Texans Seahawks

Texans lose a shootout in Seattle, 41-38

Texans lose a shootout in Seattle, 41-38
Jimmy Graham scored the game winner. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Follow me on Twitter @ODonalsVanguard

Heading into Seattle and CenturyLink Field is no joke for any team. The Seahawks haven't been great offensively, but their defense has been pretty strong like always. But the Texans, a usually dominant defense, are now making a clear name for themselves offensively with Deshaun Watson under center. Going into week 8 there was an appearance that the strengths of each team would offset. At the end of the day the game divulged into a classic offensive shootout that would finish with the Seahawks walking out a winner 41-38.

The Texans jumped out to a an early 7-0 lead on a 5 play 75 yard drive that culminated in Will Fuller catching his 6th touchdown of the season on a 59 yard pass. That was the first points the Seahawks have given up in the first quarter all season. The Texans defense stepped up and forced a quick 3 and out, but the following Texans drive ended when Earl Thomas intercepted Watson for a 78 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7 apiece.

Houston came right back with good downfield passing and in 8 plays they were right back on top following a 3 yard run by Lamar Miller, 14-7. That didn't last because the Seahawks put together their own 8 play drive that ended in a 20 yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Paul Richardson.

The teams traded punts and then Watson took control of the next dive. His scrambling ability really showed up at the right time as he kept the offense in good down a distance. It also took some courage from head coach Bill O'Brien to go for it on 4th and 1 near midfield. Miller got 2 yards and the drive continued all the way to a 20 yard touchdown pass from Watson to Fuller to make the score 21-14. 

Not to be outdone Seattle took only 6 plays to get their touchdown to tie the game back up. After a 53 yard bomb to Taylor McEvoy, Russell Wilson threw his second touchdown to Paul Richardson. That would be the final score before the half, 21-21.

The second half stared much the same way as the first, alternate scoring. This time is was field goals that were traded early on. After the Seahawks got the second of those the Texans got the ball back looking to get something going. That drive wouldn't get anything; Richard Sherman picked off the second play of the drive and returned it to the 16-yard line. A penalty would move it to the 8 yard line but the Texans defense would hold and get a win by forcing a field goal. The Seahawks now had their first lead of the game, 27-24.

The Seahawks entered the fourth quarter with a 3 point lead and a defense that has not allowed a score in those final minutes all year. They would start their first drive of the quarter from the 4 yard line after a great punt by the Texans special teams unit but did nothing with it.

It was no longer time to play around. Watson took over at his own 29 yard line and with the help of to 30 plus yard plays gave the Texans the lead again with about 9 minutes left in the game. Miller got his second touchdown of the game with a 2 yard catch in the middle of the field. The Texans now led 30-27. Their defense would have to step up and get the ball back from Russell Wilson.

It didn't look good though. In 5 plays the Seahawks moved the ball 65 yards into the red zone and had goal to go. Russell Wilson got his third touchdown pass of the day, tossing a 1 yard score to Jimmy Graham to get the lead back 34-31. There was still plenty of time left for the Texans to finish off the game strong. It didn't quite work out that way.  

A huge 72 yard play from DeAndre Hopkins swung the momentum back the Texans way. The score was now 38-34 Texans, the fourth lead change of the game; all in the second half. Seattle came right back, getting the ball all the way down to the Texans 20 yard. It looked like they were going to score another go ahead touchdown but Marcus Williams had other plans. He picked off a Wilson pass right outside the goal line and returned it back to the 8 yard line giving the Texans the ball and a chance to take a lot of time off the clock.

After all running plays by the Texans, Seattle was out of timeouts. They threw the ball downfield right away, getting 48 yards on a great catch by Paul Richardson. Another chunk play got 19 yards and Wilson followed that up with an 18 yard touchdown to Jimmy Graham, his second one of the day. Seattle now led 41-38. There was only 21 seconds left on the clock and the Texans had 2 timeouts. It didn't matter as Richard Sherman intercepted his second pass of the day and sealed the last second win for Seattle.

The Texans offense was great in this game. The Seahawks have been limiting the scoring of their opponents and that has helped their own offense. Houston came right out and punched them in the mouth with quick scores. That helped set the tone for the game and forced them to step it up offensively. They realized they couldn't sit back and expect their defense to help them win this game by keeping the score low. This was true for both teams as there was 79 points scored combined on the day.

Watson finished the day 19-30 for 402 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He became the first rookie to throw at least 3 touchdown passes in 5 straight games and has also managed 30 or more points in those games. Will Fuller continues to catch touchdown passes, hauling in 2 today and upping his season total to 7 on 13 receptions for the season. Lamar Miller ran for one and caught another for the other 2 touchdowns the Texans scored. Hopkins had his big played that might have given the Texans a big win, but it was the great play of Russell Wilson and the Seahawks defense that send Houston home losers.

The Texans are now 3-4 on the season and head into a game at home against the Colts. With their newfound offensive prowess they should be able to get their record back even with a divisional win.

 

 

 

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Three is the magic number. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Texans have a chance to win a third straight AFC South title this season with quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans.

The challenge?

Nobody has won three straight titles since Peyton Manning was in his prime with the Indianapolis Colts in this division’s early years. The Tennessee Titans most recently came the closest only to come up short in 2022.

“I’m not really sure like what the next step is,” Houston general manager Nick Caserio said. “I mean we have a good football team, so we’ve been one of the best eight teams in the league the last two years. So what’s going to happen beyond that nobody has any idea.”

The Texans have advanced to two straight divisional rounds each of the past two postseasons, losing both with the most recent to Kansas City 23-14 in January. Caserio made a variety of moves to help Stroud, and coach DeMeco Ryans switched offensive coordinators as well.

Houston tight end Dalton Schultz said they just have to do one thing to get past the divisional round.

“It’s never the same as the year before, and there’s always some little wrinkle that is going to hit the league or hit your team,” Schultz said.

Houston went 10-7 in 2024 with the Colts at 8-9 with everyone working furiously to catch up — or else.

Indianapolis switched starting quarterbacks. Jacksonville hired a new coach and general manager before trading up to draft Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Tennessee has No. 1 draft pick overall in Cam Ward starting at quarterback after firing and hiring a new general manager.

“This league is a year-to-year league and what do I feel is best for the Colts in 2025,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said.

Texans’ challenge

Houston has to protect Stroud better. Only Chicago’s Caleb Williams was sacked more than the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. With the pounding, Stroud’s production dipped as he was sacked 52 times with his interceptions more than doubling to 12 from his rookie season.

Stroud still threw for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns. Ryans fired Bobby Slowik and hired Nick Caley as offensive coordinator.

“He comes from a different style than I’m used to, at least in the NFL,” Stroud said of Caley. “So, it’s cool just to learn something new and put another tool in my toolbox.”

Caserio traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington during the offseason to clear space to sign younger players. The Texans are expected to start a rookie at left tackle in second-round pick Aireontae Ersery with Tytus Howard at right tackle where he started 16 games last season.

Houston also acquired Christian Kirk, signed Justin Watson and drafted a pair of receivers out of Iowa State to provide depth behind Nico Collins after letting Stefon Diggs leave in free agency. Caserio also sent wide receiver John Metchie to Philadelphia for tight end Harrison Bryant on Aug. 17.

Hey Danny Dimes

Indianapolis has missed the playoffs the past four seasons, and a fifth straight could cost Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard their jobs with the late Jim Irsay’s daughters now running the franchise.

Going with Daniel Jones means the franchise who went two decades with Manning and Andrew Luck at quarterback will have yet another starter on opening day. Since 2017, only Anthony Richardson has started back-to-back season openers.

Yet the fourth overall pick in 2023 couldn’t stay healthy or help Jonathan Taylor nearly enough. Taylor ran for 1,431 yards and 11 TDs as Richardson completed just 47.7% of his throws, the lowest rate of any regular starter in the NFL.

Steichen said Richardson, 23, was thrown into the fire. The Colts coach isn’t ready to talk about Jones’ future.

“Let’s see how the season goes,” Steichen said.

Jacksonville’s youth movement

The biggest makeover came in Jacksonville, firing a Super Bowl-winning coach in Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke. The Jaguars hired Liam Coen as coach and James Gladstone, 34, as their new GM.

The Jaguars are trying to fix a team that went 3-10 in one-score games in 2024 with the franchise losers of 18 of its past 23.

In his first head coaching job, Coen, 39, has a pair of first-timers in offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. As coordinator in Tampa Bay, Coen became the first NFL coordinator in at least 25 years to help a team average more than 28 points a game.

He has Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, who was limited by injuries to 10 games in 2024. Wide receiver Brian Thomas now can get help from Hunter, even if the rookie will also play some defense.

Tennessee time

Brian Callahan also was a first-time head coach a year ago with the Titans. He brought in a former NFL head coach in Mike McCoy this offseason among a handful of other changes to apply his lessons learned.

Mike Borgonzi was hired as GM when Ran Carthon’s big offseason spending spree didn’t pan out. The Titans have embraced their rebuild even if they added veteran receivers Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson along with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right guard Kevin Zeitler.

Predicted order of finish

Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome