When the Patriots finally found a spark, it looked like rookie quarterback Drake Maye might make things interesting. After a quiet start, Maye started to settle in early in the fourth quarter, ending any hopes of a Seahawks shutout. But just as the momentum began tilting New England’s way, Julian Love stepped in - and slammed the door shut.
With Maye under heavy pressure and scrambling near the line of scrimmage, he took a shot deep. It was a gamble - and Love made him pay.
The Seahawks veteran safety read the play perfectly, snatching the interception and swinging the energy right back to Seattle. It wasn’t just a big play.
It was the kind of moment that championship defenses are built on.
That pick was a defining moment in what had already been a dominant performance from Seattle’s defense - a unit that’s been playing with serious edge under head coach Mike Macdonald. Love’s interception wasn’t just a highlight; it was a statement. And it sparked the kind of belief that had Seahawks fans thinking about another Lombardi Trophy.
Julian Love has been turning heads all season, and it’s not just Seahawks fans taking notice. Before kickoff, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave him a nod of respect - a rare gesture from a rival coach.
DRAKE MAYE GETS PICKED OFF 😱
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 9, 2026
Julian Love takes advantage of a bad throw and the Seahawks take over possession once again 🔥
This Seattle defense is SPECIAL 💪
pic.twitter.com/PHYjb6YF9v
And his alma mater, Notre Dame, joined the praise on social media, calling him a “GAME CHANGER.” Hard to argue with that after the way he flipped the script in the fourth quarter.
While Love is now making plays in Seattle, fans in New York haven’t forgotten what he brought to the Giants. He and Leonard Williams were part of a core that offered a glimpse of postseason promise - something Giants fans haven’t had much of in recent years. Even ESPN’s Max Kellerman couldn’t help but lament what could’ve been, calling Love and Williams “the closest my Giants have come to Super Bowl glory in over a decade.”
Still, there’s respect coming from all sides. Giants fans, Seahawks faithful - everyone saw what Love did on that field. He wasn’t just part of the defense; he was the engine behind it.
That interception led to a Jason Myers field goal - one of five on the night, setting a new record in the process. And just when it felt like the Patriots might have a sliver of hope, Devon Witherspoon slammed the door for good. His 45-yard scoop-and-score was the exclamation point on a night that belonged to Seattle’s defense.
In a game where the offense didn’t need to be flashy, it was the defense - led by Love, Witherspoon, and a relentless pass rush - that dictated the terms. The Seahawks didn’t just win.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan: "I know you guys want my expert opinion, but I haven't scored a touchdown on [the Seahawks] the last two times we've played them, so I don't know how good that is." 🏈🎙️ #NFL #SuperBowlLX https://t.co/BF7cSiomqP pic.twitter.com/qGulIVVY0V
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 8, 2026
They imposed their will. And if this is what Mike Macdonald’s squad looks like in February, the rest of the league better take notice.