The Seahawks host the Patriots in their home opener on Sunday night, a showdown between two of the league's most successful franchises over the past decade, and two teams that have undergone plenty of change since their last meeting in 2016. Both teams have turned their rosters over significantly since Seattle won in Foxborough four seasons ago, and most significantly, the Patriots have a new quarterback in Cam Newton after Tom Brady, the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, left in free agency.
To learn more about Seattle's Week 2 opponent, Seahawks.com reached out to Doug Kyed, the Patriots beat reporter for NESN with five questions about the Patriots.
We'll start with the obvious, what has Cam Newton brought to the offense, and how likely do you think it is the Patriots remain as run heavy going forward as they were in their Week 1 win over Miami?
Kyed: The Patriots' offense looked almost entirely different in Week 1 than they ever did with Tom Brady under center. Some of the traditional running concepts remain, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch introduced a slew of read-option looks into the fold. Newton and the Patriots went very safe in the passing game with only one throw over 20 yards all game.
The Patriots will need to deviate from what worked in Week 1 at some point, and it could even be as early as Week 2 against Seattle. The Seahawks now have Newton and the Patriots' offense on tape. So maybe this week we'll see more passing and RPO concepts or new personnel packages.
On a related note, if the Patriots do need to start leaning on the passing game more, what kind of weapons does Newton have to work with beyond Julian Edelman?
Kyed: Damiere Byrd led Patriots wide receivers in snaps, and he went untargeted. Tight end Ryan Izzo led pass catchers in snaps and only caught one pass. That says it all.
Edelman still looked like Edelman, but he was on a reduced snap count. The Patriots still haven't figured out how to properly use 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry, and both of the Patriots' pass-catching tight ends are rookies.
Don't be surprised if running backs James White and Rex Burkhead are prominently used as pass-catchers out of the backfield. Sony Michel is more of an early-down runner, but undersized rookie J.J. Taylor showed some potential on the ground and through the air in Week 1. The Patriots could show some "pony" packages with two running backs on the field at the same time.
Edelman is the top target. White is No. 2. Harry should be No. 3, but he's inconsistent. It gets muddled after that.
Obviously going to the Super Bowl practically every year with Tom Brady is a pretty good way to live, but do you think Bill Belichick is in some ways enjoying this new challenge late in his career of trying to get it done with a new quarterback?
Kyed: I certainly wouldn't be surprised. Patriots coaches, Belichick included, have really gone out of their way to praise Newton and say how much they've enjoyed working with the 2015 NFL MVP. Newton's introduction into the offense has really allowed the Patriots to modernize, and in some ways simplify, an offense that was getting much too difficult for inexperienced players to learn in a short timespan.
How to the Patriots feel about a defense that underwent a lot of change after a really strong 2019 season, some of it unplanned due to COVID-19 opt-outs?
Kyed: This topic brings me back to a conversation I had with a coach at the NFL Scouting Combine a few years back who insisted that it was Belichick and his system, not the talent level of defense, that makes the unit tick. And after the results of Week 1, it's hard to disagree with that assessment. A lot of talent was zapped from that unit in one offseason, but the Patriots didn't seem to miss Danny Shelton, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Patrick Chung, Dont'a Hightower or Elandon Roberts in Week 1. The Patriots still have good players, including Devin McCourty, JC Jackson and 2020 NFL defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore, but it's a mostly no-named unit that neutralized the Dolphins on Sunday.
What are a couple of the matchups in this game you think could make the difference?
Kyed: I'm always curious to see how the Patriots will handle their coverage assignments. I'd expect to see Gilmore on DK Metcalf. Jackson could take on Tyler Lockett on the outside. When Lockett kicks inside, then perhaps Jonathan Jones would cover him with help from a safety. Joejuan Williams did a nice job against Mike Gesicki in Week 1, so perhaps he could cover Greg Olsen. The Patriots also have Jason McCourty, Adrian Phillips, Terrence Brooks and rookie Kyle Dugger in their secondary.
On the other side of the ball, I could see Marquise Blair struggling against Edelman in the slot. Edelman was a favorite target of Newton in Week 1 and can be impossible to cover in certain passing schemes.
The Seahawks currently lead the all-time regular season record, going 9-8 in 17 matchups. They'll look to make it double digit victories on Sunday Night Football this Sunday, September 20 at CenturyLink Field. Game Center
Morris Bradshaw, bottom, New England Patriots receiver, makes the catch from quarterback Steve Grogan on the three yard line and fumbles the ball out of bounds while being landed on by Kenny Easley (45), Seattle Seahawks, to set up a later touchdown at the end of the first half during their game in Seattle, Dec. 19, 1982. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) grabs the ball above the head of New England Patriot defender Rick Sanford (25) to complete a 20-yard touchdown pass from Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn in the second quarter at Seattle, Sept. 21, 1980. (AP Photo)
New England Patriot quarterback Steve Grogan, (14), releases a pass Seattle Seahawk Bill Gregory, (77), during the first half of their game on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21, 1980 in the Kingdome in Seattle. Grogan completed 15 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns during the game as the Patriots beat the Seahawks 37-31. (AP Photo)
New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan holds on to the ball as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks Jeff Bryant during first quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 16, 1984. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
Tony Collins (33) running back for the New England Patriots, is tripped up during first half action against the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome in Seattle, Dec. 19, 1982. Moving towards Collins is Seahawks safety Kenny Easley. (AP Photo/David Ekren)
New England Patriots Craig James, right, heads upfield with Seattle Seahawks Fredd Young (50), along for the ride, during 1st quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 21, 1986. (AP Photo)
New England Patriots Tony Collins (33) struggles for that extra yard despite the efforts of Seattle Seahawks Kenny Easley (45) and Keith Butler (53) during first quarter action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 21, 1986. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
New England Patriots' Irving Fryar (80) takes the ball from Steve Grogan and moves around Seattle Seahawks' end to score in the second quarter of the game in Seattle, Nov. 17, 1985. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks linebackers Bruce Schultz (58) and Tony Woods (57) and nose tackle Joe Nash (72) team up to stop New England Patriots fullback Bob Perryman (34) during an NFL game in Foxboro, Mass., Dec. 4, 1988. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 13-7. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
New England Patriots fullback Sam Gash (33) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept 19, 1993, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brian Blades (89) is tackled as he runs upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the New England Patriots Sept. 19, 1993, in Foxborough, Mass. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver David Patten (86) side steps Seattle Seahawks corner back Ken Lucas (21) as Patten heads for the end zone during second quarter action of their NFL game Sunday afternoon Oct. 17, 2004 in Foxboro Mass. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback, right, throws a pass under pressure from New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (75) during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle Seahawks' Julian Peterson, right, brings down New England Patriots' Kevin Faulk on a reception by Faulk in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris goes over the top of Seattle Seahawks' defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (99) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Patriots beat the Seahawks 24-21. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Michael Boulware (28) separates New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady from his helmut during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback, right, throws a pass under pressure from New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (75) during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
New England Patriots tight end Daniel Graham (82) looks to get around Seattle Seahawks defender Marcus Trufant during the game in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The Patriots won their 20th straight game with a 30-20 victory. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
Seattle's Doug Baldwin falls into the end zone with his second touchdown of the game.
Seattle's Russell Wilson and New England's Rob Gronkowksi share a laugh at the pregame coin-toss.
Kam Chancellor leads the Seahawks in a victory yell after the victory at New England.
Chris Matthews leaps high and catches the Seahawks second touchdown of the game but the first in his N.F.L. career to tie the game at 14-14 just before halftime.
Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor lead the Legion of Boom in their traditional pregame huddle right before taking the field for warmups.
Seahawks fans including the loyal "Big Lo" (holding Sea-Fence) sign, send the team off near SeaTac Airport.
Kevin Pierre-Louis and Tyvis Powell sport Celtics basketball jerseys for the trip to Boston. Pierre-Louis has repped a basketball team from the opposing city for each road trip.
Jermaine Kearse nearly comes up with this catch on a deep route which was broken up at the last minute.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin hauls in his third TD catch of the night, which would provide the eventual game-winner.
Receiver Tyler Lockett cuts towards the middle of the field after a reception in the second quarter.
Head referee Bill Vinovich flips the coin for Super Bowl XLIX as captains and honorary captains for both teams convened at midfield.
Seahawks running back Christine Michael hurdles New England's Malcolm Butler in the first half.
