Photo via Yahoo Sports

Position grades from the Patriots’ loss to the Seahawks

New England kicked off the regular season with a tightly contested 13-10 defeat on the road against Seattle on September 9, 2026. Beyond the scoreboard setback, the roster absorbed a severe personnel blow when wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered an injury that ultimately placed him on injured reserve.

Despite the offensive struggles and poor ground production, the revamped offensive front delivered standout protection. Three New England blockers ranked among the league's four premier pass protectors for the opening slate, headlined by Mike Onwenu's top mark.

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez also saw action in the secondary during the contest.