Jameis Winston, Saints Edge Seahawks on Late Brian Johnson FG to Improve to 4-2

Since Russell Wilson left the team’s Oct. 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams with a fractured finger, the Seahawks are 0-3. With the Arizona Cardinals off to a blazing start (7-0) and the Rams not far behind (6-1), Seattle’s division title hopes are all but extinguished, and their playoff aspirations aren’t far behind. 

As for the 4-2 Saints, they remain hot on the heels of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1) in the NFC South. So long as they keep feeding Kamara—and kicker Brian Johnson can keep the composure he showed in his first NFL appearance on Monday night—the Saints will remain a problem for opponents.

Monday night was very much a battle of two teams moving in opposite directions. The Seahawks are entering must-win territory in the coming weeks. The Saints will be happy to have gutted out a less-than-pretty road win. 

Key Stats

Alvin Kamara, NO: 20 carries for 51 yards; 10 receptions for 128 yards and a score

Jameis Winston, NO: 19-for-35 for 222 yards and a touchdown

Demario Davis, NO: 10 tackles (four for loss), two sacks, three quarterback hits

Geno Smith, SEA: 12-of-22 for 167 yards and a score

D.K. Metcalf, SEA: Two catches for 96 yards and a touchdown

Alex Collins, SEA: 16 carries for 35 yards

Alvin Kamara Carried The Load

When in doubt, get Kamara the ball. 

That seemed to be the New Orlean’s gameplan on Monday night, and while it wasn’t always pretty, it ultimately worked. No surprises there—Kamara is the team’s best player. 

His first half alone was epic:

But he’s especially important given the lack of weapons the Saints currently have in the passing game. When your other options are Kenny Stills, Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith and Adam Trautman in the passing game, well yeah, you’re gonna find Kamara as much as possible. 

Thankfully for the Saints, he made the most of his heavy workload. 

Can We Get More D.K. Metcalf?

For much of Monday night’s game, Seahawks fans probably felt like Christopher Walken pleading for more cowbell. All they wanted, however, was more Metcalf. 

The star wideout torched the Saints in the first quarter for this 84-yard touchdown reception:

And then he didn’t see another target—not a single one—until the fourth quarter. He had just five targets on the night, less than Freddie Swain (six). How does that happen?

Yes, there was some rain. It’s no secret that Pete Carroll loves to establish the run game. And Carroll might be trying to protect Geno Smith with a more conservative gameplan. 

But weapons like Metcalf need the ball. Seattle’s offense was pretty impotent outside of his involvement.

On a night when the Saints built their gameplan around Kamara, Metcalf’s disappearance was all the more jarring. This was an offense with a fever, and it sure seemed like the only prescription was more Metcalf. Instead, it took the L.

What’s Next?

The Seahawks will try to end their skid when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS). The Saints, meanwhile, will be gearing up for a crucial divisional matchup when they host the Bucs on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX).