Patriots Take 7-0 Halftime Lead as Seahawks Lose Sam Darnold

The New England Patriots head into halftime with a 7-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks, but the biggest story of the first half may be the injury that could have a major impact on Seattle for the remainder of the game.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited after just one series with a hip injury. Darnold appeared to suffer the injury on a third-down sack by Patriots defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones. He limped to the sideline before being evaluated in the medical tent and eventually headed to the locker room for further examination.

Seattle officially ruled Darnold out just before halftime.

Drew Lock took over at quarterback and completed 6-of-8 passes for 51 yards during the first half. However, the Seahawks have struggled to consistently move the football, recording just six first downs and converting only one of six third-down opportunities.

New England, meanwhile, has looked much more comfortable offensively than it did against Seattle in Super Bowl LX.

Drake Maye finished the half 10-of-12 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown, while also making an impact with his legs. Maye has done a good job getting the ball out quickly and using his mobility when opportunities have opened up.

The Patriots' only touchdown came late in the first half. A defensive pass interference penalty against Seattle on a Maye pass intended for newcomer A.J. Brown moved the Patriots all the way to the Seahawks' 2-yard line.

One play later, Maye found rookie tight end Eli Rairdon for a 2-yard touchdown, giving New England the first touchdown of the 2026 season.

The Patriots enter halftime with 130 total yards, 10 first downs and a 3-of-7 mark on third down.

Seattle has 120 yards but has struggled to turn those yards into sustained drives.

One player New England will need to keep an eye on in the second half is rookie running back Jadarian Price. Price has rushed for 42 yards on just six carries in his NFL debut and has provided Seattle with one of its few consistent sources of offense.

With Darnold ruled out, the Patriots will now face Drew Lock for the remainder of the game.

New England will receive the second-half kickoff with a chance to extend its 7-0 advantage and put further pressure on Seattle's offense