The 2026-27 NFL season kicked off with a dramatic finish, drawing sharp criticism from the NBC broadcast team. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth expressed their disbelief following a pivotal moment in the game where New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw a game-ending interception against the Seattle Seahawks.
With only 26 seconds remaining, the Patriots were positioned on the Seahawks' 16-yard line, facing a critical third down. A successful first down would have kept their drive alive, while a field goal would have tied the game at 13, forcing overtime. Instead, the situation took a turn for the worse when Maye rolled to his right and attempted a pass toward wide receiver Mack Hollins. Seahawks defender Josh Jobe intercepted the ball in the end zone, effectively sealing the victory for Seattle.
Mike Tirico: "A TERRIBLE DECISION!"
Cris Collinsworth: "I can't believe that throw… Wow. I mean, there are certain things you just can't do or try when you have field goal range and overtime in your grasp. And that was the play… Ouch." pic.twitter.com/oZuIRuNN2n
The broadcast booth was immediate in its assessment. After Tirico labeled the pass a "terrible decision," Collinsworth echoed the sentiment, stating, "I can't believe that throw. I mean, there are certain things you just can't do or try when you have field goal range and overtime in your grasp. And that was the play — off his back foot and fading away and didn't get it out of bounds. Ouch."
This turnover capped a difficult evening for Maye, who finished the game with 178 passing yards and one touchdown. The performance was marred by three interceptions, marking his second multi-interception game against Seattle, following a similar struggle during Super Bowl 60. As the Patriots fall to 0-1 on the season, the team and its young quarterback face mounting pressure to improve their decision-making in high-stakes situations.
