- May 21, 2026
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On an NFL opening night when the Seahawks' offense was otherwise stalling, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept it going.
Smith-Njigba caught a short pass on fourth-and-1 and raced downfield for a 45-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, scoring the Seahawks' only touchdown in the 13-10 win over the Patriots. Afterward, he credited the play call, quarterback Drew Lock and his teammates' blocking more than his own effort.
"I was happy it was a pass play," Smith-Njigba said. "My job was to find a zone and Drew did a great job finding me, and afterward just do what I do, try to get upfield and protect the ball. Great upfield blocking by our tight ends."
The Seahawks' passing game went 8-for-11 for 122 yards and a touchdown when throwing to Smith-Njigba and 9-for-13 for 78 yards and no touchdowns when throwing to everyone else on the team. Despite that, Smith-Njigba credited teammates Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, who had a combined three catches for 39 yards.
"It's not all on me. We have Cooper Kupp making big plays, we have Sheed making big plays," Smith-Njigba said. "It's a team effort."
It is a team effort, but Smith-Njigba showed who the best player on the team is.
Smith-Njigba caught a short pass on fourth-and-1 and raced downfield for a 45-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, scoring the Seahawks' only touchdown in the 13-10 win over the Patriots. Afterward, he credited the play call, quarterback Drew Lock and his teammates' blocking more than his own effort.
"I was happy it was a pass play," Smith-Njigba said. "My job was to find a zone and Drew did a great job finding me, and afterward just do what I do, try to get upfield and protect the ball. Great upfield blocking by our tight ends."
The Seahawks' passing game went 8-for-11 for 122 yards and a touchdown when throwing to Smith-Njigba and 9-for-13 for 78 yards and no touchdowns when throwing to everyone else on the team. Despite that, Smith-Njigba credited teammates Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, who had a combined three catches for 39 yards.
"It's not all on me. We have Cooper Kupp making big plays, we have Sheed making big plays," Smith-Njigba said. "It's a team effort."
It is a team effort, but Smith-Njigba showed who the best player on the team is.