Saints Shock Seahawks with Gutsy 33-27 Road Win

The New Orleans Saints (2-1) started life without Drew Brees on Sunday afternoon in the Emerald City, as they faced the Seattle Seahawks (2-1). Brees, who underwent thumb surgery this past week, will miss at least six games, leaving New Orleans with Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill as the only quarterbacks with any type of NFL experience on the roster. With Bridgewater slated to start today, the Saints were trying to win in Seattle for the first time since a 28-17 victory in 2007.

Here is how the game unfolded:

FIRST HALF

1st Quarter

• The Saints win the toss and defer to the second half, as the Seahawks start on offense. The Saints’ defense plays well on the first series and forces a three-and-out.
• Deonte Harris returns the punt 53 yards for a touchdown, the first in the NFL this season!
• NO: 7 - SEA: 0
• Seahawks take over at their 25-yard line. Seattle gets into Saints’ territory on a 29-yard pass play to David Moore. Seahawks stall at the Saints’ 39-yard line and punt again.
• Teddy Bridgewater sees his first action of the day with the Saints at their own 11-yard line. Saints are affected by the noise and commit two penalties on the drive and are forced to punt.
• Seahawks take over at their 36-yard line and Russell Wilson finds Tyler Lockett to the Saints’ 26-yard line. Russell Wilson finds Tyler Lockett for an 8-yard touchdown.
• NO: 7 - SEA: 7
• Deonte Harris returns the kickoff to the Saints’ 33-yard line. So far the young returner is having a whale of a game. Saints cannot figure out the noise and keep committing penalties on offense. They face a long third down as the quarter ends.

2nd Quarter

• On third-and-21, Bridgewater lofts a terrible pass to Josh Hill that is nearly picked. Morstead pins the Seahawks to their 2-yard line on a 64-yard punt!
• Seahawks get from their 2-yard line to their 22-yard line but are forced to punt, thanks to a great tackle by Marshon Lattimore on Tyler Lockett
• Saints start at their 20-yard line and drive to their 43-yard line and have to punt again. Thomas Morstead pins the Seahawks inside their 5-yard line again.
• Seahawks take over inside their 5-yard line, Chris Carson rushes for a first down but Eli Apple forces the ball out and it is returned by Vonn Bell for a touchdown. The play was not blown dead by the officials!!! I repeat, it was not blown dead!!! Wil Lutz misses the PAT. So far the Saints’ defense and special teams have all the scores for New Orleans.
• NO: 13 - SEA: 7
• Seahawks take over at their 32-yard line after a kickoff return by Lockett. Russell Wilson carries the ball into Saints’ territory. Seahawks get to the Saints’ 41-yard line and go for it on 4th-and-one and the Saints’ defense stuffs them. Turnover on downs!!!
• Saints take over at their 42-yard line, and Bridgewater finds Michael Thomas for a first down inside Seahawks’ territory, the first target and catch of the day for Thomas. Bridgewater finds Alvin Kamara for a 29-yard screen pass into the end zone: touchdown. Kamara’s first touchdown of the season.
• NO: 20 - SEA: 7
• Seahawks take over at their 21-yard line and after a first down, Russell Wilson launches the ball 54 yards to the Saints’ red zone, but Seattle is out of time after a baffling time management. Once again, Marshon Lattimore let a receiver get behind him in the worst time possible, but the Saints escape and lead by 13 at halftime. As Chris Berman often says: we’ve only just begun!

SECOND HALF

3rd Quarter

• Deonte Harris returns the kickoff to the Saints’ 26-yard line. Saints get into Seahawks territory on runs by Alvin Kamara and a reception by Michael Thomas. Saints stall at Seattle’s 36-yard line,. On 4th-and-4, Wil Lutz attempts a 53-yard field goal and is short, but a 5-yard penalty on the Seahawks gives New Orleans life with a first down. Saints get into Seattle’s red zone on a Bridgewater pass to Michael Thomas. Saints get to the Seahawks one-yard line and on fourth-and-goal, Teddy Bridgewater finds Michael Thomas for a touchdown!!!
• NO: 27 - SEA: 7
• Seahawks start at their 25-yard line and force the Seahawks punt the ball, but Deonte Harris fumbles the punt to give the ball back to the Seahawks.
• Seahawks incur another penalty and start their drive at their own 50-yard line. A penalty on P.J. Williams keeps the Seahawks drive alive and Seattle gets into the Saints’ red zone. On 4th-and-5 from the Saints’ 13-yard line, Seahawks go for it, but a pass to Tyler Lockett falls incomplete. Saints take over!
• Saints get pinned at their 6-yard line by a holding penalty, but on 1st-and-17, Alvin Kamara runs for a first down, like a whirling dervish. Kamara has been the MVP for the Saints today through three quarters!!! On 3rd-and-3, Bridgewater throws a perfect pass to Jared Cook that Cook drops by not turning his head around soon enough. Saints punt.
• Seahawks take over at their own 22-yard line as the fourth quarter starts

4th Quarter

• Seahawks get into Saints’ territory in two passes by Russell Wilson. On 4th-and-3 from the Saints’ 33-yard line, Wilson finds C.J. Prosise for a first down in the Saints’ red zone. Russell Wilson runs into the end zone for a touchdown.
• NO: 27 - SEA: 14
• Saints take over at their 22-yard line after a pooched kickoff and a fair catch by Dwayne Washington. On 3rd-and-4, a pass from Bridgewater to Thomas falls incomplete, Saints go three-and-out. Morstead booms a 54-yarder to put Seattle at their own 19-yard line.
• Seahawks face a 4th-and-one from their 29-yard line and Russell Wilson misses on a deep pass. Saints take over deep in Seattle’s territory.
• Starting at the Seahawks’ 29-yard line, Taysom Hill runs for 5 yards., then Kamara for one yard. On 3rd-and-4, Bridgewater finds Taysom Hill for a quick pass and a first down. Alvin Kamara runs for seven yards into the Seahawks’ red zone. Saints have a first-and-goal at the Seahawks 4-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal, Saints throw the ball and a penalty on the Seahawks gives New Orleans a first-and-goal at the one yard line. Kamara runs violently into the end zone for a touchdown. Saints go for two and cannot convert.
• NO: 33 - SEA: 14
• Seahawks take over at their 25-yard line after the kickoff and Russell Wilson does Russell Wilson things, getting the Seahawks into the Saints’ red zone in the blink of an eye. Russell Wilson eventually runs into the end zone for a touchdown. The Seahawks, interestingly, do not go for two.
• NO: 33 - SEA: 21
• Saints fair catch the squib kick at their own 23-yard line and run twice. They face a 3rd-and-5 at the two-minute warning. Saints fail to pick the first down and Thomas Morstead and Sainst stop returner Tyler Lockett at Seattle’s 18-yard line.
• Seahawks get into hurry-up offense and Tyler Lockett eludes the whole Saints defense catch after catch. Wilson, on 4th-and-5 from the Saints 13-yard line is incomplete but a flag on the Saints keeps the Seahawks drive alive with 5 seconds to go in the game. Seahawks fail to score with time on the clock, but score an untimes down touchdown. Saints win a terrific 33-28 road game.
• NO: 33 - SEA: 27
• Saints Win! Saints Win!