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.
First Quarter
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.
Second Quarter
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 20 yards as they returned to the field, but it was enough to get to the edge of field goal range. A 56-yard attempt from Jason Myers was good, and the Seahawks went up 38-3.
Needing a score to avoid the worst first-half deficit in franchise history, the Saints were able to find it with just 89 seconds to work with. A 15-yard reception by Shaheed was the highlight of a drive that set up a 23-yard field goal by Grupe, and New Orleans went into the half trailing 38-6.
Third Quarter
Darnold picked up where he left off to begin the second half, with a 23-yard connection with Kupp helping matters as Seattle drove into Saints territory. But penalties halted the drive, and Myers was soon out to kick. While the attempt was blocked by Justin Reid, he was called for offside. Myers tried again, this time from 46, and the kick was good.
The Saints proceeded to go three-and-out, with Rattler sacked on third down.
Seattle’s next drive went 46 yards, with Kenneth Walker III responsible for most of them. It ended with another field goal to make it 44-6.
New Orleans’ next drive was their longest and most fruitful of the day. The final play of the third was a 21-yard pass from Rattler to Johnson that put the Saints in the red zone.
Fourth Quarter
From there, Rattler found Jack Stoll in the end zone for the first touchdown of the day for the black and gold. Grupe’s extra point made it 44-13.
With Drew Lock in at quarterback, Seattle found no success on their next drive and punted. But they quickly had the ball back, as a Rattler throw intended for Shaheed was intercepted.
Despite a quick first-down throw to George Holani, Lock again had little luck as the Seahawks punted once more.
Another Saints three-and-out followed, before Holani fumbled soon after to get the ball back to the visitors.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough entered the game, throwing two incompletions as another three-and-out marked an end to a miserable afternoon for New Orleans.
After Holani ran for a first down, Lock took a knee to end the game, and the hosts came away 44-13 victors.
Next up for the Saints is a visit to the Buffalo Bills on September 28th.
