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The Seattle Seahawks escaped Week 1 with an important win. In a rematch of the Super Bowl, the Seahawks came out on top of the Patriots once again.
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Heading into this game, there were some legitimate concerns surrounding the Seahawks. The team found out a couple days before the game that starting safety Ty Okada would not suit up. Then, just before kickoff, we learned that fellow starting defensive back Nick Emmanwori also wouldn’t go.
This meant that veteran Julian Love was the only healthy safety on the roster. Knowing that, many wondered if Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense were in for a big night. That didn’t end up being the case, though, and Love is a big reason for that.
At this point, it’s obvious that Love is an extremely underrated difference-maker.
Love Put on Elite Performance in Week 1
With a ton of pressure on him, Love delivered against the Patriots. The veteran ended with six tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and one interception. Those two tackles for loss were both stuffs in the running game, and his interception came the one time he was targeted all night.
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Pro Football Focus gave Love an elite 90 grade, meaning this was one of the best games of his career and one of the best games from a Seattle defensive back in years. The Seahawks needed Love to step up, and he answered the call.
It’s not like this was a fluky performance, either. Love only played in eight games last season, but he was excellent when he was on the field. Love earned an 82.2 PFF grade for his performance. One of his highlights of the year came in the Super Bowl when he had an interception that changed the course of the game.
It’s easy to forget about Love with other elite defenders like Emmanwori and Devon Witherspoon in the secondary, but the veteran safety always comes through when his team needs him. If the defense was THIS good without Emmanwori and Okada, imagine how good it can be when everybody is healthy.
Additionally, if Love keeps playing like this, the Seahawks are going to have to think about an extension soon. As things stand, Love is slated to be a free agent after the 2027 season.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 9:10 AM.