SEATTLE — Drake Maye had the New England Patriots close to a season-opening win. Then one fourth quarter changed everything.
Maye threw three interceptions in the final period, including a desperate pass picked off by Josh Jobe at the Seattle 19-yard line with 21 seconds remaining, as the Seahawks rallied from 10 points down to beat New England 13-10 at Lumen Field on Wednesday night.
The ending instantly became the game’s biggest talking point. New England had already moved within field-goal range and still had a timeout, so Maye did not need to force the ball while falling away from pressure. A throwaway would have preserved a chance to tie the game. Instead, Jobe’s interception ended it.
Turning point: Maye threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter
Game-sealing play: Josh Jobe intercepted Maye at the Seattle 19 with 21 seconds left
Updated: September 10, 2026, 9:22 a.m. IST
WOW… DRAKE MAYE THROWS HIS 3RD INT IN THE END ZONE FOR THE GAME 😳
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 10, 2026
SEAHAWKS WIN THE SEASON OPENER!
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/MoMPIKHhkY
The defeat was especially painful because New England controlled long stretches of the game. The Patriots led 7-0 at halftime and 10-0 in the third quarter, possessed the ball for 34:17 and committed fewer penalties than Seattle. The Seahawks were flagged 10 times for 98 yards, yet New England could not turn that advantage into a road win.
According to the Patriots’ official final box score, Maye completed 23 of 33 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He added 47 rushing yards on seven carries, giving him 225 total yards. His three picks on 33 attempts produced a 9.1% interception rate, while his passer rating finished at approximately 54.9.
| Player | Comp/Att | Pass yds | TD-INT | Rush yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 23/33 | 178 | 1-3 | 47 |
| Drew Lock | 16/22 | 187 | 1-0 | 13 |
How three Drake Maye interceptions flipped the game
The interceptions were not empty statistics added after the result was settled. Each one directly altered the final minutes.
First interception: Maye tried to reach Romeo Doubs on a deep throw into double coverage. Rodney Thomas II helped disrupt the pass, and Nehemiah Pritchett secured the deflection for his first career interception. Seattle then faced fourth-and-1, used play-action and found Jaxon Smith-Njigba uncovered for a 45-yard touchdown. The score tied the game at 10.
Second interception: After Doubs dropped a pass that could have extended New England’s next possession, Maye attacked the middle for DeMario Douglas. Julian Love stepped in front of the throw and gave Seattle possession at the Patriots’ 47. Drew Lock moved the Seahawks into the red zone, and Jason Myers’ 26-yard field goal put Seattle ahead 13-10 with 5:50 remaining.
Third interception: Maye briefly appeared ready to rescue the night. On the final drive, he converted fourth-and-2 with his legs, hit Mack Hollins on fourth-and-9 and later used a naked bootleg to move the chains again. Even after a sack, New England reached the Seattle 19. With 21 seconds left, Maye drifted backward and released an off-balance pass toward the sideline. Jobe intercepted it near the goal line and fell to the turf to seal the win.
That sequence explains why the last throw drew such a sharp response. New England was down only three points, not seven. There was no need for a low-percentage attempt with a field goal still available. The spectacular-looking mechanics—a fadeaway release while retreating—did not match the situation.
The wider statistical picture is just as striking. Seattle gained only eight more net yards, 285-277, and held the ball for nearly nine fewer minutes. Yet the Seahawks scored 10 points after Maye’s first two interceptions and denied the Patriots a potential tying kick with the third. In a three-point game, turnover timing mattered far more than possession time.
It also continued a difficult matchup for Maye against Seattle. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in New England’s 29-13 Super Bowl LX defeat in February. Across the championship game and Wednesday’s rematch, he has now committed six turnovers against the Seahawks—five interceptions and one lost fumble.
Seattle produced the fourth-quarter collapse despite entering the game without important secondary pieces Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada. Pritchett, Love and Jobe each made an interception, turning an undermanned defensive backfield into the decisive unit of the night.
Fans question Maye as injuries reshape both offenses
The online reaction focused overwhelmingly on Maye’s final decision. Julie Ryte called it Just inexcusable.
Christian R. Lopez Holguin asked, WTF happened to Drake Maye
, while another fan joked, Fadeaway interception like he’s Kobe.
A more measured response described it as an Ass throw but not even close to the worst.
Those comments reflect the emotion of the final play, but they should not obscure the full game. Maye also threw the NFL season’s first touchdown, a two-yard pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon, and his scrambling repeatedly kept New England alive. He finished only four rushing yards behind team leader Rhamondre Stevenson, who carried 18 times for 51 yards.
The Patriots’ passing game also lost its biggest offseason addition. A.J. Brown injured his ankle in the third quarter and was ruled out after recording three catches for 26 yards on four targets. His absence narrowed Maye’s options during the most important stretch of the game. Romeo Doubs was targeted three times but did not record a catch, including the damaging fourth-quarter drop before Love’s interception.
Seattle had an even earlier quarterback scare. Sam Darnold hurt his right hip when former Seahawks defender Dre’Mont Jones sacked him on the opening drive. Darnold completed one of two passes for 13 yards before leaving, forcing Lock into the game without warning.
Lock responded with an efficient 16-of-22 performance for 187 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Smith-Njigba was the difference-maker, catching eight of 11 targets for 122 yards and the game-tying score. Cooper Kupp added two catches for 35 yards, including a one-handed 24-yard grab that helped create Seattle’s first points.
The unusual Wednesday opener was part of a rare scheduling wrinkle, with the reasons behind the NFL beginning its 2026 season on a Wednesday adding another layer to a prime-time Super Bowl rematch.
For Seattle, the comeback protected a championship banner night after its starting quarterback went down. For New England, the central question is harder: was Maye’s fourth-quarter collapse a one-night mistake against an elite defense, or a warning that Seattle has found a repeatable way to force him into bad decisions?
What do you think decided the game most: Maye’s decision-making, Seattle’s coverage, or A.J. Brown’s injury?
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