There’s a well known piece of wisdom in Seattle. No game is ever allowed to be easy. You always have to play down to opponents and make things close. Backup quarterbacks or inexperienced starters will be afforded opportunities to make plays. Even if the Seahawks win, it generally has to be stressful.
What a relief that the 2025 version of the team busted this particular slice of conventional thinking.
For once it was great to be able to bask in an arse kicking. It might not mean much for the state of the Seahawks and their chances this year. The Saints were clearly overmatched, didn’t have the coaching chops to compete with Seattle’s staff and big special teams plays early in the game ended any kind of contest by half-time.
It doesn’t matter though. I’m very much here for a stress-free Sunday, with an opportunity to indulge in a highlight-reel of a game with half an eye on Thursday’s opponents, Arizona, having to fight and scrap through a tense and bruising battle against the 49ers.
Kudos to Jay Harbaugh and his special teams crew for a brilliant performance. It goes without saying this was everything you could hope for. Big returns, blocks and strong kicking from Jason Myers. The only downer was a flat punt from Michael Dickson that was well returned — but it hardly diminishes all of the other great work.
Tory Horton continues to explode onto the scene. Two more touchdowns today — including a big punt return — showed off his massive potential. He has an opportunity to be the steal of the draft. He has everything needed to be a very good, long-term Seahawk.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s continued role as one of the best receivers in the league also deserves a mention. This was another great day for JSN who is just an incredibly reliable, unassuming player who can be a quarterback’s best friend.
Sam Darnold looked incredibly decisive and comfortable in the offense and things seem to be progressing well across the board on that side of the ball.
Defensively, the Seahawks deserve a ton of credit for the way they are developing defensive backs. Josh Jobe, through three weeks, has played at an extremely high level. Derion Kendrick matched last week’s showing. Coby Bryant took the lead with Julian Love absent and had another good game.
To see these young players developing and the group play as well as it did without Love, Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori speaks volumes for the players and the coaches. Mike Macdonald, Aden Durde, Karl Scott and anyone else involved clearly know what they’re doing.
There are several other positives you could mention but overall, the Seahawks consumed the Saints and showed them who’s boss. This is what a team like the Lions or Ravens would do to an opponent like New Orleans at home. It was great to see the Seahawks dishing out a beating.
On to Thursday and the second NFC West game of the season. The Seahawks handled the Cardinals in both games last year but this will be a good gauge of where they’re currently at. Losing to the 49ers in week one means they need to win as many of their remaining divisional games as possible.
After a slow start in the opener, things appear to be progressing nicely.
