The NFL season opener on September 10, 2026, started with a gut punch for the Emerald City faithful, as New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon found the end zone in the second quarter. It wasn’t just any touchdown, either. It was the first scoring play of the entire NFL campaign, and it came against **our** Seattle Seahawks. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected with Raridon for a two-yard pass, and just like that, the scoreboard lit up for the opposition.
History, But Not The Kind We Wanted
You know how it goes. You’re pumped for opening night, ready to see our Hawks fly, and then a rookie makes history… against you. This wasn’t just six points for New England. Eli Raridon, a third-round pick for the Patriots in the 2026 NFL draft, became the first player ever to score a touchdown while wearing an NFL Debut Patch. Yeah, a patch. Topps apparently had some big plans around this, which just adds a weird layer to the whole thing. Imagine watching our defense give up a “historic” two-yard score because of a patch, with A.J. Brown also on the field for the Pats. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re bleeding green and blue, especially in the very first game of the season.
Early Season Jitters and Our Guys
While Raridon’s moment was certainly memorable for him, the source reminds us he’ll probably be overshadowed by the likes of A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry throughout the season for New England. That’s a Patriots problem, though. Our focus is on our guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who we know is ready to make his own kind of history for Seattle on the field. Seeing the season kick off with an opposing rookie grabbing headlines, especially for something as odd as a “Debut Patch” touchdown, definitely puts a spotlight on every play our Hawks make going forward. We need to lock in.
It’s the very beginning of the regular season, and every snap matters. This opener might have had a bizarre historical footnote thanks to Raridon, but it’s just one game. We need to shake this off and get ready for the next challenge. Let’s see our Hawks turn it around next week. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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