"Julian (Love) always shows up, every game," defensive end Leonard Williams said about the Seahawks safety following the Seahawks' 23-20 overtime win.
For Love, last week it was an interception near the end zone on a third-down play and this week it was a blocked field goal to keep the Patriots up by only three to allow the Seahawks to be able to tie the game with a field goal and send it into overtime.
"I wasn't surprised," Williams said on Love blocking the field goal. "There's not many games that he's not going to show up on film. He got the block when we needed it most. That whole drive, the defense was talking to each other, saying that this was an important down and that we had to hold them to three (points) at least. Julian just blazes by my eyes while I'm rushing and then he got the block. It was beautiful."
Love had seven tackles, one pass defensed and probably his most important contribution on the day was his blocked field goal – the first of his career, too. Love said he saw an opportunity and took it.
To Love it was simple, "In that moment, you're defending points," he said.
Also adding, "I feel like in that moment, I felt like 'I have to go get it.'," Love said. "I felt good. I was looking at my guys, it was a long drive, and they were looking like they were tired, but I felt energized in that moment, and something just told me to switch (sides with Rayshawn Jenkins). If anybody is going to be doing it, I feel like I should be doing it."
Cornerback Riq Woolen said that Love told him before the play that they were going to attempt to block the field goal.
"That man J. Love (Julian), I appreciate him. He just went in there and blocked it and did great at it… He and I said let's go attack the side, and we attacked it."
Love adding, "Thankfully Riq (Woolen) was coming off the edge all day… Something just told me I was going to be able to come loose and jump this thing, so I did."
The blocked field goal not only kept the Patriots within three, but it helped swing the game back in the Seahawks favor.
"I knew we had them," quarterback Geno Smith said. "Even if he didn't block the kick, I felt like we were going to go down and score. When he blocked the kick, I felt like it turned the momentum. You could see they put their heads down a little bit. Their defense was, like, oh, man, we have to stop these guys. That's when we put our foot on the pedal and just started going after them and made some big plays."
Rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight adding, "Julian is a playmaker. He's been making plays the last two weeks in a row. I just feel like we needed that play as a whole team. He just got everyone going in the fourth quarter with that blocked field goal."
Head coach Mike Macdonald didn't want to get into strategy on the play, but just applauded the effort by Love to make something like a blocked field goal to happen.
"He made a heck of a play," Macdonald said. "Just heck of a play, but it's something you practice all the time, and finally when you have the opportunity, it goes and executes it. That was big-time."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 2 game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
