Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury in the first offensive series for the Seattle Seahawks. A promising day of hope and optimism quickly turned to despair. The Seahawks defense gave the 12’s hope with aggressive play that kept Drake Maye and the Patriots offense at bay. Strong play from the interior defensive line kept the Patriots offense off the board. The Seahawks offense also struggled with the quarterback change.
The first quarter was a stalemate as both teams struggled to execute on third down. The teams were a combined 0-5 on third down. The Patriots were 0-3, and the Seahawks were 0-2.
SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS
Part of the Seahawks’ struggles came from self-inflicted wounds on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks’ inability to get off the field on third down led to the Patriots’ lone touchdown of the game. On their third offensive possession, the Patriots faced a third-and-two from the Seahawks’ 36-yard line. A cleverly executed flea-flicker saw Maye’s underthrown pass to AJ Brown draw a roughing-the-passer penalty on Josh Jobe.
The spot foul moved the ball to the Seahawks’ two-yard line. On the next play, Maye lofted the ball to the back of the end zone to a wide-open Eli Raridon, and the Patriots took an early 7-0 lead.
The offense also committed cardinal sins. On its next offensive possession, head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Brian Fluery went for it on 4th and 1 at the Patriots’ 46-yard line. The tush push featuring TE AJ Barner gained the necessary yardage for the first down. The play was called back for offside, and the Seahawks punted the ball back to the Patriots.
DEFENSE HOLDS
The Seahawks defense continued to bend but did not break and shut down the Patriots offense on its next possession. The Patriots’ eight-play drive ended when Ernest Jones tackled Rhamondre Steven after a two-yard gain on third and five. The Patriots punted the ball back to the Seahawks offense, which couldn’t move the ball as the half ended.
PATRIOTS ADD TO THEIR LEAD
Maye and the Patriots started the second half with the ball and built some momentum. The Patriots added to their lead on another self-inflicted wound by the Seahawks. After an incomplete pass by Maye on third and four, the Seahawks were penalized for roughing the kicker on fourth down. Two plays later, Andy Borregales booted a 50-yard field goal to extend the Patriots’ lead to 10-0.
OFFENSE FINDS SOME MOMENTUM
The Seahawks offense finally found some momentum on its second possession of the half. Lock found his passing rhythm and lofted a ball downfield, which was hauled in with one hand by Cooper Kupp for a 24-yard gain on third and four. Two plays later, Lock connected with Kupp on a seven-yard touchdown pass, but it was called back for an illegal shift. The Seahawks settled for a Jason Myers 31-yard field goal.
WILD AND CRAZY FOURTH QUARTER
The Seahawks defense turned up the intensity, resulting in an interception by Nehemia Pritchett. With the crowd back in the game and momentum on its side, the Seahawks offense hit paydirt and tied the game. On fourth and one from the Patriots’ 45-yard line, Lock lofted a pass to Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who turned on the turbo boosters and sprinted 45 yards for the touchdown. Myers made good on the extra point, and the teams were deadlocked.
ANOTHER INTERCEPTION
With the crowd yelling at the top of its lungs, high-fiving each other, and making noise any way it could, the atmosphere became unbearable for Maye, who was hounded and harassed by the Seahawks defense. The result was another Seahawks interception. Julian Love stepped in front of Maye’s pass intended for Patriots receiver DeMario Douglas. The Seahawks took the lead for good on Myers’ 26-yard field goal. The third and final interception was by Josh Jobe. With 26 left in the game and the Patriots at the Seahawks’ 16-yard line, Jobe picked off a Maye pass intended for Mack Hollis in the right corner of the Seahawks’ end zone.
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