RENTON, Wash. (AP) — On his first pass attempt of the Seattle Seahawks’ 44-13 win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sam Darnold improvised.

The Saints’ pass rush closed in, and Darnold scrambled to his left to find Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 29-yard pickup. Darnold remained calm and poised while throwing against his body for his first of 14 completions on 18 attempts for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

“Understanding momentum, understanding how fast I’m going and just being able to turn my shoulders,” Darnold said Sunday. “I can be running as fast as I need to be to my left, as long as my shoulders are turned.”

Darnold, who signed a three-year contract worth up to $100.5 million during the offseason, has looked the part of a franchise quarterback — and not just when he’s had to impr

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