Patriots vs. Seahawks live updates: Score, news, discussion from Week 1

Coming off a loss in Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots spent their offseason overhauling a roster that led them to a conference title but that ultimately over-performed in 2025. So, in order to establish themselves as a true powerhouse in the league rather than a one-hit wonder, Mike Vrabel and company invested serious resources — from high-profile free agency signings, to draft investments, to one of the biggest trades in recent franchise history.

Training camp and to a lesser degree preseason already allowed for some first insight into the new-look Patriots’ progress in Year 2 under Vrabel. However, the overall stakes were still relatively minimal throughout the summer.

On Wednesday night, all of that changes. In a rematch of said Super Bowl, the Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks to kickstart the 2026 NFL regular season.

Live score: Patriots 0 : 0 Seahawks

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster

First Quarter

Starting the game on defense after winning the coin toss, the Patriots surrendered back-to-back first downs to open the game. However, aided by a subsequent false start penalty against the Seahawks, the unit eventually got off the field thanks to a Dre’Mont Jones sack on third down — a play that forced Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold to take a trip to the blue medical tent.

The Patriots offense opened deep in its own territory, but a 10-yard Drake Maye scramble gave the unit some breathing room and moved the chains for a first time. It would have remained New England’s only first down of the series if not for a late hit on Maye following another rushing attempt on a 3rd-and-5. The team was unable to capitalize on the Seattle error, however, and was forced to punt after Maye was pressured into throwing incomplete on the next third down.

The next drive saw a change at quarterback for the Seahawks. With Darnold heading to the locker room due to a hip injury he sustained on the opening series, backup Drew Lock entered the contest. Seattle’s offense did manage one first down on Lock’s first possession, but stalled when Christian Elliss met running back George Holani in the hole and short of the line to gain on a 3rd-and-2 rushing attempt.