Drew Lock Hyped As NFL's Best QB2 by Seahawks' Julian Love After Win vs. Drake Maye, Patriots

After leading a comeback 13-10 win over the New England Patriots in the NFL season opener on Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock received high praise from teammate Julian Love.

Love told reporters after the game that Lock has been the "best" backup in the NFL "for years" now.

▶️ Pats-Seahawks Full Game Recap

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Lock had to play virtually the entire game after Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury when he was sacked by Dre'Mont Jones on Seattle's fifth offensive snap.

It took awhile for the Seahawks offense to adjust with Lock steering the ship. They were shutout in the first half and trailed 10-0 after the Patriots got a field goal on their first possession of the third quarter.

Lock led three straight scoring drives, highlighted by a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1 that tied the game at 10. Jason Myers kicked the go-ahead field goal with 5:53 remaining.

An eight-year veteran, Lock finished Thursday's game 16-of-22 for 187 yards and one touchdown.

While the offense was working things out with their backup quarterback, the Seahawks defense helped keep them in the game. They held the Patriots to 277 total yards and picked off Drake Maye three times in the fourth quarter.

Love sealed the win with an interception in the end zone on Maye's pass intended for Mack Hollins with 26 seconds left to play.

Lock is in his fourth season overall with Seattle. His first stint with the Seahawks was from 2022 to '23, then he spent 2024 with the New York Giants before coming back to Seattle as a free agent in April 2025.

Darnold's status going forward is unknown at this point, though Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after the game they got "great news" back on the injury and they ruled out a hip fracture. Darnold will undergo an MRI on Thursday.

If Darnold is unavailable in Week 2, the Seahawks clearly have full confidence in Lock being able to keep them afloat based on Love's statement. They will take on the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 20.