What experts are predicting for Sunday’s Seahawks-Patriots game

After a surprising upset against the Bengals last week, fans are hoping for more in the Patriots' home opener.

If rookie quarterback Drake Maye started last weekend’s season-opener over the Cincinnati Bengals, there’s little chance that the New England Patriots would begin the 2024 season with a surprising win. Despite the unpreparedness of the opponent, what veteran Jacoby Brissett brought to the position was a calm and focus that it took to win a game, one the team needed to close out and one that it certainly would have gagged away one year ago.

No offense to the third-overall pick, but that isn’t happening with Maye in there. Yet, despite the very real results that can be discussed with quarterbacks who sit for an entire year (or more) before taking the starting reigns, there’s still a push for Maye to start, the sooner the better. It doesn’t take much to look at guys who were ruined — Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, any Cleveland quarterback — and the guys who watched and waited — Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers, um…Tom Brady — for his chance and notice a decided difference between most of them.

I know, Patriot fans are salivating at the thought of seeing the future now, damn it, but it’s not like Maye’s fellow quarterbacks in this year’s rookie class were any more eye-opening in their own debuts. Bo Nix threw for 138 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in Denver’s 26-20 loss to Seattle. Top pick Caleb Williams threw for a ghastly 93 yards in the Bears’ 24-17 comeback win over the Titans, a win fueled by Chicago’s defense. Jayden Daniels ran the ball well (16 carries, 88 yards, two touchdowns), but he, also, threw for fewer than 200 yards (184) in Washington’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Granted, Brissett threw for one more yard (121) than running back Rhamondre Stevenson picked up on the ground Sunday. Surely Maye could have handled a similar feat against the Bengals. Instead, the Patriots got a win they probably weren’t supposed to have, and netted some positive vibes heading into the home opener.

This team might not be good. But it’s fun. And yes, it may be a testament to football patience.

After the last four, dour seasons in Foxborough, that might be enough.

This week’s predictions:

Globe staff: Only Chad Finn and Nicole Yang pick the Patriots (+3).

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Patriots 20, Seahawks 16. “This is a long first road trip for the Seahawks, facing a team that upset the Bengals last week. The Patriots defense was good in that game and Seattle has offensive line problems. I think that shows up as the Pats win a low-scoring game behind their defense.”

CBS Sports staff: Split (New England +3.5).

NFL.com staff: All Seattle.

Jimmy Kempski, Philly Voice: Seahawks (-3.5). “After watching the Patriots be woefully unable to protect the quarterback during joint practices with the Eagles this summer, I was kinda shocked that they pulled off a road win in Cincinnati Week 1. That was probably a fluke. The Seahawks will take care of them Week 2.”

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times: Seahawks 26, Patriots 17. “Seattle started slow and got a scare against Denver. New England had a forehead-slapping upset of Cincinnati. Seattle has too much firepower in this matchup and Patriots come back to earth.”

Vic Tafur, The Athletic: Seahawks. “The Patriots shocked the world last week, as their offensive line was not terrible and Jacoby Brissett is much better with a lead than without. But, how were they ever ahead? I don’t want to totally disrespect New England and belittle Jerod Mayo’s first win as coach, but it was clear the Bengals looked past them and toward this week’s game against the Chiefs. The Patriots pass rush was supposed to be bad and … oh wait, it is. Joe Burrow was pressured on just six of his 35 dropbacks. The Seahawks have too many offensive weapons to not take advantage of that, and their young defense leads the league with a 44.9 percent pressure rate and a total defensive EPA at 23.96.”

Big Will: Seahawks 19, Patriots 17.

ESPN staff: Seven of nine pick the Seahawks.

USA Today staff: Five of six like Seattle.

MMQB staff: Four of six pick the Seahawks. Conor Orr and John Pluym have the Pats as their upset picks of the week.

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Patriots 19, Seahawks 16. “The Patriots will survive only so long with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. But, then, they know that. They’re just waiting for the right time for Drake Maye.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Seahawks 19, Patriots 16. “Pats’ defense led the big upset at Cincy in Week 1 and should make for another low-scoring game. Seattle won last week by stacking the box to stop the run vs. Denver because they didn’t fear rookie QB Bo NIx — and Hawks will do the same here, knowing the NE attack centers on RB Rhamondre Stevenson and not worrying much about Jacoby Brissett’s arm.”

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20. “The Seahawks are 1-0 with defensive-minded rookie coach Mike Macdonald. The Patriots are 1-0 with defensive-minded rookie coach Jerod Mayo. One team also exploded offensively in Week 1. Seattle looked better with Geno Smith at QB and had a big-time running game again with Kenneth Walker III. The Patriots have too many limitations around Jacoby Brissett to keep up on the scoreboard.”

Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Seahawks 19, Patriots 16. “The Patriots pulled off an upset in Week 1 on the road. Can they improve to 2-0 under new coach Jerod Mayo in his home debut? Seattle coach Mike Macdonald also won his debut. Geno Smith passed for 171 yards and a TD, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for 103 yards. New England won with a defense that limited Cincinnati to 224 yards. Jacoby Brissett didn’t throw an interception and took just one sack, and Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a TD. The Patriots have a real shot at 2-0 here in a defensive struggle.”

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Patriots 16, Seahawks 13.

Chris Simms, Pro Football Talk: Seahawks 19, Patriots 17.

It says here: Seahawks 20, Patriots 13. Malcolm Butler is going to ring the esteemed lighthouse bell Sunday before the game. The Giants and David Tyree never did this.