After pulling off the biggest upset of Week 1, the Patriots are left with one question.

Can they do it again?

Again slated as underdogs, the Pats will kick off in their home opener Sunday with an entirely new test ahead of them against the 1-0 Seahawks.

First-year coach Mike Macdonald, architect of the NFL’s best defense last season in Baltimore, is running new schemes on both sides of the ball with plenty of playmakers at his disposal. Seattle boasts one of the league’s most dangerous receiving corps, with Pro Bowlers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, plus former first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Defensively, the Seahawks are counting on recent top picks, edge rusher Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, to be new cornerstones of their defense.

Here’s how the Pats match up with their visitors from the northwest:

When the Patriots run

Welcome back to the Rhamondre Stevenson Show.

Last week, Stevenson forced 10 missed tackles over a 120-yard performance he punctuated with four straight runs that killed the clock and the game. But the most impressive number was this: 118 yards gained after contact.

He will have a tougher challenge Sunday, working against a Seahawks defensive line featuring Murphy, Mafe and Leonard Williams. Last week, Seattle allowed just 20% of its opponents runs to gain five yards or more, best in the league. Look for the Patriots to continue running right behind stud right tackle Mike Onwenu, their best run-blocker. New left guard Michael Jordan, at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, will also need to hold his own versus Williams, a former top-10 pick of the Jets.

If either or both of them struggle, it may be up to Stevenson yet again to carry the load.

When the Patriots pass

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Where are the blitzers?

That is the question the Patriots must answer versus a high-pressure Seattle defense, especially after allowing Jacoby Brissett to get hurried or hit on 44% of their dropbacks last week.

“You don’t know who’s coming. They drop out defensive ends. They do things that are very similar to some of the things that we do as well, the zone blitzing and protecting the deep part of the field,” Jerod Mayo said this week. “Historically they’ve always had a good defense, and they have a bunch of good players.”

If the Pats give Brissett time, it’s likely he will attack deep, looking for speedster Tyquan Thornton and K.J. Osborn, who saw a team-high six targets last week. Osborn was Brissett’s go-to guy in critical situations, seeing four balls on third down and another in the red zone. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper should also factor in more than they did at Cincinnati, where the Pats followed a run-heavy plan.

But, first and foremost, the Patriots must protect Brissett. Otherwise, Mafe (one sack last week) and Williams (four QB hits) could make it a long day for this offense.

When the Seahawks run

New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (8) celebrates a play against the Denver Broncos of an NFL football game Sunday December 24, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)

New Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb wants to run the ball. That much was clear after his NFL debut as a play-caller last week versus Denver.

During a 26-20 opening win, the Seahawks posted the NFL’s fifth-highest run rate in neutral downs; meaning, when the game situation didn’t dictate run or pass, Grubb chose run. That left a lot of touches for running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

No matter who’s carrying the ball Sunday, the key for New England will be numbers.

The Patriots controlled the Bengals’ run game last week while playing a two-high defense almost the entire game, which allowed them to also discourage deep passes. All together, Cincinnati finished with a single explosive play. But if the Seahawks find success running at players like defensive linemen Daniel Ekuale and Keion White – whom the Bengals targeted on their only successful rushing drive – the Pats may need to commit an extra safety to the box.

And that could leave 1-on-1 opportunities outside, inviting the deep balls the Patriots were able to avoid last week.

When the Seahawks pass

In today’s NFL, there are no breaks for No. 1 corners.

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After shadowing Ja’Marr Chase last weekend, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez – who allowed three catches for 15 yards when targeted – could see a lot of Metcalf on Sunday. The Broncos successfully shadowed Metcalf last week with Patrick Surtain II, the league’s new highest-paid corner. Metcalf finished with three catches for 29 yards.

Whether or not Gonzalez shadows Metcalf, the Pats must also contend with Lockett, who caught a team-high six passes last week for 77 yards. Perhaps the best way to stop the Seahawks’ pass game is to harass old foe Geno Smith, who went 18-of-25 for 171 yards, a touchdown and one interception versus a Denver defense that pressured him on almost half his dropbacks. Though, there is a fine line between reckless pressure and an effective rush.

Smith – who hasn’t played against the Patriots since 2014 – ripped off a 34-yard touchdown run against the Broncos. Like most modern quarterbacks, he can threaten defenses with both his arms and his legs. The good news is, Seattle’s offensive line struggled in pass protection as much as the Patriots’ last week, and won’t be at full strength Sunday.

Prediction

Seahawks 16, Patriots 13

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