Patriots vs Seahawks Picks & Props
NE vs SEA Picks
NFL PicksOne aspect of Darnold's game I appreciate is his sneaky speed. He’s a lot faster than you think and we’ve seen Darnold haul ass when need be, including five carries for 14 yards in SBLX. I expect there to be some hiccups in the Seahawks’ playbook, given Klint Kubiak is gone and new OC Brian Fleury is calling the shots. Seattle’s rushing attack isn’t what it was, leaving Darnold to shoulder the load. If Fleury can’t get the ground game going, the Patriots will bring the heat and force Darnold to run for his life. His Week 1 projections sit around 10 rushing yards on Wednesday.
Tight end Hunter Henry was second in targets last season and is one of the best zone-busting TEs in the NFL, rated No. 4 versus zone at PFF in 2025. He’ll face predominantly zone coverage from the Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 1 (Seattle was No. 2 in zone usage). Seattle was busy with rival TEs last year, allowing the fifth most receptions to the position – a product of the Seahawks pass rush forcing pressured QBs to check down to tight ends. Henry was targeted five times for three grabs and 31 yards against Seattle in Super Bowl LX. His Week 1 projections all sit above three receptions with some leaning toward four catches.
The hook is certainly intimidating in a matchup between two of the NFL's top teams, especially when you expect the game to be a battle. However, the plus-money price makes laying Seahawks -3.5 much easier to justify, particularly because I have Seattle projected as a 4.5-point favorite. While my projection is only one point higher than the market, the plus-money price adds significant value to the bet from an expected-value perspective. That one-point difference also moves through several key numbers, further strengthening the edge on the Seahawks.
Look for JSN to get involved early and often at home on Wednesday. Seattle's No. 1 wideout recorded 10 or more targets nine times a season ago, and might see an even heavier workload this year. By all reports, new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury and JSN have already built a strong rapport in the offseason, which bodes well for his target share in Week 1. With rookie RB Jadarian Price making his NFL debut, expect the offense to lean on the passing attack.
Shaheed is a threat to top this total with one catch, especially since he’s excellent versus man-to-man coverage, something the Patriots run at a high rate. What’s more, WR1 Jaxson-Smith Njigba draws added attention from the Pats secondary (that’s hoping CB Christian Gonzalez does sit out), leaving Shaheed in single coverage. Shaheed, who arrived at the 2025 trade deadline, is expected to have a bigger role and projections range from 37 to as many as 46 yards in Week 1.
I'm taking another AJ to score in the season opener: Seattle TE AJ Barner. He had a touchdown in Super Bowl 60 but more importantly, new OC Brian Fleury loves him some tight ends. One of the biggest differences between his schemes and that of old OC Klint Kubiak is the involvement of the TE in the passing game, being that Fleury is a former tight ends coach. His use of Ace formations and the uncertainty around the running backs could have Barner’s number called inside the red zone.
Mike Macdonald is one of the best defensive minds in the land and this team – as it showed with six sacks in the Super Bowl – can get after it. That tests a revamped offensive line in New England but also a group that is running thin after summer injuries hit the backup bodies in protection. That makes for a lot of new faces in an area that needs continuity and cohesiveness. The Pats secondary is solid and doesn’t allow for big plays downfield and when healthy – and they are – the New England front seven slams the door shut on the run game. If Seattle can’t get going on the ground, it makes selling the play action sets very difficult. Quarterback Sam Darnold thrives out of PA, amassing the third most yards from play action passes last season.
When these teams met in the Super Bowl, the total closed at 45.5 and easily went Under in Seattle’s 29-13 win, but the score doesn't tell the full story. The Patriots actually averaged more yards per play, but their offense was derailed by a disastrous line performance that saw Drake Maye sacked six times and limited New England to one red-zone trip. Expect a different Patriots offense after major upgrades at receiver and adjustments to better protect Maye, who played through a shoulder injury in the Super Bowl. Seattle is also capable of carrying the scoring after averaging 31.7 points at home last season.
The Patriots' addition of A.J. Brown doesn't close the gap enough between these two teams. The rematch of last year's Super Bowl won't necessarily be close, with Seattle running back one of the best defensive units in the NFL. In 2025, Seattle's defense ranked first in scoring defense, third in rushing defense, and was top 10 in total defense. It's truly a nightmare draw to open the season for New England, who I project as -5.5 underdogs in this one. Sam Darnold and JSN will do enough on the other side of the ball to cover the spread. Don't overthink it.
The Seahawks might not want to trust rookie running back Jadarian Price near the goal line, especially when he didn't play in the preseason. That could leave veteran George Holani with a role in close, and +285 is far too long for a score, with some places as short as +180 a week before the game. Price (+115) is being priced as the No.1 option in the RZ, but that is no guarantee. I wouldn't be surprised if the RB TD odds leveled out closer to kickoff. Seattle ran in the RZ at 56% last year, and at 70% from inside the 10. Holani had five carries in the RZ last year with one TD. He is trusted.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba was shorter than even money to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl in this same matchup, and his median anytime-TD price over his last 10 games was around even money. This might be the longest we see JSN to score a touchdown all year, especially with the potential for an expanded role in the red zone. Kenneth Walker is now with the Chiefs, Zach Charbonnet is out, and rookie Jadarian Price is tasked with the lead role. The Seahawks finished in the bottom third of the league in red-zone TD percentage last season, so there is plenty of room for growth. JSN has to be the top option inside the 20 after finishing with a 53% red-zone target share in 2025.
While I like a lower-scoring finish at Lumen Field on Wednesday, I love TE A.J. Barner to strike for a score against New England once again, especially since he's taking on a big role in this new-look pass attack. I’m also taking Seahawks speedy WR Rashid Shaheed for Yes 40+ receiving yards, burning up the man-centric coverage from the Patriots.
NE vs SEA Consensus Picks
NE vs SEA Props
| GAME & PLAYER PROPS | PROJECTIONS | ANALYSIS | BEST ODDS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PASSING YARDS
S. Darnold
(QB)
o224.5 Passing Yards
244.58 OVER
PROJECTION
+20.1
DIFFERENCE
23.44%
EV
|
|||||||
|
PASSING YARDS
D. Maye
(QB)
u234.5 Passing Yards
220.85 UNDER
PROJECTION
-13.7
DIFFERENCE
21.56%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING YARDS
D. Maye
(QB)
o25.5 Rushing Yards
34.87 OVER
PROJECTION
+9.4
DIFFERENCE
26.46%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING YARDS
S. Darnold
(QB)
o5.5 Rushing Yards
7.95 OVER
PROJECTION
+2.5
DIFFERENCE
22.59%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING YARDS
R. Stevenson
(RB)
u58.5 Rushing Yards
40.10 UNDER
PROJECTION
-18.4
DIFFERENCE
21.18%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING YARDS
J. Price
(RB)
u54.5 Rushing Yards
51.02 UNDER
PROJECTION
-3.5
DIFFERENCE
15.07%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
J. Price
(RB)
o7.5 Receiving Yards
14.05 OVER
PROJECTION
+6.5
DIFFERENCE
25.83%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
R. Stevenson
(RB)
u24.5 Receiving Yards
16.37 UNDER
PROJECTION
-8.1
DIFFERENCE
25.39%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
J. Smith-Njigba
(WR)
o79.5 Receiving Yards
91.45 OVER
PROJECTION
+11.9
DIFFERENCE
24.42%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
A. Barner
(TE)
o24.5 Receiving Yards
29.78 OVER
PROJECTION
+5.3
DIFFERENCE
23.01%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
H. Henry
(TE)
o30.5 Receiving Yards
37.12 OVER
PROJECTION
+6.6
DIFFERENCE
21.67%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEIVING YARDS
A. Brown
(WR)
u63.5 Receiving Yards
60.75 UNDER
PROJECTION
-2.7
DIFFERENCE
18.11%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
R. Stevenson
(RB)
u3.5 Receptions Made
2.13 UNDER
PROJECTION
-1.4
DIFFERENCE
22.66%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
A. Brown
(WR)
u5.5 Receptions Made
4.64 UNDER
PROJECTION
-0.9
DIFFERENCE
10.9%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
J. Smith-Njigba
(WR)
o6.5 Receptions Made
7.03 OVER
PROJECTION
+0.5
DIFFERENCE
9.87%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
J. Price
(RB)
o1.5 Receptions Made
1.89 OVER
PROJECTION
+0.4
DIFFERENCE
7.47%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
A. Barner
(TE)
o2.5 Receptions Made
3.02 OVER
PROJECTION
+0.5
DIFFERENCE
-1.06%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RECEPTIONS MADE
H. Henry
(TE)
u3.5 Receptions Made
3.19 UNDER
PROJECTION
-0.3
DIFFERENCE
-2.99%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
R. Stevenson
(RB)
u15.5 Rushing Attempts
9.18 UNDER
PROJECTION
-6.3
DIFFERENCE
22.92%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
J. Price
(RB)
u13.5 Rushing Attempts
12.02 UNDER
PROJECTION
-1.5
DIFFERENCE
19.17%
EV
|
|||||||
|
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
D. Maye
(QB)
o4.5 Rushing Attempts
5.76 OVER
PROJECTION
+1.3
DIFFERENCE
10.78%
EV
|
|||||||
|
PASSING ATTEMPTS
D. Maye
(QB)
u32.5 Passing Attempts
30.22 UNDER
PROJECTION
-2.3
DIFFERENCE
14.25%
EV
|
|||||||
|
PASSING ATTEMPTS
S. Darnold
(QB)
o30.5 Passing Attempts
31.31 OVER
PROJECTION
+0.8
DIFFERENCE
11.71%
EV
|
|||||||
|
PASSING COMPLETIONS
S. Darnold
(QB)
o19.5 Passing Completions
21.79 OVER
PROJECTION
+2.3
DIFFERENCE
14.49%
EV
|
|||||||
|
PASSING COMPLETIONS
D. Maye
(QB)
u20.5 Passing Completions
19.86 UNDER
PROJECTION
-0.6
DIFFERENCE
-2.67%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
J. Price
(RB)
Anytime Touchdown
0.55 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
0%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
J. Smith-Njigba
(WR)
Anytime Touchdown
0.53 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
14.77%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
H. Henry
(TE)
Anytime Touchdown
0.3 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
13.98%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
A. Brown
(WR)
Anytime Touchdown
0.37 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
0%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
A. Barner
(TE)
Anytime Touchdown
0.24 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
0%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
R. Stevenson
(RB)
Anytime Touchdown
0.36 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
-8.61%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
D. Maye
(QB)
Anytime Touchdown
0.1 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
-30%
EV
|
|||||||
|
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
S. Darnold
(QB)
Anytime Touchdown
0.03 TDs
PROJECTION
-
DIFFERENCE
-30%
EV
|
|||||||
|
INTERCEPTIONS THROWN
D. Maye
(QB)
u0.5 Interceptions Thrown
0.45 UNDER
PROJECTION
-0.1
DIFFERENCE
17.21%
EV
|
|||||||
|
INTERCEPTIONS THROWN
S. Darnold
(QB)
u0.5 Interceptions Thrown
0.43 UNDER
PROJECTION
-0.1
DIFFERENCE
16.62%
EV
|
|||||||
- Proj. Diff: Low to High
- Proj. Diff: High to Low
- Proj. Rating: Low to High
- Proj. Rating: High to Low
- +EV: Low to High
- +EV: High to Low
Recent Form Trends
Seahawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Seahawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Patriots are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Patriots are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Seattle.
Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 7-1 in Patriots last 8 games in Week 1.
Over is 6-1 in Patriots last 7 games on fieldturf.
ROI Trends
NE vs SEA Top User Picks
New England Team Leaders
| Rank | Leader | L10 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Patriots Money Leaders | |||
Seattle Team Leaders
| Rank | Leader | L10 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seahawks Money Leaders | |||