Alvin Kamara was the one who carried the New Orleans load, and Jameis Winston only made a few plays when necessary. However, the Saints were able to escape Seattle thanks to a series blunders committed by Geno Smith, the backup quarterback.
On New Orleans’ final drive, Seattle was flagged by the NFL for roughing the passer as well as jumping offside during a long field goal attempt. Both penalties resulted in New Orleans receiving first downs. Johnson’s field goal at the end of the two-minute warning gave the Saints the lead.
Johnson, a rookie at Virginia Tech, scored an additional point and made both field-goal attempts, connecting from 21 yards in halftime.
Smith ran DK Metcalf 84 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, but he was unable to score when the Seahawks had the final chance to win or tie the game. Malcolm Jenkins and Demario Davies both ran consecutive plays that saw Smith get thrown out. Smith was again pressured on fourth-and-28 and his throw at Metcalf was incomplete.
Smith was 12 of 22 for 167 yards, and was sacked five more times by Cameron Jordan, Davis and Cameron Jordan. Smith lost his second consecutive game in his place as Russell Wilson. He sustained a right middle finger injury in a loss to the Rams three week ago.
Seattle lost three consecutive games for the first-time since 2011, and is now 0-3 at home.
Kamara ended the game with 10 catches and 128 yards, as well as a 13-yard TD catch late in the first period. This was Kamara’s fifth regular-season game in which he had at least two double-digit receptions. He ran for 51 yards.
Winston was 19th of 35 for 222 yards, and added 43 yards running. Due to Seattle penalties, Winston made enough plays to put the Saints within striking distance of the winning field goal.
Seattle seemed to stop but Marquise was called for roughing Winston on a third down sack. Winston was hit with his helmet crown. Kamara ran for 12 yards past a blitz on third-and-10. The Saints were within field-goal range.
Al Woods leapt offside while Johnson lined up for a 43 yard attempt. New Orleans was able to take another 90 seconds off the clock, before Johnson made the shorter attempt.
Jason Myers of Seattle missed two field goals from 44 yards and 53 yards. The second was in the open end after Smith had taken another costly sack. Myers missed a 50-yarder.
Kamara was involved in 21 of New Orleans’ 39 offensive plays during the first half. Although he was ineffective on the ground most of the game, Seattle could not stop him from passing. By halftime, he had already accumulated 108 yards in receiving.
His fourth reception was on the last drive of the half. His 31-yard catch and run out of the backfield set up his 13 yard TD catch, which gave him a 10-7 halftime lead.
RING OF HONOR
At halftime, Matt Hasselbeck, a former Seahawks quarterback was inducted into Team’s Ring of Honor. Hasselbeck was a Seattle Seahawks player from 2001-10 and held the majority of the team’s passing records up until Wilson’s arrival. He also led the Seahawks’ first Super Bowl appearance.
INJURIES
New Orleans’ starting left guard Andrus PEat suffered a shoulder injury in the first period. He returned briefly, but he left again in the second quarter. Blair appears to have inflicted his right knee in the fourth quarter. Blair had major surgery to the knee in the early part of the 2020 season.
NEXT
Saints: Tampa Bay hosts Saints on Sunday.
Seahawks will host Jacksonville on Sunday.
