What do the 2025 Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots have in common? They both dropped their season opener in heartbreaking fashion. Then, they licked their wounds, got back on their feet, and went on to win their conferences.
While it's never okay to lose and this shouldn't become a yearly tradition, Mike Vrabel's team has already set a major precedent. They won 11 of 12 games after their Week 1 loss, including 10 in a row.
A lot of chatter surrounded this team: the Super Bowl hangover, the schedule, off-the-field remarks, and whatnot. Maybe this loss, as tough as it was, was just what they needed to shake off all that added pressure and return to their underdog mindset.
It wasn't all bad for the New England Patriots despite the Week 1 loss
You never want to lose, but there should be no shame in dropping the season opener on the road against a team of the Seahawks' caliber. Granted, Drake Maye struggled mightily against them (again), and they didn't have Sam Darnold for most of the game, but it's not like it was all bad.
The offensive line showed promise at times, but it will take a while for the new group to mesh well altogether. Also, they didn't have TreVeyon Henderson, and the playmaking running back should give this offense a huge boost.
Losing A.J. Brown clearly took a toll on the flow of the offense, and Romeo Doubs won't drop those passes every week. Some rust led to sloppy execution at times, but they've already gotten their legs under them and should be much better in Week 2.
Also, Darnold's injury, while unfortunate, was also a testament to the Patriots' pass rush. The defense went all guns blazing on that first drive, and even though it's hard to judge them against a backup quarterback, they still held their own pretty well for the most part.
It's hard to find a silver lining after such a blunder, but it's Week 1. Let's see the glass as half full here, as there's still plenty of talent and more than enough reasons to feel excited about this team, contrary to what some naysayers may claim.
Sometimes, teams have to go through growing pains to blossom and reach their true potential. Tough losses can bring a team together as much as a deep postseason run, and this is a high-character squad led by one of the toughest guys in the league.
The Patriots are now battle-tested, and this loss only made the chip on their shoulder even bigger. If anything, the Pittsburgh Steelers ought to be scared of what a highly motivated Drake Maye can do to them in Week 2.
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