In their recent game against the Seahawks, the Texans struggled despite some standout defensive plays. They managed to snag four takeaways from Seattle but still fell short with a 27-19 loss. This win helps the Seahawks keep pace with the Rams and 49ers in the competitive NFC West.
The Seahawks jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run from Zach Charbonnet and an 11-yard reception by Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first quarter. However, the Texans fought back thanks to an interception during a trick play and a blocked punt, leading to a couple of field goals. They went into halftime trailing 14-6.
After a field goal from Seattle at the start of the third quarter, the Texans’ defense made a big play. Will Anderson executed a strip-sack, recovered the fumble, and scored a touchdown. Unfortunately, they missed the two-point conversion, leaving the score at 17-12.
Seattle’s Jason Myers later nailed a 47-yard field goal, and Charbonnet scored a 2-yard touchdown, stretching their lead to 27-12. Houston had opportunities to score, but they turned the ball over on downs twice in the fourth quarter, once while trying to convert from the Seattle 1-yard line.
With only 2:04 left, Woody Marks caught a touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to eight points. However, a costly penalty on Tim Settle allowed Seattle to secure the victory.
The Texans’ offense struggled all night. They recorded just 254 total yards on 69 plays, averaging only 3.7 yards per play. Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 49 passes for 229 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was also their leading rusher with 25 yards.
Dalton Schultz had a strong night with nine receptions for 98 yards. Unfortunately, teammate Nico Collins had to leave the game due to a concussion, adding to Houston’s troubles.
On the Seahawks’ side, Sam Darnold went 17-of-31 for 213 yards and threw one touchdown while also having an interception. Smith-Njigba shined again, catching eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, marking his third consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards. This achievement ties him for the second-most such games in franchise history.
With this win, the Seahawks improved to 5-2, matching the records of the 49ers and Rams at the top of the NFC West. They will have a bye in Week 8 before facing the Commanders on Sunday Night Football in Week 9. Meanwhile, the Texans, now at 2-4, will return home to take on the 49ers after a long flight.
This game highlights the repeating theme in the NFL: even strong defenses can’t make up for struggles on offense. Looking at the statistics, teams with balanced performance tend to find more success. In fact, according to a 2023 study from the NFL, teams averaging over 375 total yards per game had an impressive 75% chance of making the playoffs. As the season progresses, teams will need to address any weaknesses if they hope to compete for a playoff spot.
