For the first time since the 2020 campaign, the Seattle Seahawks have started a season with a 2-0 record! They did so by defeating the New England Patriots 23-20 in overtime on the road at Gillette Stadium. For his efforts, Mike Macdonald becomes the first Seahawks head coach to start his career in Seattle 2-0 since interim head coach Mike McCormack in 1982.
Making this victory all the sweeter is the fact the Seahawks defeated the Patriots on the day they chose to honor the 10-year anniversary of their triumph over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX. While a regular season victory will never equal the pain inflicted, the 12th Man will surely still smile knowing the Seahawks spoiled their little party.
It certainly was not easy for Seattle. The Patriots are going to win games only one way this year: keeping teams off the field with their run game, and playing solid defense. New England worked this formula almost flawlessly, winning the time of possession battle 35:42 to Seattle’s 29:41. The Pats also outrushed the Seahawks 185 yards to only 46. Of the five second half possessions for Seattle, three were punts, one turnover on downs instead of opting to attempt a field goal, and one drive that did end in a field goal.
The aforementioned field goal drive was enough to send the game into overtime tied at 20-20, thanks to Julian Love blocking a New England field goal attempt, which would have given the Pats a 23-17 lead.
Once the game went into overtime, New England won the coin toss, but had to punt the ball away after going 3-and-out. After getting the ball back, Geno Smith did what Geno Smith excells at: leading game winning drives.
Last season, Smith led the entire NFL with five game winning drives. Had Jason Myers connected on a field goal against the Rams last year, Smith would have had six. But on Sunday against the Pats, Myers did connect on a 31-yard attempt to give the Seahawks the victory.
Next up: the Seahawks return to the friendly confines of Lumen Field to host a Miami Dolphins team likely without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
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