Field Gulls
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.
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...
