At long last, the Seattle Seahawks scored an opening-drive touchdown.
Sam Darnold connected with rookie wide receiver Tory Horton for a 21-yard touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, which snapped the Seahawks’ NFL-high 22-game drought without a touchdown on their opening possession. It was their first opening-drive TD since a December 2023 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks Inactives: Devon Witherspoon out vs Steelers
It was also the first NFL reception for Horton, who didn’t receive a target in last week’s season-opening loss to the 49ers. Horton, a fifth-round draft pick out of Colorado State, had a standout training camp and preseason that vaulted him into the team’s third receiver role behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Tory Horton’s 1st career catch is a touchdown!
SEAvsPIT on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/rCS74Ca0gA
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
Horton’s touchdown catch capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive that was extended by a pair of third-down completions from Darnold to Smith-Njigba. Darnold hit Smith-Njigba for a 15-yard completion on a third-and-6 and a 12-yard completion on a third-and-10.
Horton’s touchdown catch came on an under-center play-action pass, which was notable after Seattle used play-action just twice last week against the 49ers.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Seattle Seahawks elevate safety, nose tackle from practice squad
• Seattle Seahawks’ pass rush could be X-factor against Steelers
• Bump: Seattle Seahawks need to ‘be stubborn’ with offensive game plan
• Seahawks edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu to make season debut vs Steelers
• Seattle Seahawks plan to avoid IR stint for rookie safety Emmanwori