Did Seahawks Defender’s History With Patriots Kicker Influence Block?

The Patriots suffered a tough loss to the Seahawks in Week 2, and while one play might not have been the reason they lost, it does stand out in a narrow defeat.

Seattle finished off New England in overtime with a Jason Myers field goal for the 23-20 win at Gillette Stadium. The matchup might not have gone into the extra period if Joey Slye’s 48-yard kick in the fourth quarter wasn’t blocked. It turned out that the Seahawks made a small tweak that enabled the game-changing play.

‘… I don’t usually go to the block side, but something in me told (Rayshawn Jenkins), ‘Hey, let me get this one.’ Literally, we just swapped sides for one play,” Love told reporters, per Seahawks video. “And I shot the gap, skinny’d up, got my hands up and got the block.”

Love reiterated that he just felt like it was the right thing to do. The safety’s instinct was highly praised by Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, and it might have come due to Love’s past history with Slye.

“Those kicks, I know Joey Slye pretty well, it’s going to be a lower trajectory. So there’s a higher chance of a block if you push them out. Especially, that drive, they hit a few big ones that drive. Just being resilient and a few critical plays turned the tide for us.”

Love played for the Washington Commanders in the 2022 season when Slye was with the New York Giants that same season. That meant Love had two games to get a look at Slye combined with possible film work that might have been done to prepare for Sunday.

The safety’s first career blocked kick proved to be a difference-maker, but there still was plenty of blame to go around for the Patriots, who are preparing for a quick turnaround when they play the New York Jets on Thursday.