It's been a little over six months since Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks ended the New England Patriots' season in the most heartbreaking fashion. It was a tough wake-up call for Mike Vrabel and company, and it gave trolls and critics plenty to talk about for months.
It's a new season now, and whatever happened in the past is meaningless. That said, one would be too naive to think that the loss doesn't still linger and sting in the Patriots' locker room. It's not just about getting the season started on the right foot; it's personal.
That's why, with most teams bringing back their core players and assistant coaches, we can expect a true chess match in this potential revenge game. Considering that, let's share three bold predictions for the first test of the season.
3 Predictions for the Patriots' season opener vs. the Seahawks
Seahawks' RB Jadarian Price will struggle in NFL debut
The Patriots didn't have an answer for the Seahawks' running game the last time they met. The Seahawks logged 141 net yards rushing, with Kenneth Walker III running away with Super Bowl MVP honors after turning 27 carries into 135 yards.
That's definitely a point of emphasis here. Zak Khur and Mike Vrabel won't let a rookie put up 100+ rushing yards on them, much less in his debut. Also, with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak no longer in town, the offense might look a bit different.
The Patriots must put the ball in Sam Darnold's hands. This is all about picking your poison, and they've already shown that they're a much better team when their quarterback is just handing off the ball.
Patriots' WR A.J. Brown will have a big game
A.J. Brown is about to go nuclear. The former Tennessee Titans standout forced his way out of the City of Brotherly Love because he wanted to be heavily involved in the passing game, and that will be the case from day one here.
Of course, he'll draw a tough matchup in Devon Witherspoon, but we're talking about a true bully and one of the most physical pass catchers in the game. He'll look to make a statement from the jump, and this is the perfect scenario to do so.
Reports from training camp hint that his connection with Maye is already in mid-season form. We might be looking at something in the 10-catch, 120-yard, 1-touchdown range in his first official game with the Patriots.
The game will be decided by a last-second field goal
The Patriots have this game circled on their calendars. They've dissected the tape time and time again, and they should be ready for almost everything defensive coordinator Aden Durde has in store for them.
This won't be another blowout or lopsided game, not even close. The Patriots may not have TreVeyon Henderson for this one, but the Seahawks are unlikely to play Nick Emmanwori, and while they're still a strong squad, the Patriots addressed most of their issues this offseason.
That doesn't necessarily mean they'll beat them, though watching them unveil their Super Bowl banner will certainly give them additional motivation. Regardless, this game will go down to the final second, with either Andy Borregales (hopefully) or Jason Myers having the last laugh.
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