The Hawks fought tooth and nail at Lumen Field, grabbing a nail-biting 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots on September 9 to kick off the season! While we’re still buzzing about that W, a rookie on the opposing side, second-round pick Gabe Jacas, actually showed some serious flashes in his NFL debut, even sacking our guy, Drew Lock. You gotta give credit, but let’s be real, Seattle: we got the win.
Even While We Won, That Rookie Made Some Noise
Jacas played 19 defensive snaps in his first NFL game, and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was already singing his praises. Vrabel said Jacas “continues to improve,” noting he was “active,” “set some good edges in the run game,” and even made “a nice play for a tackle for a loss.” He wasn’t kidding, either. Jacas showed that motor by chasing down Drew Lock for his first career sack in the second quarter. And he kept it up, flashing athleticism with another tackle for loss right out of halftime. Vrabel also highlighted a super instinctive play where Jacas diagnosed an unbalanced run look in the red zone, reacting quickly to make a tackle for just a few yards. Vrabel was “most pleased with” that play, saying Jacas was “just out here playing.” He definitely caught attention, even as we celebrated our victory.
From Preseason Hiccups to a Regular Season Spark
So, how did this 23-year-old rookie look so sharp against us? Turns out, it wasn’t a smooth road. Jacas missed the entire early season prep and start of training camp because of a procedure and a contract dispute. That meant things were moving fast when he finally got back on the field. He even had consistent issues with play recognition during the preseason, which left many wondering if his Week 1 role would be tiny. But those inside the Patriots’ building, and Jacas himself, felt that extra week or two of preparation before the season opener was a game-changer. Jacas said, “The preseason definitely helped. Then coming into the game, the preparation that we had, like a week or two to prepare for this game. I was comfortable out there and just playing football.” The Patriots’ edge group, with only four active players, was a big question mark for them, but Dre’Mont Jones also impressed with seven pressures. Those early flashes from Jacas are definitely promising for them.
Ultimately, the big story for us, the 12s, is that OUR Hawks are 1-0, baby! That’s the main takeaway from September 9th. Even with a promising young player like Jacas making some noise, our defense held strong when it counted, protecting that slim 13-10 lead. This was a grind, a tough battle at Lumen, and starting the season with a win against a strong AFC opponent like the Patriots? That’s the kind of grit and determination the Emerald City expects. Let’s keep that momentum rolling as the season continues! 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 Pats Pulpit.
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