The first time Sam Darnold dropped back to pass on Sunday, he had to escape pressure, running to his left to buy time as receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke off his initial route to get open for his scrambling quarterback.
Running to his left, Darnold flicked an accurate pass to Smith-Njigba that traveled about 25 yards in the air, resulting in a 29-yard gain for the Seahawks on an opening drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba.
That escape and pass to Smith-Njigba set the tone for what was a very efficient and explosive day for Darnold in his third start as a Seahawk, a dominant 44-13 win over the Saints. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Darnold threw downfield (10-plus air yards) on 44.4 percent of his pass attempts, completing 6 of 8 attempts for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Darnold had a passer rating of 156.3 on those downfield throws, his best passer rating on such throws in his career.
Nex Gen Stats also had Darnold with a 77.8 percent drop-back success rate, the highest of his career, 16 percentage points better than his second highest mark of 61.8 percent, which came in Week 4 of last season.
"He's just playing really good with great confidence and he's decisive," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonal said. "… Guys are playing hard for him. Our protection right now is really good, and we've got to keep that going. Look, Sam would be first to tell you we're excited we're 2-1, but we have to go stack some wins and win another one. He's hungry to do that."
Check out the best photos from the Seahawks' Week 3 conference matchup vs. the Saints at Lumen Field.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
