Bench Jamal Adams and play Julian Love. That is what the Seattle Seahawks should do for the rest of the year. Sure, there were a lot of other factors involved, but the simple fact is that the back end of the secondary was much better with Love playing deep against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 than with Adams doing whatever it is Jamal Adams does.
There is also no doubt that Love had the best game of his short Seattle career against the Eagles. He had 2 interceptions, including the one that sealed the game, along with 9 tackles and 2 passes defended. Love now has 3 picks in the last two games and 4 on the season.
Love also received a near-perfect pass coverage grade (94.1) from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) against the Eagles. Had Adams played, there is a good chance Seattle loses a tight game. Love saved one touchdown in single coverage on a post pass in the second half, and Love read Jalen Hurts' last throw from 20 yards away and ran over and picked the pass off.
Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love named DPOW
For Love's efforts, he was awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. In the last five seasons, since just after Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor stopped playing for Seattle, two Seattle safeties have won the DPOW award. Quandre Diggs in Week 18 of last year and now Love for Week 15.
Love also became only the second Notre Dame product at safety to win the honor since 2000. The Minnesota Vikings Harrison Smith has won the award twice. Plus, this is the first time Julian Love has won a weekly award.
Since 2000, only three Seahawks have had at least 5 tackles and 2 interceptions in a Prime Time game and Love becomes the latest.
Now the Seahawks just need to keep Jamal Adams away from the field and Love on it. Love has played on 75 percent of Seattle's defensive snaps this year. In the final three games, that number needs to go to 100 percent.