Tory Horton Electrifies in Seahawks’ 44-13 Victory Over Winless Saints

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SEATTLE — Rookie wide receiver Tory Horton delivered a historic performance on Sunday as the Seattle Seahawks dismantled the New Orleans Saints 44-13 at Lumen Field. Horton’s 95-yard punt return touchdown—the longest in Seahawks franchise history—helped spark a dominant first half for Seattle, which led 38-6 at the break. Horton fielded the punt from his own 5-yard line and weaved through defenders untouched, thanks in part to a crushing block by linebacker Chazz Surratt on Saints punter Kai Kroeger. “Once the ball’s in my hands, it’s reading blocks and going back to my youth self of just that little game of sharks and minnows,” Horton said after the game. The special teams unit played a pivotal role in Seattle’s early surge, with a blocked punt setting up Kenneth Walker III’s first touchdown. Horton later caught a 14-yard fade from quarterback Sam Darnold, extending the lead to 28-3 in the second quarter. It was his second career touchdown catch in as many weeks.

“I know that he’s continuing to get better,” said Darnold, who finished 14 of 18 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, posting a 154.2 passer rating—the second highest in team history.

Seattle’s offensive outburst also featured Walker’s second touchdown run and a 56-yard field goal by Jason Myers. By halftime, the Seahawks had posted their second-highest point total in a half in franchise history. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who played through an illness, added five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Mike Macdonald likened his performance to Michael Jordan’s iconic 1997 NBA “Flu Game.” On the defensive side, cornerback Derion Kendrick—filling in for the injured Devon Witherspoon—recorded an interception for the second straight game and added three pass breakups. “He’s just got a knack for making plays,” Macdonald said. The Saints, now 0-3 under first-year head coach Kellen Moore, struggled in all phases. Quarterback Spencer Rattler finally broke the end zone drought with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Jack Stoll, but it was too little, too late. The Saints were penalized 11 times and have now lost seven straight games dating back to last season.

“At this point, teams look at us as if we’re undisciplined,” Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “If you’re a top-three most penalized team, that’s just a moniker they give you. We have to be able to be better”. Seattle (2-1) will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday, while New Orleans (0-3) hopes to turn things around on the road in Buffalo.