Patriots Squander 10-Point Lead In Crushing Loss To Seahawks image
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The New England Patriots could not have asked for a much better start Wednesday night in Seattle.
The finish was an entirely different story.
New England surrendered 13 unanswered points and committed multiple costly turnovers in the fourth quarter, allowing the Seahawks to escape with a 13-10 victory. The loss was especially disappointing because Seattle played almost the entire game without starting quarterback Sam Darnold and the Patriots once held a 10-0 lead. Darnold injured his hip after taking a sack from former Patriots defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones on Seattle’s opening possession. Drew Lock replaced Darnold and ultimately guided the Seahawks’ comeback, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots Build Early Advantage
New England’s defense took advantage of Seattle’s quarterback change during a scoreless first quarter, and Drake Maye gave the Patriots the lead in the second.
Maye completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon, giving Raridon a memorable first NFL reception. The Patriots carried their 7-0 advantage into halftime after keeping both Darnold and Lock off the scoreboard.
Andy Borregales extended the lead with a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter. At that point, New England held a double-digit advantage and appeared positioned to open its season with an impressive road victory.
The Patriots’ night took a concerning turn when A.J. Brown injured his right ankle early in the second half. Brown, who recorded three receptions for 26 yards, was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
MORE: A.J. Brown Injury Update: Patriots WR Exits Game vs. Seahawks With Ankle Issue
Fourth-Quarter Turnovers Fuel Seahawks Comeback
Seattle finally broke through with a Jason Myers field goal, but the Patriots still entered the fourth quarter leading 10-3.
That advantage quickly disappeared.
Maye threw an interception deep in Seattle territory, wasting an opportunity to restore New England’s two-score lead. Lock responded by leading the Seahawks on a 67-yard touchdown drive, which Jaxon Smith-Njigba completed with a 45-yard scoring reception.
Smith-Njigba was Seattle’s most dangerous offensive weapon, catching eight passes for 122 yards.
Another Patriots turnover helped Seattle move into position for Myers’ go-ahead 26-yard field goal with 5:50 remaining. New England mounted one final threat but came away empty, completing a frustrating collapse after controlling most of the night. The Patriots’ defense did enough to win for much of the game, but the offense failed to protect the football when it mattered most. Losing after holding a 10-point lead would have been difficult under any circumstances. Allowing a backup quarterback to engineer the comeback made it even worse.
New England now faces an extended wait before trying to earn its first victory. The Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
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