Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Two of the biggest plays that quickly defined the matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks were special teams gaffes that helped to put the Saints in some insurmountable circumstances early in the game.
First, a franchise-record 95-yard punt return touchdown by Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton. Second, a blocked punt by defensive back D’Anthony Bell.
95-Yard punt return touchdown by Tory Horton
The punt return touchdown drew a lot of ire because of a potential block in the back. But even without that, the Seahawks put the Saints in a bad situation right off the bat in terms of their coverage. Seattle did a great job forcing the Saints’ first line of defense to be the last line of defense following a 61-yard punt by Kai Kroeger.
While most of the action worth highlighting here happened after the snap, pre-snap will be important going into the punt block later. You can see the Saints staying heavy to the offensive left side. Keep that in mind for when we come back to the blocked punt.
As for the return set up, gunners Velus Jones Jr. and Isaac Yiadom didn’t quite get kicked out of position. But although they were in position to make the stops, Horton had enough space not to be forced into passing on the punt and taking the bounce nor calling a fair catch. Jones is in position for an openfield tackle, however, does not get a chance to breakdown over the returner before Horton has already started to move laterally.
Then came the questioned contact with Yiadom. However, the force of the contact likely wasn’t enough to force the flag from the officials’ hands when it came to a potential block in the back. At this point, New Orleans is forced into a precarious position with a lot of green grass around Horton, who now has the ability to dictate direction in space.
With linebacker Isaiah Stalbird in position to potentially crash down the stop, Horton is able to bluff his angle to the outside before cutting upfield, which is forced wide open in the middle after Jones stumbles and falls down. He could have been in position to close off the middle of the field from pursuit behind the return, because he had a strong angle.
After that, the Saints’ only hope of stopping this from being a huge return is one of the two coverage players closest to the middle of the return to make the stop. However, Horton’s speed makes that a tougher task than it sounds. One more block to Kroeger and Horton is home free.
Blocked Punt by D’Anthony Bell
The Saints stayed heavy to the left side of their line, this time with five blockers on one side and just two to the right side of the center (from the offensive perspective). However, after the snap, no one seems to key in on Bell, who did not rush to block in the last punt situation. Unlike the punt return touchdown where Seattle had eight on the line of scrimmage, Seattle only places six on the line for this one, but sends Bell.
Bell runs the arc with no obstructions, as the protection condenses to the middle of the line. Perhaps the presnap look that Seattle deployed along with Bell not being asked to rush the punter the first time around allowed the Seahawks to attack in a way that New Orleans did not expect, creating an opening for Bell to go unblocked on his way to Kroeger.
Without an obstruction, Bell continues the Saints’ Murphy’s Law of a day with a diving block, forcing a very short field for the Saints’ defense to defend. The result was a touchdown and 21-0 lead just two plays later.
