Drew Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards with a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, leading our Seahawks to a 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots in the NFL Kickoff Game, after Sam Darnold went down with a hip injury on the fifth play from scrimmage. What a wild ride to kick off the 2026 campaign! Our guys walked away with a win against the team we beat for a Super Bowl title just seven months ago.
Darnold Down, Lock Up, Maye Messes Up
The collective gasp across the Emerald City when Sam Darnold suffered that hip injury was real. On just the fifth play, our starting QB was out, leaving us all anxiously awaiting an update. But then, Drew Lock stepped up, and man, did he deliver! He marched us down the field, slinging it for a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, showing exactly why you need depth at the most important position. What a way to start the season, taking down the reigning AFC champions, especially after their “easy” schedule in 2025.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Drake Maye had one of the worst outings of his professional career on a national stage. This was a Super Bowl LX rematch, and it went just as poorly as it could have for the Patriots. Maye, last year’s MVP runner-up, completed 23 of 33 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown, but it was those three fourth-quarter interceptions on back-to-back-to-back possessions that truly sealed their fate. They blew a double-digit lead to our backup quarterback. You love to see it!
Campbell’s Rocky Road to Redemption
Remember Will Campbell’s struggles in last year’s postseason? Especially against us in Super Bowl LX? The dude allowed 14 pressures, the most by any player in a game in 2025 according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and he was responsible for one of Seattle’s five sacks. The question was, could he exorcise those demons in Week 1?
Well, on Wednesday night, the former No. 4 overall pick allowed one sack and one hurry. That’s a definite improvement, clocking in an 84.4 pass-blocking grade over at PFF, allowing just one pressure on 44 pass block snaps. That’s a solid start for a young left tackle going against one of the league’s best defenses. He did pick up two penalties, an illegal block in the back and a hold, so he’s still got some cleanup work to do if he wants to cement his case as Maye’s franchise left tackle. But hey, it was a step in the right direction for him, even if his QB had a rough night.
What a way to kick off the season, Seattle! With the NFL Kickoff Game behind us, we’ve got a huge win under our belts, questions about Darnold’s health, and an undeniable belief in Drew Lock. The 12s are fired up, and we’re just getting started. This season is going to be a ride, so buckle up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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