Observations from Seahawks’ emphatic rout of the Saints

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the winless New Orleans Saints.

And they did so in emphatic fashion.

Seattle Seahawks win: Reaction | Recap | Box score

Buoyed by a trio of big plays on special teams, the Seahawks exploded for 38 first-half points and cruised past the Saints for a 44-13 victory on Sunday afternoon to improve to 2-1. Seattle built a 38-3 lead and was up by 32 points at halftime, which was the largest halftime lead by any NFL team since Week 15 of the 2023 season, according to Pro Football Talk.

Here’s a look at what stood out from the Seahawks’ blowout win.

Special teams are special

Seattle’s special teams have made a massive impact so far this season. In Week 1, Julian Love blocked a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 2, George Holani’s bizarre kickoff recovery in the end zone propelled the Seahawks to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. And on Sunday, Seattle delivered a trio of pivotal special teams plays that sparked its dominant first half.

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The onslaught of special teams highlights began with rookie wide receiver Tory Horton, who scored on a 95-yard punt return midway through the first quarter, aided by a punishing block from teammate Chazz Surratt on Saints punter Kai Kroeger. It was the longest punt return TD in franchise history and the Seahawks’ first punt return score since Week 1 of 2015.

TORY HORTON GOES 95 YARDS TO THE CRIB!

NOvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nwjvDYnnD2

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

Later in the first quarter, Seahawks safety D’Anthony Bell blocked a punt that set up a quick two-play, 11-yard touchdown drive. And early in the second quarter, wide receiver Dareke Young raced down the sideline for a 60-yard kickoff return, which set up a three-play, 38-yard touchdown drive that extended Seattle’s lead to 28-3.

Horton’s breakout continues

During training camp last month, Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori proclaimed that Horton could be the steal of this year’s NFL Draft.

That mirrored what other NFL analysts had said about the rookie wideout, whose season-ending knee injury last year at Colorado State caused him to slide to the fifth round of April’s draft – despite a highly productive college career that included back-to-back 1,100-yard receiving seasons in 2022 and 2023.

So far, Horton is living up to those predictions as a late-round steal.

Last week, Horton hauled in a 21-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of Seattle’s win over Pittsburgh. And on Sunday, the speedy receiver found the end zone two more times, scoring on the franchise-record 95-yard punt return and then adding a 14-yard TD catch.

Through three weeks, Horton has receptions for 64 yards and three total touchdowns. Not bad for a fifth-round pick.

Said it once, we’ll say it again. Tory Horton hype train. 🚂

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Lfo0etftoa

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 21, 2025

Darnold to JSN connection is thriving

Just three weeks into their first season together, Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba already have quite the connection. Smith-Njigba hauled in five receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, which gives him 22 catches for 323 yards and a TD this season. That’s the most receiving yards by a player through the first three weeks of a season in franchise history.

Their chemistry was evident from the get-go on Sunday. On the game’s second snap, Darnold wiggled out of pressure, escaped to his left and found Smith-Njigba for a 29-yard completion. Later in the drive, Darnold rolled left on play-action and zipped a 12-yard TD pass on the run to Smith-Njigba. And in the second quarter, Darnold lofted a 45-yard deep ball to Smith-Njigba for yet another big play.

No problem with Kamara

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara has a history of giving the Seahawks nightmares. In Seattle’s previous three matchups against the Saints, Kamara averaged a whopping 178 yards from scrimmage, burning the Seahawks both as a ball carrier and a receiving threat out of the backfield.

But on Sunday, the Seahawks had no such issues. Seattle held Kamara to just 56 total yards – 42 yards on 18 carries and one catch for 14 yards.

Horton scores longest punt return TD in Seahawks history

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