Photo credit: A.J. Brown
The New England Patriots opened the 2026 NFL season with a tough 13-10 loss to the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. However, the defeat brought bigger concerns than the final score.
A.J. Brown left the game early with a right ankle injury. Meanwhile, quarterback Drake Maye threw three interceptions in the Super Bowl rematch.
Brown’s injury will receive further evaluation before the Patriots’ Sept. 20 home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Mike Vrabel said the team does not yet know whether the star receiver will be available.
A.J. Brown’s injury changes the equation
The Patriots acquired Brown during the offseason, giving him a fresh start and a chance to work with Maye.
The move also reunited Brown with Vrabel, who coached him early in his career with the Tennessee Titans.
That excitement took a hit when Brown exited the season opener with his ankle injury.
New England now faces uncertainty about one of its biggest offensive additions. The Patriots also have a challenging schedule ahead, with several opponents coming off playoff appearances.
As a result, Brown’s health could become an important storyline early in the season.
Drake Maye’s turnovers create a bigger concern
While Brown’s injury was an obvious setback, Maye’s performance may concern the Patriots even more.
The young quarterback threw three interceptions against Seattle. His struggles also echoed problems from New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks.
Poor decisions and inaccurate throws hurt Maye at critical moments. Those mistakes prevented the Patriots from generating enough offense to overcome Seattle.
Maye has spent the offseason working on becoming a stronger vocal leader. After the loss, he emphasized the importance of staying together and improving in practice.
That response could become important as New England tries to avoid letting one disappointing game affect the rest of its season.
Patriots’ offensive line showed progress
There was at least one encouraging development for New England.
All five offensive linemen played every offensive snap. The group also performed better than it did early last season.
The Patriots made several changes to the unit during the offseason. Jared Wilson moved from left guard to center, while Alijah Vera-Tucker took over at left guard.
Maye was sacked three times against Seattle. Still, the sacks did not appear to come from major breakdowns along the line.
That improvement gives the Patriots something positive to build on.
The running game needs more consistency
New England also struggled to establish its ground attack.
The Patriots finished with 109 rushing yards on 31 attempts. That worked out to only 3.5 yards per carry.
Rhamondre Stevenson led the team with 51 yards on 18 carries. Maye added 47 yards on seven carries, while recent acquisition Corey Kiner finished with 11 yards on six attempts.
TreVeyon Henderson’s absence because of an ankle injury did not help the situation.
However, New England will need more production from its running game if it wants to take pressure off Maye.
What comes next for New England?
The Patriots have plenty to fix after their season-opening loss.
Brown’s ankle injury could affect the offense if he misses time. At the same time, Maye must clean up the turnovers that helped Seattle control the game.
Still, the season is only beginning.
New England has time to correct its mistakes. The offensive line’s improved performance also gives the team a foundation to build on.
For now, the Patriots’ biggest priorities are clear: protect Maye, establish the run and find out when Brown can return.
Source: Associated Press / Yahoo Sports
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