt and Jobe, the rest of their teammates stepped up.

Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

In the Super Bowl, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald put on a coaching clinic and Josh McDaniels never had an answer for anything thrown at him. That was not the case on Wednesday night. While the Patriots offensive coordinator was certainly aided a bit by Seattle being without standout defensive back Nick Emmanwori, McDaniels still deserves credit for having all the answers to the blitzes the Seahawks threw at Drake Maye. The points and total yardage do not necessarily matter here as much as how the Patriots offense handled the blitzes and zone coverages which forced Macdonald to make adjustments. McDaniels was also proven right for seemingly putting kid gloves on Maye in the first half and he schemed up a good drive in the fourth quarter to tie it.
‘s Pass Protection

Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Will Campbell has had this Patriots vs. Seahawks matchup circled on his calendar for months. After a brutal showing in the Super Bowl, New England’s second-year left tackle demonstrated why the team never lost any faith in him being Drake Maye’s blindside protector. Campbell did not allow a single pressure in the first half, stonewalling everything the Seahawks’ front seven threw his way. New England’s offseason addition of left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and the quick game play-calling from McDaniels certainly helped and the fact that Campbell drew two costly penalties (illegal block in the back and holding) on run plays shows there’s still a ton of work he needs to do.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

There was immediately a bit of concern when quarterback Sam Darnold limped off the field after the first drive. That feeling in Seattle turned to panic when he was ruled out for the game with a hip injury and reportedly taken off-site for further examination. Right now, the Seahawks organization and fan base is holding its collective breath. As Wednesday night’s performance showed, this offense is a shell of its former self when Drew Lock is under center. As NBC noted, he has one of the lowest completion rates in the NFL since he entered the league and his decision-making with the football remains an issue If Darnold’s injury is serious. If you want to take the glass-half full perspective, the second-half comeback served as a reminder for how great this team can be simply because of its defense and JSN. So, good news on Darnold means a repeat is on the table.
, New England Patriots Wide Receiver

Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Patriots signed wide receiver Romeo Doubs to a $68 million contract this offseason, with $39 million total guaranteed, envisioning him as a high-end No. 2 receiver. Unfortunately for Doubs and the Patriots, he was thrust into becoming Maye’s go-to guy after Brown’s injury. The first target, admittedly a poorly thrown ball by Maye, was intercepted. He got a second chance on the very next drive, with Maye hitting a wide-open Doubs for a huge play…except Doubs turned his head upfield to run before completing the catch. Maye was picked off on the very next play, setting up Seattle’s go-ahead score.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This group did everything in its power to single-handedly beat New England again. The Patriots’ longest gain of the game came on Jobe’s DPI and that set up the touchdown a play later. Seattle’s defense was then tasked with having to keep it a one-score game and it succeeded until Surratt’s penalty on fourth down directly resulted in another 3 points for New England. Wednesday night also marked the 30th consecutive game that the Seahawks defense didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher and Rhamondre Stevenson didn’t even sniff 55 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Meanwhile, Nehemiah Pritchett‘s pick and 30-yard return provided a much-needed spark in the fourth quarter and ultimately helped set up the game-tying touchdown drive. On the very next series, Julian Love picked Maye off to set up the go-ahead field goal. This was truly another defensive clinic put on by Macdonald’s guys and it showcases why this team can still challenge for a winning record even if Drew Lock is the Seahawks starting quarterback moving forward. Also, once again kudos to this defense for beating the Patriots.