Patriots News: Ready Or Not, Week 1 Starts In Seattle

The Patriots will practice today at 11:30 and then fly to Seattle to take on the Seahawks for the first game of the 2026 season. It’s been seven months since the last time Drake Maye and starters have played in a real game. For some of the more recently acquired players like Romeo Doubs and others, it’s been longer.

As Hector Longo points out below, “on paper” the offense has improved. The defense is more of a question mark, especially if Christian Gonzalez decides not to play without a new contract. (My personal take is that he will.) Also, rookie Gabe Jacas is still a wild card.

Mike Vrabel and the front office spent the offseason in a quest to improve and strengthen the roster. But we’ll have to wait to see how they did on the rebuild as the grades trickle in, week by week. First test, facing the Seahawks on the road.

TEAM TALK

• Evan Lazar’s Patriots Gameplan: 3 keys to victory in Super Bowl rematch vs. the Seahawks. 1. Offense key: Have better answers to Seattle’s blitzes and capitalize on opportunities.
• Patriots-Seahawks updated Injury Report.
• Transcript:Mike Vrabel (Plus 11 min. video)
• Press Conferences:Drake Maye – AJ Brown, Christian Gonzalez, Alijah Vera-Tucker.
• Patriots All Access interview: Mike Vrabel (6 min. video)
• One-on-One with Safety Kevin Byard III (3 min. video)
• Vrabel’s X’s and O’s: Breaking down key moments from the Patriots preseason. (4 min. video)
• Forged In Foxborough, Season 2, episode 3: Earn your role. (31 min. video) /Worth a watch.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: RB TreVeyon Henderson’s status, Roster thin at OLB, Brown mentors Jacas, ‘We are firemen’, Kudos to Crownover, Waiver claims, Sudden change; More.
• Steve Balestrieri’s Sunday Patriots News: Week 1 preview, Key matchups against the Seahawks; More.
• Andrew Callahan offers some Week 1 thoughts: Why Rhamondre Stevenson is the Patriots’ key at Seattle, how defensive coordinator Zak Kur is inventing an Edge, and more.
• Alex Barth previews the Seattle Seahawks. Offense biggest strength: Wide receivers. Offense biggest weakness: Running backs. More.
• Doug Kyed talks about how the Patriots have retooled over the last seven months, and on paper, appear primed for a more competitive contest vs. the Seahawks. Drake Maye is excited to be a part of it.
• Hector Longo makes the case that the biggest question mark on the 2026 Patriots is LB Gabe Jacas. The rookie 2nd-round pick will be needed on the edge, but he hasn’t shown much in preseason.
• Mark Daniels reports rookie Gabe Jacas showed up at 6:45 a.m. to train with Mike Vrabel. /Good sign.
• Hector Longo says with Seattle approaching fast, Drake Maye is now officially on the clock.
• Doug Kyed finds Josh McDaniels excited to see the progression of two second-year pros, Will Campbell and Jared Wilson.
• Ethan Hurwitz relays OT Caleb Lomu on how he has been ’dreaming’ about his NFL debut. Also, he rookie will have a cheering section for him at Lumen Field next week.
• Hector Longo explains why bigger may be better against Seattle, which may mean an increased role for unheralded interior lineman Cory Durden.
• Phil Perry’s Patriots Mailbag: A.J. Brown’s impact, Will Campbell expectations and more.
• Alex Barth’s Patriots Mailbag: Getting the 2026 season started.
• Ethan Hurwitz brings a cool story about the 20-year-old Patriots fan who’s become the team’s personal car detailer. /Love stories like this.
• Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders discuss the upcoming Week 1 matchup vs. the Seahawks, and wrap up the pre-season. (26 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Nick Shook (NFL.com) Josh McDaniels: Seahawks rematch will be ‘different game’ than Super Bowl loss.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Scout’s Notebook: What is the Jaguars’ plan for Travis Hunter in Year 2? Plus, my ranking of the NFL’s top 5 cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez 4th.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) Bold predictions for 2026 NFL season: Brock Bowers to set NFL record; who wins receiving triple crown? No Pats.
• Eva Geitheim (SI) One thing we learned about every team during the preseason. Patriots: Kyle Williams making a case for more playing time.
• Aaron Schatz (ESPN) Super Bowl countdown: Ranking teams all-in on winning in 2026: Rams, Broncos, 49ers, Bills and Ravens. “There are teams in the NFL that are building for the future with youth, and there are teams that are investing to win it all right now.” No Pats. /Insert eye-roll emoji here.
• Gennaro Filice (NFL.com) Top 10 NFL offenses in 2026? Bears, Bills, Rams headline. Patriots 7th.
• Gennaro Filice (NFL.com) NFL’s top 10 defenses in 2026? Texans, Seahawks, Rams headline ranking; don’t sleep on Jags, Bucs. No Pats.
• Eva Geitheim (SI) 10 streaks on the line during the 2026 NFL season. Jets, Bills included. No Pats.
• Marcel Louis-Jaques (ESPN) Young Miami Dolphins embracing underdog mentality in 2026.
• Mike Kadlick (SI) Best and worst of Roger Goodell’s tenure so far, and what can improve going forward.
  

VIEW FROM SEATTLE

• Bob Condatta (Seattle Times) Seahawks ‘turn the page’ from Super Bowl with Patriots rematch on tap.
• Corbin Smith (Emerald City Spectrum) Seahawks prepping for ‘guessing game’ facing overhauled Patriots in Super Bowl rematch.
• Brady Henderson (ESPN) With title ‘in the past,’ Seahawks set to tackle new season.
• Matt Legros (Seahawks Wire) Seahawks forecasted by NFL.com have No. 2 defense in NFL in 2026.
• Matt Legros (Seahawks Wire) Incredible stat shows Seahawks defensive dominance against the run.
• Greg Bell (The News Tribune) He hasn’t played since November. Is Jadarian Price ready for Seahawks’ opener?
• The Hawks Eye podcast: Patriots vs Seahawks Week 1 Preview w/ Taylor Kyles. (1 hr)