SEATTLE (AP) — Tory Horton felt like a kid when he backpedaled and fielded a New Orleans punt deep in Seattle territory.

Horton had the green light to run from his own 5-yard line, and the rookie was untouched on a 95-yard scamper to the end zone — the longest punt return in Seahawks franchise history. He also caught one of Sam Darnold’s two TD passes in Seattle’s 44-13 rout of the winless Saints on Sunday.

“Once the ball’s in my hands, it’s reading blocks and going back to my youth self of just that little game of sharks and minnows,” Horton said. “That’s something that I kind of bring back.”

Chazz Surratt flattened New Orleans punter Kai Kroeger on the return, which gave the Seahawks an early 14-0 lead.

“I didn’t know he was going to take him out for me,” Horton said. “I just had a two-way go and I kind of slowed down a little bit, let him make that block, and after that it was the promised land.”

On a banner day for the Seahawks’ special teams, a blocked punt set up the first of two TDs by Kenneth Walker III, a 3-yard run that gave Seattle (2-1) a 21-0 advantage in the first quarter.

Horton increased the Seahawks’ lead to 28-3 when he caught a 14-yard fade from Darnold. Horton’s first career TD catch came a week earlier in a 31-17 win at Pittsburgh.

“I know that he’s continuing to get better,” Darnold said. “And I think that’s the biggest key as a young player is having that want to get better and understand the offense even that much more.”

Walker’s second short TD run capped a four-play, 76-yard drive that made it 35-3, and Jason Myers added a 56-yard field goal before halftime. Seattle led 38-6 at the break for the second-highest-scoring half in franchise history.

“I feel like we did a really good job executing,” Darnold said.

For the Saints (0-3), it was the most points allowed in a half since they also gave up 38 in the second half of a 62-7 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 16, 1973. First-year coach Kellen Moore’s club struggled to do much of anything right after dropping each of its first two games by one score.

New Orleans did not reach the end zone until the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Spencer Rattler found backup tight end Jack Stoll for a 13-yard touchdown. The second-year quarterback fell to 0-9 as a starter, and the Saints lost their seventh straight dating to last season.

The Saints were penalized 11 times after committing 20 penalties through their first two games.

“At this point, teams look at us as if we’re undisciplined,” defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “If you’re a top-three most penalized team, that’s just a moniker they give you. We have to be able to be better.”

Smith-Njigba’s ‘flu game’

Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was listed questionable with an illness, had five catches for 96 yards and a score. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald compared it to Michael Jordan’s famous “Flu Game” in the 1997 NBA Finals.

“Came back from the dead, it’s pretty cool,” Macdonald said.

Smith-Njigba has 29 catches for 323 yards this season.

Kendrick comes through

Cornerback Derion Kendrick had an interception for the second straight game along with a team-high three passes defensed. Filling in for injured All-Pro Devon Witherspoon, Kendrick is proving to be a find for the Seahawks, who claimed him off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams a month ago.

“He’s just got a knack for making plays,” Macdonald said.

Darnold delights

Darnold was an efficient 14 of 18 for 218 yards, finishing with a QB rating of 154.2 — the second highest in a game in franchise history. Russell Wilson had a perfect 158.3 rating on Oct 28, 2018, against Detroit.

Three games into his Seahawks tenure, Darnold has completed 70.3% of his passes with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

“He’s just playing with great confidence,” Macdonald said. “He’s playing decisive.”

Injuries

Saints safety Justin Reid was evaluated for a concussion in the first half but returned.

Witherspoon did not play for the Seahawks. Safeties Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori and running back Zach Charbonnet also sat out. Fullback Robbie Ouzts injured his ankle and did not return.

Up next

Saints: Visit Buffalo next Sunday.

Seahawks: Visit Arizona next Sunday.

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