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Julian Love shares what Seahawks knew about Patriots' playbook ahead of Super Bowl 
Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Julian Love shares what Seahawks knew about Patriots' playbook ahead of Super Bowl 

Shortly after the defense of the Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots' offense during Seattle's 29-13 win in Super Bowl LX, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon claimed that he and his teammates "had a good tell on what [the Patriots] like to do and how they like to play, and how they were going to attack us." 

During a Thursday appearance on NFL Network, Seahawks safety Julian Love spoke with reporters Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo about what Seattle players knew and didn't know about the New England offense heading into the second Sunday of February. 

Seahawks grew "more confident" as Super Bowl LX went on 

"I could say that we had it all figured out, but we kinda didn't," Love explained, per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "I mean, you never know what's gonna come up. You have two weeks to prepare; they're a great team. "Early on, I feel like we just saw a certain style kinda component to it, and yeah, as we got more confident as the game went on, we were starting to feel looser, and just were playing faster."

One didn't need to review the game film to notice that the Seahawks targeted Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell and rookie left guard Jared Wilson early and often. The 14 pressures Campbell surrendered during Seattle's win were reportedly the most allowed by an offensive lineman in a playoff game since 2018. Campbell has since revealed that he played with a ligament tear in his knee throughout the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, second-year New England quarterback Drake Maye was sacked six times and committed three turnovers (one fumble, two interceptions) versus the Seahawks. According to Gordon, NFL Films cameras caught Love telling fellow safety Coby Bryant that Maye is a "classic young quarterback" who has a "hitch" that can be spotted on pass plays. 

Julian Love, Seahawks "saw some things in prep" ahead of Super Bowl win

"I saw some things in prep for the game, but you never know until you get there and you're playing against them," Love told Rapoport and Garafolo. "So, I picked up something kinda early that I felt off my prep. Basically, on the sideline there, I tried to cover my mic just to not seem like I'm talking [stuff] about him. But yeah, I'm just telling Coby Bryant, my other safety, just so he can make a play, 'Hey this is what I'm seeing, this is what I'm feeling.' Take this, and hopefully you make a play and, if not, I'm going to."

The Seahawks' defense made more than enough stellar plays as they pitched a shutout over the first three quarters of what became an impressive Super Bowl victory.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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