There is no hyperbole. This is one of the worst performances the New Orleans Saints have put on display in quite a long time. No matter what direction you look, it was a disappointing team effort. The Seattle Seahawks had a punt return touchdown and a punt block. The Saints defense didn't force a punt until Sam Darnold left the game, and the offense sputtered through the game.
The game got out of hand early and a blowout felt like the inevitable outcome before the first quarter was over. Before you even blinked, the Saints were down 21 points. In Madden, we call that getting skunked.
The Saints front line didn't hold up. Spencer Rattler missed a critical throw to an open Alvin Kamara on fourth down in the first drive of the game. Kellen Moore was aggressive. It was a calculated risk that went wrong. In hindsight, that was the beginning of the avalanche.
The Seahawks nearly set a record versus the Saints
The most points the Saints have given up in a single game was 52 points against the New York Giants in 2012. This isn't the classic shootout game between Drew Brees and Eli Manning. It was the Saints who scored 52 in that matchup. The 2012 matchup was a thumping.
The Saints fell to the Giants 52-27 because of a 17 point fourth quarter rally from New York. There was no need for a fourth quarter rally this week. The Seahawks started the game dominant and were able to rest their starters for the entire fourth quarter.
Putting Sam Darnold on the bench is the only reason the Seahawks didn't eclipse the 50-point mark. Seattle scored every possession Darnold played. The Saints offered very little resistance, and there is no reason to believe the Saints would have stalled the Seahawk at any point if the backups didn't enter the game.
The Seahawks had 38 points at halftime. The Saints did a little better in the third quarter. Instead of allowing touchdowns, they forced Seattle into two field goals. The Seahawks finished the game with 44 points, and all of them came within the first three quarters