That was bad.
The Seattle Seahawks (2-1) nearly went the whole of the 2010s without a September home loss. That streak ended thanks to sloppy play all around, along with a smart gameplan from Sean Payton for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, as the New Orleans Saints (2-1) pulled off a shocking 33-27 win at CenturyLink Field.
Russell Wilson threw for 406 yards, threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more. He was brilliant even with a few misfires here and there. Tyler Lockett had 11 catches for 154 yards and a TD, while Will Dissly had another solid day with 6 catches for 62 yards and a garbage time score. The defense held the Saints to under 300 yards of offense but it was not a particularly good showing, as 154 missed tackles on Alvin Kamara and no sacks on Bridgewater defined the afternoon. Special Teams was dismal, as was the play of Chris Carson, who’s starting spot needs to be in question after another fumble this time was returned for a TD.
1st Half
The Seahawks got the ball first and promptly went three-and-out thanks to an opening play penalty. Michael Dickson’s poor punt was caught and speedster Deonte Harris just blew past everyone for a 53-yard Saints touchdown. 7-0 Saints without even touching the ball on offense.
David Moore hauled in his first catch of the season on a beautiful back shoulder throw for 29 yards on 3rd and 7, but it was the only first down the Seahawks managed before punting it from the Saints’ 39. New Orleans went three-and-out thanks to two penalties and a wasted timeout to avoid a third penalty.
Seattle tied the game on a 6-play, 64-yard drive that featured a 32-yard third down conversion by Tyler Lockett, then he found himself wide open for an 8-yard score. Probably shouldn’t have a linebacker covering him, but we’ll take it! 7-7.
Both teams exchanged punts over the next three possessions, then Chris Carson turned a big run into yet another fumble. Vonn Bell scooped and scored to give the Saints the lead again. A third straight game with a lost fumble for Carson. 13-7 Saints after the missed PAT.
Carson was brought back in to try and convert a 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 in Saints territory on the next drive, but he got stuffed both times. Turnover on downs and just completely unacceptable. And it led to an Alvin Kamara touchdown on a screen pass as Delano Hill and Bradley McDougald missed badly on tackles. 20-7 Saints.
Halftime fittingly came on a DK Metcalf 54-yard catch in double coverage, as Seattle botched the clock management and ran out of time despite two timeouts.
this ludicrous play was ultimately meaningless because Pete Carroll left 2 timeouts in his pocket to end the first half pic.twitter.com/huR3QB8Q8n
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 22, 2019
2nd Half
Seattle held Wil Lutz to a missed field goal to start the half... except Al Woods covered the center, so an illegal formation on 4th and 4 gave the Saints a new set of downs. That led to a 4th and goal touchdown at the 1 to Michael Thomas. Someone punch me in the face. 27-7 Saints.
A three-and-out by the Seahawks could’ve been a dagger, but a muffed punt by Deonte Harris was recovered by Cody Barton (the same guy who knocked Pete Carroll in the nose pre-game with a pass). They shit themselves and couldn’t take advantage, turning the ball over on downs.
Seattle got the ball back to start the 4th quarter, converting a 4th down to C.J. Prosise and finding paydirt from three yards, as Russell Wilson kept on the read-option and scored over Marshon Lattimore. 27-14 Saints.
The Seahawks defense forced a three-and-out to give everyone hope, then the offense proceeded to give the ball right back on a 4th and 1 deep ball that was miles over the head of Malik Turner. Alvin Kamara scored from a yard out for the KO blow. 33-14 Saints.
Russell Wilson is of course amazing, so they got a consolation score off of his legs. 33-21 Saints. They got the ball back with time to cut it to a one possession game, and Wilson did find Will Dissly but time expired. 33-27 Saints Final.
Seahawks injury report
S Bradley McDougald suffered a right ankle injury and was replaced by rookie Marquise Blair. He returned to the game.
LB K.J. Wright suffered a head injury in the 4th quarter and returned to the game.
LT Duane Brown left the game with an arm injury and was replaced by George Fant.
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks end the month with a road game at the Arizona Cardinals (0-2-1) on Sunday, September 29th at 1:05 PM PT on FOX.