Seahawks Vs. Saints Week 3 Preview – Prediction And What To Watch For

The Seattle Seahawks (1-1) return to Lumen Field on Sunday, September 21, 2025, looking to build on their impressive road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers as they host the winless New Orleans Saints (0-2) in a Week 3 NFC matchup. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT, with the game airing on CBS. Seattle enters as a 7.5-point favorite according to BetMGM, with the over/under at 41.5 points—reflecting expectations of a defensive battle but with potential for offensive sparks.

After dropping their opener to the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks rebounded with a 31-17 victory in Pittsburgh, showcasing a balanced attack led by quarterback Sam Darnold’s 295 passing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Saints have started the Kellen Moore era with close home losses to Arizona (20-13) and San Francisco (26-21), where young QB Spencer Rattler showed promise but couldn’t close out drives. This game marks Moore’s homecoming to the Pacific Northwest, where he grew up in Prosser, Washington, adding a layer of intrigue.

Seattle leads the all-time regular-season series 6-10 against New Orleans but has lost the last four meetings, all by one score. The Saints hold a 5-4 edge in road games, but recent trends favor the Seahawks, who are aiming to snap a 3-6 home skid from last season. Here’s a deeper dive into the preview, key storylines, what to watch for, and our prediction.

Seahawks Overview: Building Momentum with Balance and Defense

Seattle’s Week 2 win highlighted the evolution under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. The defense, ranked seventh in points allowed (17.0 per game) and tied for second with four interceptions, has been a standout, holding opponents to just 17 points in each game. Macdonald praised the unit’s ability to “create chaos” without heavy blitzing, with the pass rush generating pressure at a league-high rate in spots.

Offensively, new coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme clicked against Pittsburgh. Darnold improved to 22-of-33 for 295 yards, two TDs, and two INTs, utilizing play-action more effectively (30.3% rate in Week 2, up from 4.3% in Week 1). Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 105 yards and a TD—his first 100-yard game since 2024—while backs faced stacked boxes on 64% of runs, the highest in the NFL. Receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba (8 catches, 103 yards) and Cooper Kupp (7 for 90) provided reliable targets, with tight end AJ Barner adding a TD grab.

Injuries to watch: Safeties Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and Julian Love (hamstring), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee), and RB Zach Charbonnet (foot) missed practice time, potentially thinning the secondary.

Saints Overview: Searching for Wins in Close Contests

Under Moore, the Saints have played competitively but faltered in crunch time. Rattler, still winless at 0-8 as a starter, threw for a career-high three TDs and 207 yards against the 49ers (6.1 YPA), adding 14 rushing yards without an interception. He’s shown poise, completing 52-of-80 passes for 421 yards and three TDs overall, but the offense ranks 26th in points per game (17.0) and dead last in yards per play on first downs (3.6).

The run game, led by Alvin Kamara (103 yards vs. San Francisco), has been a focus, with New Orleans rushing for 121 yards against the 49ers—more than Seattle managed in Week 1. Defensively, they’ve allowed 23.0 points per game (17th) but rank ninth in yards per play allowed (4.8). However, their pressure rate (22.2%) is 30th, and they’ve forced three-and-outs on just 20% of possessions (31st). Edge rusher Carl Granderson leads the NFL with 3.5 sacks and seven pressures through two games.

Injuries: Offensive linemen Taliese Fuaga (knee/back) and Dillon Radunz (toe), plus DE Chase Young (calf), were DNPs in practice, which could expose the line against Seattle’s front.

What to Watch For: Key Matchups and Storylines

This game could hinge on trench battles and quarterback efficiency, with both teams emphasizing the run while protecting young QBs. Here are the top elements to monitor:

1. Seahawks Pass Rush vs. Saints Offensive Line: Seattle’s defensive line, led by a rotation that’s “creating chaos” per Macdonald, faces a vulnerable New Orleans front missing key pieces. The Saints have a low 22.2% pressure rate on defense, but could struggle protecting Rattler. Watch how Seattle exploits this— they’ve allowed a league-best 36.4 QB rating against play-action. If the Seahawks’ DL blows up plays early, as suggested in analyses, it could derail New Orleans’ game plan before it starts.
2. Carl Granderson: The Saints’ Game Wrecker: The undrafted edge rusher (6’5″, 261 lbs) is tied for the league lead in sacks (3.5) and pressures (7), using his 34-inch arms and arsenal of moves (spin, speed rush, bull rush) to dominate. He’ll primarily line up against Seahawks RT Abe Lucas, who’s been solid but not dominant. Seattle OL coach John Benton must scheme chips, double-teams, or stunts—perhaps using heavy formations with TEs AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, or Robbie Ouzts. If Granderson disrupts Darnold (who thrives when unpressured: 81% completion, 10.1 YPA), it could keep the game close.
3. Running Games and Play-Action Efficiency: Both teams want to establish the ground game—Seattle ranks eighth in rush percentage (48.25%), New Orleans 22nd (38.24%). Walker and Charbonnet could feast against a Saints defense ranked 15th in rush DVOA, but New Orleans aims to counter with Kamara and Rattler’s mobility (three first-down scrambles). Play-action will be key: Darnold threw for 12.0 YPA with a TD on such plays in Week 2, while Rattler could exploit Seattle’s secondary injuries. The Saints’ low big-play rate (2.2% of plays for 20+ yards) might limit explosiveness.
4. Kellen Moore’s Homecoming and Saints’ Mistake-Prone Play: Moore, a Washington native, returns to a “cool environment” at Lumen but faces his old OC Kubiak. New Orleans has made costly errors (e.g., Kamara fumble, missed FG vs. 49ers) and hopes to exploit Seattle’s recent home struggles (3-6 last season). Rattler’s turnover-free start is promising, but against a Seahawks defense with four INTs, avoiding mistakes is crucial. Seattle’s ability to convert third downs (manageable situations in Week 2) could tilt the field.
5. Fantasy and Betting Angles: For fantasy, trust Darnold as a QB streamer (Saints allowed 18.3 and 21.8 points to QBs); Walker could spike vs. a middling run D. Rattler is a back-end QB2 with a low 17-point implied total. Betting trends: Road dogs like the Saints (+6 to +9) off poor prior seasons are 82-30 ATS since 2004 in 40-43.5 totals. Public betting leans Seahawks (62% ML bets), but sharp money favors Saints to cover (79% ATS money).

Connections: Kubiak, QB coach Andrew Janocko, OL coach John Benton, and others were on the Saints’ 2024 staff. Players like Chase Young and Sam Darnold overlapped in San Francisco (2023).

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Saints 17

The Seahawks should capitalize on home-field and defensive advantages to move to 2-1. Darnold’s improved rhythm and a ground attack exploiting New Orleans’ injuries give Seattle the edge, but Rattler’s poise and Granderson’s disruption keep it within a score early. Expect Seattle’s pass rush to force mistakes, leading to a comfortable win without covering the full spread. The under hits if defenses dominate, aligning with both teams’ early-season trends.

Seattle can’t afford to overlook a desperate Saints team, but Macdonald’s group looks primed to deliver.