Canal Street Chronicles
The New Orleans Saints hit the road for the first time in 2025 when they visited the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Here’s a quick recap of all that went down at Lumen Field.
The Saints received the ball first in this one, starting on the right foot with a 9-yard pass from Spencer Rattler to Chris Olave. But the drive quickly dwindled out, with the visitors failing to convert a 4th-and-2 near midfield that resulted in a turnover on downs.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold wasted no time as he entered the game for the first time, connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 29 yards on his first throw. He soon found him again for a 12-yard touchdown to get the hosts on the board.
Trailing 7-0, the Saints proceeded to go three-and-out and would have to punt again.
It then went from bad to worse for the black and gold, as Tory Horton returned Kai Kroeger’s punt all the way to the house for 95 yards and a touchdown. Another extra point put the Seahawks on top 14-0.
Three quick penalties against the Saints gave Rattler little hope on the ensuing drive, which ended with a punt blocked by D’Anthony Bell that instantly put Seattle back in the red zone.
Darnold once again made no mistake, finding Cooper Kupp for 8 yards to set up a three-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Walker III.
The Saints offense returned to the field in need of a spark, and they finally found some yards in the form of Alvin Kamara with a 14-yard reception.
Rattler would then find Olave a few times before the quarter’s end. One target was intercepted by Josh Jobe, but it was called back for illegal contact.
The drive continued with catches from Juwan Johnson and Olave, as well as a run from Kamara. But an incompletion on 3rd and 4 meant the visitors would have to settle for a field goal. Blake Grupe kicked through from 27 yards to get the Saints on the board, trailing 21-3.
Dareke Young returned the ensuing kickoff for 60 yards as the Seattle special teams continued to do damage. Darnold found AJ Barner for 23 yards before connecting with Horton for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Another extra point put the lead up to 28-3.
A 4-yard pass to Kendre Miller was the only positive play for the Saints as they got the ball back, and Kroeger came out to punt once more.
Darnold found Smith-Njigba for 45 yards on the first play of the hosts’ next drive. He connected with Eric Saubert a play later to put Seattle down on the 1-yard line, before Walker III punched it in to extend the lead.
Kamara, Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks all contributed to the ensuing Saints possession as Rattler drove down to the Seahawks’ 33-yard line.
Grupe came out to kick, although this time he was wide right. The score remained 35-3.
The Seattle offense managed just...
