NEW ORLEANS - The Seattle Seahawks need not fear the road.
With Shaun Alexander leading the way, the Seahawks were sure-footed on their first trip of the season.
Alexander scored three touchdowns Sunday to get the Seahawks off to a good start with a 21-7 victory over the Saints. Seattle was 2-6 on the road last season, but used its first journey to start working on expectations the Seahawks will be strong contenders for the NFC title.
"Winning on the road, you must do that to win the championship," coach Mike Holmgren said. "We understand that. But the curse and all the ghosts, I don't believe in any of that stuff. Usually if your team is a little bit better, you win on the road."
Playing behind one of the league's best offensive lines, Alexander rushed for 135 yards on 28 carries. He ran for two touchdowns and caught another.
Alexander had his knee wrapped after the game and said it was sore, but doctors told him it was all right. "Nothing hurt worse than when the doctors were tugging at it and all," he said. "But I'm assuming I'm going to be all right."
Matt Hasselbeck completed 19 of 29 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Former Gator and Tampa Catholic grad Darrell Jackson had seven receptions for 98 yards.
Seattle outgained New Orleans 415 yards to 281 and outrushed the Saints 194-74. The Saints converted three of 14 third downs. It was the second straight year the Seahawks beat the Saints to open the season.
The New Orleans game plan had been simple: keep Alexander from having a big game and don't turn over the ball. The Saints weren't able to do either, losing the ball three times. They also had eight penalties for 68 yards to slow them.
"This game boiled down to our good players making mistakes," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "We had two fumbles going in for scores and a couple of penalties that put us in bad position."
Saints running back Deuce McAllister had only 26 yards on 10 carries in the first half, 57 yards for the game. "No gap, no hole to run through," McAllister said. "We didn't play well."
