Saints 13 Seahawks 10: Offense.exe has stopped working

Yeah that was bad.

The Seattle Seahawks (2-5) have lost three straight for the first time since 2011 and it was a horrible offensive showing outside of an 84-yard touchdown for DK Metcalf. Geno Smith (12/22 for 167 yards and a TD) was terrible, the rushing attack was spammed and ineffective all at once, and Jason Myers missed two critical field goals as the team dropped a 13-10 clunker against the New Orleans Saints (4-2).

For the most part, the defense held up except for the novel idea of stopping Alvin Kamara as a receiving option. But stupid penalties extended New Orleans’ game-winning drive and proved costly in the end.

This season isn’t over but it pretty much is over.

1st Half

Both teams opened up with punts to start the game, but on the second play of the Seahawks’ second drive, Geno Smith’s first pass went for 84 yards to the house. DK Metcalf beat Marshon Lattimore and off he went! 7-0 Seahawks.

New Orleans drove the ball into Seattle territory but Alvin Kamara was stopped on 3rd and 9. Instead of go for it on 4th and 3, Sean Payton’s team punted it and downed the ball at Seattle’s 1. Marshon Lattimore getting caught shoving DK Metcalf after Metcalf shoved him resulted in a penalty that got the Seahawks out of the hole, but they eventually punted anyway.

The Saints got on the board in the 2nd quarter on a 19-play, 86-yard drive that included a couple of 4th down conversions (with a missed false start), an iffy pass interference against DJ Reed on 3rd down, but no touchdown. Jordyn Brooks had the 3rd down pass breakup in the end zone to end a 10-minute drive with just 3 points. 7-3 Seahawks.

After another empty possession by the Seahawks, Jameis Winston and Alvin Kamara carved up Seattle in the two-minute drill and even when Winston fumbled the snap he found Kamara open for a 13-yard touchdown. 10-7 Saints at halftime.

2nd Half

Seattle’s defense got a badly needed three-and-out to start the 2nd half, with Sidney Jones getting a pass defensed on 3rd down to force a punt. The Saints kept committing personal foul penalties, which was ideal for a stagnant Seahawks offense. Back-to-back sacks taken by Geno Smith took Seattle out of field goal range, but a 3rd and 19 draw run by Travis Homer set up a 44-yarder for Jason Myers… which he missed wide right.

New Orleans only got one first down and punted after Jamal Adams broke up a deep pass to Kevin White, who is apparently still in the league and was on the practice squad before he was activated for tonight’s game. Seattle ran it six times, got one first down, and punted again.

Ugo Amadi made a clutch play! He forced a fumble on TE Adam Trautman and Jordyn Brooks made the recovery at the Saints’ 31. Naturally the Seahawks ran it some more, then blew their 2nd timeout of the half, and after gaining 0 yards the game was tied thanks to a Jason Myers field goal. Redemption! 10-10.

A crossing route catch-and-run by Marquez Callaway was erased by a holding penalty on Erik McCoy, who mugged Al Woods. That proved pivotal as instead of being in Seattle territory, the Saints failed on 3rd and 12 and were forced to punt.

Just when you thought a drive would be sustained, with Geno getting it to Alex Collins, DK Metcalf, and Freddie Swain on his completed passes, he takes a 3rd down sack on a blitz and then Jason Myers missed wide left from 53 yards out.

The Saints were on the cusp of punting when a Jameis Winston sack was nullified due to a Marquise Blair helmet shot. Roughing the passer and a fresh set of downs. Later in the drive it was 3rd and 10 but Alvin Kamara ran for 12 yards off of the side where Blair was blitzing. A huge offensive pass interference knocked the Saints back 10 yards, and they couldn’t get the first down… then Al Woods jumped offsides on a 42-yard field goal attempt. So stupid. New Orleans eventually got into a goal-to-go situation but curiously stopped the clock on a 2nd down throwaway. Winston was sacked on 3rd down and suddenly the field goal got a little big longer. Brian Johnson, playing in his first NFL game, booted it through the uprights. 13-10 Saints with 1:56 to go.

Geno, this is your moment…. ah, incomplete, sack, sack, incomplete. Game over. 13-10 Saints Final.

Seahawks injury report

DB Marquise Blair injured his right knee in the 4th quarter. He did not return.

Next week’s opponent

The Seahawks wrap up October with a Halloween afternoon home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) at 1:05 PM PT on CBS.