Seattle Seahawks’ protection dominates Houston Texans in win

SEATTLE — Not the whole lot was unhealthy for Seattle sports activities followers on Monday night time.

Whereas the Mariners fell simply in need of making their first World Sequence look, the Seahawks took care of enterprise at Lumen Area, beating the Houston Texans 27-19. The Seahawks’ protection held Houston to 254 yards and sacked C.J. Stroud thrice, serving to them overcome 4 turnovers. In the meantime, Seattle vast receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a landing move whereas operating again Zach Charbonnet ran for 2 extra scores.

Listed here are a very powerful issues to know from Monday’s matchup for each groups:

Moments earlier than kickoff, the Seahawks had franchise legends Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas elevate the ceremonial 12 flag at Lumen Area. Then Seattle’s protection turned in a efficiency that may make the Legion of Growth proud.

The Seahawks harassed Stroud, sacking him thrice, intercepting him as soon as and holding him to beneath a 50% completion price (23-for-49). Their loaded move rush and sometimes robust run protection had been sufficient to maintain Houston’s offense out of the top zone till late within the fourth quarter regardless of Seattle once more taking part in short-handed within the secondary, with Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love each inactive.

Seattle’s offense bought one other large recreation from Smith-Njigba, who caught eight passes for 123 yards and a landing, nevertheless it turned the ball over 4 instances and transformed solely twice out of 14 instances on third down.

This night time belonged to the protection, whose dominance helped Seattle enhance to 5-2 heading into the bye. Whereas the Seahawks are off the remainder of the week, they may not be idle with the Nov. 4 commerce deadline approaching and a possible commerce candidate in cornerback Riq Woolen, who is not a part of their long-term plans. The Seahawks predict Witherspoon (and Love) again after the bye, which might give them extra freedom to maneuver Woolen and, relying on what they get in return, doubtlessly enhance what already is among the finest defenses within the NFL.

What to make of the QB efficiency: Sam Darnold has finished a superb job this season of avoiding sacks and damaging performs basically, however he did not try this Monday night time. With the Seahawks backed up close to their very own purpose line within the third quarter, he tried to retreat in the long run zone with the pocket collapsing in entrance of him, resulting in a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr. that the Houston edge rusher recovered in the long run zone. Darnold was sacked one other time and threw an interception within the fourth quarter, making it an atypical efficiency for a quarterback who had entered the competition ranked third in Whole QBR. Darnold accomplished 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and a scoring strike to Smith-Njigba.

Pattern to look at: If it wasn’t clear already, it ought to be now: Uchenna Nwosu is again to his outdated self. His sack of Stroud within the first quarter was his sixth in as many video games this season. The veteran edge rusher missed the opener whereas getting back from offseason knee surgical procedure to restore a torn meniscus he suffered in final season’s finale — considered one of a number of accidents which have plagued him in current campaigns. On a regular basis he has missed pressured the 28-year-old to take a pay minimize over the offseason to return to Seattle, creating loads of uncertainty over his future with the Seahawks past 2025. However that is changing into much less of a query.

Stat to know: Smith-Njigba turned the primary participant in Seahawks historical past with at the least 100 receiving yards and a receiving landing in three straight video games, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. That is only one stat that illustrates the unbelievable begin he has needed to the season — the type of tear that’s placing him within the dialog of one of the best receivers in soccer. He entered Monday night time main the NFL in receiving by a large margin with 696 yards, and he prolonged that lead with one other 123 yards in opposition to Houston. In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, his 11-yard landing catch had a completion likelihood of 28%, the least possible scoring move for the Seahawks to this point this season. — Brady Henderson

Subsequent recreation: at Washington Commanders (Nov. 2, 8:20 p.m. ET)

The Texans’ disappointing offensive exhibiting Monday night time was finest symbolized by an anemic fourth-quarter, goal-line possession.

Down 27-12 with 5:21 remaining, Houston’s offense lined up on the Seahawks’ 3-yard line whereas coping with a deafening, flag-waving Lumen Stadium crowd. And the Texans’ offense did nothing to silence them. The collection of performs — a 2-yard run, an incompletion, one other incompletion, a false begin then one more incompletion – equaled a turnover on downs and their finest shot to come back again to win a recreation through which they pressured 4 Seahawks turnovers.

When the sport was on the road, Houston folded. The night featured one other slog for the Houston offense, which might solely generate 13 factors and 254 complete yards. Stroud was sacked thrice, threw a landing move and an interception whereas Houston’s run recreation was invisible, totaling solely 56 yards. It was a disappointing exhibiting coming off a bye, which adopted a 44-point exhibiting in opposition to the Ravens two weeks in the past.

Largest gap within the recreation plan: All-Professional cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. versus Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s main receiver, was a marquee matchup. Smith-Njigba completed with eight catches for 123 yards together with a landing, with Stingley permitting 49 yards and the rating. However Stingley by no means matched up in opposition to him in press protection, his robust go well with. Heading into Monday’s recreation, opponents solely accomplished 36% of their passes in opposition to Stingley in press protection, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats. And final season he allowed a passer ranking of 14.0 when taking part in press, one of the best within the NFL. Possibly Stingley, who had a fourth-quarter interception, might have slowed Smith-Njigba down if he was allowed to play press protection.

QB efficiency: Stroud did not decide up the place he left off earlier than the bye, when he threw 4 landing passes in a 44-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. This week Stroud handed for 229 yards and threw an interception whereas solely main his offensive group to 13 factors. It wasn’t all his fault; there have been a number of performs when there have been free rushers, resulting in a sack or throwaways. Even on Stroud’s interception there was a free rusher at his toes, resulting in the errant throw. Total, Stroud’s numbers weren’t good, however the items round him did not assist sufficient.

Turning level: The Texans had been trailing 20-12 late within the third quarter as their offense confronted a third-and-1 at their very own 41-yard line. Operating again Woody Marks bought stuffed for no achieve. Then on fourth-and-1, they known as an identical run play through which Marks bought stuffed once more, leading to a turnover on downs. The Seahawks scored a landing on the following drive to go up 27-12, which gave them sufficient of a cushion to win. — DJ Bien-Aime

Subsequent recreation: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)