The Seahawks jumped on the Saints and never looked back.
Trap game? What trap game? The Seattle Seahawks (2-1) made sure there wouldn’t be a New York Giants redux with the New Orleans Saints (0-3), who were overmatched almost literally from the opening kickoff. Seattle raced out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, went into halftime up 38-6, and finished with a 44-13 victory in which the likes of Drew Lock, Josh Jones, Jacardia Wright, and other reserves were able to get significant playing time.
It’s the Seahawks’ first home win of the season and just their second triumph at Lumen Field over the last nine games. While it’s just one win, it felt like more than that based on how the Seahawks performed. Almost as if to let out years of home futility frustration out on the poor Saints. This was the type of win that has been lacking for Seattle even during the waning Russell Wilson seasons, and the Seahawks made a major statement by hammering an inferior opponent like we used to see in the Legion of Boom days.
Sam Darnold was exceptionally sharp, going 14/18 for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns (and no sacks taken). Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught his first touchdown of the season and was just shy of his third 100-yard receiving game in a row. Tory Horton was a superstar, returning a punt and catching a pass for a touchdown in another milestone moment for the rookie. Kenneth Walker III only had 38 yards on 16 carries as the run blocking wasn’t up to par, but he got into the end zone twice. Byron Murphy II continued his second season leap with a sack of Spencer Rattler, while Josh Jobe had a very impactful double-digit tackles and a touchdown-saving pass defensed.
There won’t be too long a time to celebrate this win, as the Seahawks have a quick turnaround to play the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. You should still celebrate the heck out of this game, though! Join the GIF party in The Feed.
1st Half
The Seahawks were on Cloud Nine to start the game. Spencer Rattler airmailed a 4th and 2 conversion to Alvin Kamara on the opening drive, resulting in a turnover on downs. When it looked like the Seahawks would have to settle for a field goal on their opening series, a silly headbutt by Bryan Bresee after a third down stop extended the drive. Sam Darnold made the Saints pay with a 12-yard touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba off of play-action.
New Orleans went three-and-out on the next possession, setting the stage for Tory Horton’s record-setting 95-yard punt return touchdown. No one in Seahawks history has run back a punt longer than the electrifying rookie out of Colorado State.
It got even better for the Seahawks through their special teams, as D’Anthony Bell came off the edge to block a punt—New Orleans’ first blocked punt suffered since playing the St. Louis Rams in 2011—Chazz Surratt couldn’t scoop and score but the Seahawks were still able to start at the 11. Kenneth Walker III made it 21-0 lead just two snaps later.
It’s the first time since 2006 that the Seahawks have put up 21+ points in the opening quarter, and what a way to do so! The Saints would get on the board early in the second quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Blake Grupe. Josh Jobe had a would-be interception nullified by an illegal contact penalty, but he prevented a touchdown on an end zone throw to Chris Olave later in the series.
Dareke Young was tasked with kick return duties and he ripped off a big one to the New Orleans 38. After just three plays, Sam Darnold found Tory Horton on a perfect throw and catch to extend the lead to 28-3. This is not an AI description or an AI simulation; this is all real life.
Sam Darnold was sharp in the first half, hitting 10/11 for 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A 45-yard play-action deep shot to JSN set Seattle up deep in Saints territory, and K9 finished off another scoring drive with his second touchdown of the afternoon. The teams would trade field goals to give Seattle an unassailable 38-6 halftime advantage.
2nd Half
If you thought the Seahawks would be content to sit on a 32-point lead, think again. A 10-yard run by Kenneth Walker III was followed by a Darnold strike to a wide open Cooper Kupp for 23 more yards. Penalties sort of derailed the drive, but Jason Myers got a second field goal opportunity after his initial 51-yard kick was blocked by an offside Justin Reid. How about a 41-6 scoreline EARLY in the third quarter?!
Another field goal made it 44-6 Seahawks before a penalty-aided drive finally put the Saints in the end zone. Spencer Rattler found tight end Jack Stoll in the back corner for his first NFL touchdown catch, cutting the deficit to 44-13 early in the fourth quarter. Seattle put in Drew Lock and other backups for the remainder of the game, presumably because of the blowout but also the short week ahead and an opportunity to get some extra rest before a big divisional showdown in Glendale.
The Seahawks still had more highlights to provide before the clock hit 0:00. Derion Kendrick picked off Spencer Rattler’s desperation fourth down attempt for his second INT in as many weeks, and he could’ve easily had four over two games with the opportunities he’s had.
If you want to pinpoint a negative, George Holani fumbled in garbage time and the Saints recovered. Second-round rookie quarterback Tyler Shough came in for New Orleans and his NFL debut ended in a three-and-out, with the dastardly Mike Macdonald sending an A-gap Ty Okada safety blitz to hurry Shough into an overthrow. Seattle got the ball back and ran the clock to wrap up a superb display of football.
Full box score
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks go on the road to take on the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. Prime Video has the coverage at 5:15 pm PT on Oct. 25.
Category: General Sports
