I typically don't like to overreact to one game, but it's kind of hard not to after whatever the New England Patriots did in their 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday.
This was a great opportunity for them to make a statement after their loss to this same team in last season's Super Bowl. It was as good a time as any for Drake Maye and the Patriots' new-look offense to prove that they can contend once again this year. It was a good time for their offensive line, which was atrocious in the Super Bowl, to bounce back (which they mostly did, to be fair), and it was especially a good time for them to secure a win when Drew Lock entered the game for Seattle after the first series.
None of that happened.
The Patriots may have already hit rock bottom in Week 1
Maye had probably the worst game of his NFL career up to this point (178 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions - including one of the most boneheaded ones I have ever seen to end the game). Brown sustained a high-ankle sprain and is most likely going to miss multiple weeks. Romeo Doubs was horrendous and played a big role in the Patriots' loss with an inexcusable wide-open drop in the fourth quarter.
And they lost to a Drew Lock-led team.
Entering this season, there were high hopes for the Patriots. In spite of all of last season's "schedule" talk, they still had an incredibly talented roster on both sides of the ball and were led by one of the best head coaches in the game in Mike Vrabel. Last season should have been the start of something special, and it still can be. But it's hard for Patriots fans to legitimately feel good about the team's chances this season.
Maye's biggest flaw as a decision-maker doesn't seem like it's fixed, and he's likely going to be without his star receiver for the next few games (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, @ Jacksonville Jaguars, @ Buffalo Bills -- there's a nonzero chance Brown returns to a Patriots team that is 0-4).
Lock is probably going to be the worst quarterback New England will go up against this season, and it still couldn't manage to pull out a win against him (he wasn't the reason the Seahawks won the game, but his 187 yards on 72.7% completion and one touchdown helped... he had a better game than Maye did).
The Patriots still have Super Bowl aspirations, and one loss shouldn't necessarily change that. But of all the possible ways this game could have gone for them, this was very close to the worst possible scenario, and it's going to be tough for them to bounce back from this.
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