The Seattle Seahawks delivered a resounding 44-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, improving to 2-1 and putting the rest of the NFC West on notice. Powered by a record-setting first quarter and dominant performances on defense and special teams, Seattle looked every bit the contender it aspires to be.
Just two weeks removed from a sluggish 13-point outing against the 49ers, the Seahawks dramatically flipped the script. On just eight offensive plays, they raced to a 21-point lead in the first quarter—their most in an opening frame since 2006. Rookie wideout Tory Horton ignited the fireworks with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, the longest in franchise history, surpassing Tyler Lockett’s 2015 mark. Horton wasn’t done: he added a receiving touchdown later in the second quarter, becoming only the third player in NFL history— Tim Brown in 1988 and former Viking-turned-Seahawk Percy Harvin in 2009—to have multiple touchdown catches and a return score through the first three games in their career.
Seattle’s special teams were relentless, consistently flipping field position and setting up short fields for the offense. A blocked punt deep in Saints territory led to a Kenneth Walker touchdown run, and the Seahawks entered halftime with a commanding 38-6 lead—their largest first-half margin since Week 14 of 2012.
Quarterback Sam Darnold made the most of the favorable field position. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns, posting a near-perfect 154.2 passer rating—the second-highest in franchise history. His connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to blossom, as the duo linked up for a 12-yard score on Seattle’s first offensive drive. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, formerly with the Saints, orchestrated a masterful game plan, blending under-center play-action with middle-field passing concepts that played to Darnold’s strengths.
While the offense was efficient and opportunistic, Seattle’s defense was suffocating. Despite missing three key defensive backs—Nick Emmanwori, Julian Love, and Devon Witherspoon—the unit held Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to just 4.8 yards per completion on 39 attempts. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy recorded a sack, a tackle for loss, and a QB hit, while veteran Leonard “Big Cat” Williams added a half sack and two more hits on the quarterback.
In the secondary, Derion Kendrick and Josh Jobe stepped up in a big way. Kendrick, a former Ram, broke up three passes, while Jobe flew around the field with intensity, tallying 11 tackles (nine solo) and a pass deflection. Their efforts ensured that even when Rattler had time, completions were scarce.
Statistically, the game appeared closer than the score suggested. Seattle only outgained New Orleans by 36 yards, and both teams converted 33% of their third downs. Time of possession favored the Saints, 32:16 to 27:44, and each team had one turnover. But the difference came down to discipline and execution.
New Orleans, led by rookie head coach Kellen Moore, looked overwhelmed. For the third straight game, the Saints committed seven penalties in the first half—four of them pre-snap infractions in the first quarter alone. Even reliable veterans like wide receiver Chris Olave were flagged, contributing to stalled drives and poor field position. Seattle, by contrast, kept their composure when it mattered. Though they finished with eight penalties for 70 yards, most came in garbage time with the game well in hand.
Walker, despite a modest stat line of 38 yards on 16 carries, continued to establish himself as Seattle’s lead back. With Zach Charbonnet sidelined due to a foot injury, Walker handled the bulk of the workload and found the end zone twice. His second score came after Saints kicker Blake Grupe missed a 52-yard field goal—he’s now just 57% on the season—giving Seattle prime field position once again.
Seattle’s offensive line deserves credit for keeping Darnold upright and opening lanes against a talented Saints front. The unit didn’t allow a single sack and consistently won at the point of attack, enabling the offense to stay ahead of the chains and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Coach Mike Macdonald’s squad played with urgency and focus from the opening whistle to the final snap. Even with a comfortable lead, they never let up—a hallmark of disciplined, playoff-caliber teams. While the Saints entered the game winless, they had shown fight in previous matchups against Arizona and San Francisco. Seattle’s ability to dominate every phase of the game speaks volumes about its potential.
As they prepare for a Thursday night showdown with the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks carry momentum and confidence. With a balanced offense, a disruptive defense, and game-changing special teams, they’re positioning themselves as serious contenders for the NFC West crown.
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