Stacy on Seahawks: What I liked, didn’t love, and a big question after Week 1 win

It wasn’t a performance that’ll quiet doubters, but I don’t think the Seattle Seahawks care much after gutting out a second consecutive win over the New England Patriots, this time at home and short two key contributors in safeties Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada.

Seahawks beat Pats | Turning points | Instant Reaction | Box score

The Patriots surely wanted to be able to run the ball (which they couldn’t do in the Super Bowl) and get downfield (which they couldn’t do in the Super Bowl) and protect Drake Maye (which they couldn’t do in the Super Bowl). It was an uneven effort, and a reminder from Seattle that you’ll rarely get your way against a unit this talented – even one short-staffed and still shaking off preseason rust.

A game without Emmanwori cost the Seahawks in moments; the Pats took advantage of Seattle blitzing Devon Witherspoon this time and bent (though certainly didn’t break) to the run this time, allowing 109 on the ground, including several well-timed scrambles from Drake Maye. But this group was too good to stumble out of the gates, and they made Maye pay for aggressive shots downfield with three interceptions.

What I liked

• The defense picking things up where they left off (though they’ll need to shave off a few of those penalties).

• Byron Murphy’s becoming a nightmare in the backfield. Good penetration leading to to Leonard Williams’ sack and a tackle for loss of Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson.

• Glimpses of rookie running back Jadarian Price, who looked like he could replace the explosiveness Seattle lost with the departure of Ken Walker.

• New offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s fourth-and-1 play call: bold play-action to his best player (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) rather than a more predictable attempt to gain a yard with Emmanuel Wilson.

THERE GOES JSN

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What I didn’t love

• The injury to Sam Darnold, for obvious reasons. That he was ruled out so quickly is certainly ominous.

• Some rust for the offense as the result of no preseason play. That looked to be part of what killed momentum in the red zone on two separate drives.

My big question

• Outside of Sam Darnold? Whether Fleury might incorporate Price into the gameplan a bit more in Week 2. You want to reward running back George Holani’s experience, of course, but Price’s biggest gains (pickups of 13 and 11 yards) are too tempting to ignore.

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Seahawks All-Pro WR JSN says success won’t change him
• From substitute teacher to NFL, persistence pays off for WR Foster
• Daniel Jeremiah: Seattle Seahawks’ O-line can be among NFL’s best

Related

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