Much of the conversation surrounding the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks in their Week 1 showdown has focused solely on the road team seeking revenge for their devastating Super Bowl loss from earlier this year.
While there's a good chance several players hope to do so, there are far more stories to look forward to, some of which aren't all bad for the Patriots.
That means it's not just the possibility that cornerback Christian Gonzalez will choose to hold out after contract extension talks have reportedly gone nowhere, or what the offense might look like without TreVeyon Henderson in the lineup, since he hasn't practiced since August 24.
But some stories coming out of Seattle are worth monitoring, most notably injuries to key players in their secondary.
The most recent injury report, released on Monday evening, listed safety Ty Okada not participating again due to a hamstring injury, and Nick Emmanwori was limited with an ankle injury stemming from offseason surgery in July.
They're already down Bud Clark, whom they drafted in the second round this year, so their safety room is looking depleted. And if they have to give more reps to their backups, it could reap a lot of rewards for Drake Maye and the revamped receiving corps.
Drake Maye might have a good chance to show off his skills against a weakened Seahawks secondary
Expectations are already high for the third-year quarterback ahead of the 2026 season, not only because he's shown to have a strong arm but also because he now has two new weapons to work with: A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
Both have the potential to be explosive options on game day, particularly Brown, who will inevitably allow Maye to utilize his deep-throw skill to move the ball far and fast.
That could be something we see as soon as this week against the Seahawks, if their safety starters are unable to suit up. Although they'll have a solid cornerback group on the field, led by Devon Witherspoon, their safeties will be vulnerable, and it's key that the quarterback exploits that.
With the pass catchers he has to work with, including DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams, he should have plenty of opportunity to do that.
Because Seattle has a tough defensive line, it might be his only way of making big plays happen, as long as the offensive line can keep them at bay much longer than they did in the Super Bowl. Otherwise, this won't even be a thought in Josh McDaniels' mind.
Knowing they'll be in a hostile environment and that it's unlikely the home fans will cause their team to make careless mistakes, the Patriots will be under a lot of pressure to make the most of anything the Seahawks give them. If that means taking advantage of a weakened secondary and maybe testing out their superstar cornerback, then so be it.
It could become part of the game that swings the momentum in their favor and helps them steal a win on the road, or it could be the reason they lose. Let's hope it's not the latter.
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