The Seattle Seahawks (5-2) triumphed 27-19 over the Houston Texans (2-4) in a game that wasn't as close as the scoreboard indicated. Seattle struggled to get out of their own way, committing four turnovers -- their most in a game since 2020.
However, their defense smothered Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense. Stroud threw for 229 yards and an interception on 23 of 49 passing while getting sacked three times. Houston also could only muster 56 yards rushing on the ground. They punted seven times, and they were forced into three turnovers on downs, including the final two near the goal line.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had a rollercoaster performance, throwing for 213 yards a touchdown and an interception on 17 of 31 passing while also getting strip-sacked by Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. in the end zone for a Texans touchdown. Seattle No. 1 wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the most consistent component of the Seahawks' offense Monday night going off for 123 yards receiving on eight catches and a touchdown.
These two teams entered Monday night with two of the NFL's best defenses, and that was indicative with how the game went overall. Seattle outgained Houston, 318 to 254, despite losing the turnover battle four to one.
The Texans had a critical drive late in the third quarter, and they took the football right out of Stroud's hands. Houston called consecutive run plays on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 on their own 41, and Seattle stuffed both of them. A play-action pass, or any type of pass would have made sense, especially after getting shut down on third down. That allowed Seattle to take over on the Texans' 39 up 20-12 with 3:11 left in the third quarter. Five plays later, the Seahawks were in the end zone with a 27-12 lead. Houston's lack of trust in both Stroud and their offensive line is sinking their 2025 season.
Seattle entered Monday night with the NFL's sixth-ranked scoring defense (19.5 points per game allowed), and they certainly made a case to slide inside the top five. Yes, Houston's offensive line is one of the worst in football, but the Seahawks had Stroud in the torture chamber, sacking him three times and wrapping him up by the legs to force an interception. They were also exceptional against the run, allowing just 56 yards rushing and stonewalling Houston on fourth-and-1. The Seahawks have now allowed under 100 yards rushing in six consecutive games, tied for the longest streak in franchise history along with their "Legion of Boom" defense in the 2012 season. They also forced three turnovers on downs in the second half alone. This is a defense that is Super Bowl caliber.
Seattle committed a whopping four turnovers: an interception by quarterback Sam Darnold, a lost fumble by Darnold that was scooped up in the end zone for a touchdown on a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr., an interception by wide receiver Cooper Kupp on a trick play and a lost fumble by tight end Elijah Arroyo. It's the Seahawks' most turnovers in a game since 2020. This could have been a much more relaxing game for Seattle if they just got out of their own way offensively. Darnold was in control passing the ball for much of the night, but some poor execution and play calling decision making hindered their cause.
After his 123-yard, 1-touchdown performance, Smith-Njigba has three consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving and at least one receiving touchdown. That's the longest such streak in Seahawks history. Smith-Njigba's 819 yards lead the NFL -- despite Seattle having the lowest pass rate in the NFL (50.5%) -- and he's the only reliable component of the Seahawks' offense. He is on pace to become the first player in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receiving yards despite his team being ranked dead last in pass rate, per NFL Research.
Darnold comitted some mental mistakes -- namely holding on to the football too long in the end zone -- which resulted in seven points for Houston and on his interception, but Seattle will win plenty of games if he keeps peppering Smith-Njigba with targets.
The Seahawks (5-2) will rest up on their bye in Week 8 while the Texans (2-4) will host the 5-2 San Francisco 49ers in Houston.
Seattle has the football up eight, 27-19, with just under two minutes left to play. With just one timeout, this touchdown appears to be a case of too little, too late.
Houston probably just ran out of chances after Seahawks edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence pressured Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud into an errant fourth-and-goal throw. The Texans had a first-and-goal at the three, but they can't find the end zone.
Houston All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Darnold after he threw into a zone that involved at least two defenders draped all around AJ Barner. The Seahawks truly don't want to put the Texans away tonight.
After picking up one first down, an illegal blindside block followed by three incompletions with a 10-yard scramble by Stroud sandwiched in the middle results in an other turnover on downs. The Texans have punted seven times, turned the ball over on downs twice and thrown an interception. Just an ugly overall performance.
Texans safety M.J. Stewart forced a fumble off of Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo, and Houston still has life.
Houston's ensuing drive goes three-and-out after consecutive incompletions by Stroud and then a third down sack taken. Seattle leads 27-12 and has the ball at their own 47 to begin the fourth quarter.
Seattle quickly found the end zone after forcing the turnover on downs. Sam Darnold's connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba is thriving. Their connection for 19 yards got the Seahawks down inside the red zone to the 17, and then JSN drawing a PI set up first and goal at the two. Zach Charbonnet rumbled into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown, his second goal rushing score of the night. Seattle leads 27-12 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter.
Houston called consecutive run plays on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 on their own 41, and Seattle stuffed them both times. A play-action pass, or any type of pass would have made sense, especially after getting shut down on third down. Seattle leads 20-12 with 3:11 left in the third quarter.
Sam Darnold got the drive going with a perfect drop in the bucket throw to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but the drive stalled out after that. The 47-yard field goal is good, and the Seahawks take a 20-12 lead with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Texans Pro Bowl edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. bull rushed Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross, and he was able to push him into Sam Darnold before knocking the football loose. He recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Seattle thwarted Houston's two-point conversion attempt, so their lead is five points, 17-12, with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
Another drive, another field goal for Seattle. The Seahawks lead by 11, but it feels like they should be up by 21 and not 11.
Stroud's legs were wrapped up on the throw, which caused the football to sail right into Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones' arms. An illegal blindside block penalty will force Seattle to begin their next drive at the Texans' 38. The Seahawks lead 14-6 a minute into the second half.
It's surprising the Seattle Seahawks felt the need to try a trick play involving wide receiver Cooper Kupp throwing a pass considering quarterback Sam Darnold has completed 7 of his first 11 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Kupp overthrew Smith-Njigba, and safety Calen Bullock picked off the pass as a result. Seattle leads 14-0 with six minutes left before halftime.
So Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud's pass attempt was ruled a fumble on a strip sack by linebacker Earnest Jones, and after the football was fumbled around, it was recovered by Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson. However, Hutchinson committed an illegal shift at the beginning of the play, so Houston gets a second-and-15 at their 15 to nullify everything that happened.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is cooking early on. He kicked off Seattle's second drive with a 32-yard strike on play-action to wide receiver Cooper Kupp after the Seahawks' offensive line blocked up the play perfectly. He capped the 10-yard march with a dart to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on an in-breaking route for an 11-yard touchdown. Smith Njigba got a stop on Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for the score, making the touchdown that much more impressive.
Seattle entered tonight with a five game streak of allowing fewer than 100 yards rushing , their first such streak since 2017. They showed why on the Texans' third-and-1, absolutely smothering their third down carry. It could be a long night for Houston.
Seattle needed just five plays to cover the 44 yards required to get in the end zone after Houston punted from their own one-inch line. Quarterback Sam Darnold's two completions to tight end Elijah Arroyo covered 35 yards on the drive before running back Zach Charbonnet rumbled into the end zone for the one-yard score.
It appeared as though Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud's knee was down in the end zone on his 18-yard sack by edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, but the call on the field that Stroud was down on the one-inch line stood. The Texans catch a break, but Seattle will start their second drive at Houston 44 following a 12-yard return.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud takes the field for the first time Monday night
Smith-Njigba's 696 yards receiving are the fourth-most through six games of a season by a player who is 23 or younger in NFL history. The last player with this many receiving yards on as few targets as JSN (56) was receiving G.O.A.T Jerry Rice in 1986. That's pretty good company. He'll likely be shadowed by Texas Pro Bowl cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., a player whose 40.2 passer rating against as the primary defender in co0verage ranks as the fourth-best in the NFL among 110 players with at least 25 passes thrown their way this season.
Most receiving yards through 6 games of season
Age 23-or-Younger, NFL History
2015 DeAndre Hopkins 726
1986 Jerry Rice 723
1990 Andre Rison 710
2025 Jaxon Smith-Njigba 696 <<
1954 Harlon Hill 685
The Seahawks have the NFL's No. 5 scoring offense (27.7 points per game) with Darnold at the controls. He leads the entire NFL in pass yards per attempt with a 9.6 average, the fifth-highest in the first six games of a season in the last 35 seasons, minimum 150 pass attempts per CBS Sports Research.
He is also just the sixth quarterback averaging a completion percentage over 70% (70.8, seventh in the NFL) and over 9.5 yards per pass attempt (9.6, the best in the NFL) through the first six games of a season since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, minimum 100 pass attempts. That's pretty, pretty good considering the first two quarterbacks to accomplish the feat -- Hall of Famer Kurt Warner in 1999 and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in 2011 -- went on to win NFL MVP honors in their respective such seasons.
| 70% completion Pct and 9.5 yards/attempt in first six games of season, Since 1970 (min. 100 pass att) | Season |
|---|---|
Sam Darnold (SEA) | 2025 |
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) | 2023 |
Russell Wilson (SEA) | 2021 |
Aaron Rodgers (GB) | 2011* |
Kurt Warner (STL) | 1999* |
* Won NFL MVP
Seattle has long been known as one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, but the Seahawks are just 2-8 in their last 10 games and 4-8 at home since 2024. However, the Seahawks have been the NFL's best road team in that stretch with a 10-1 record away from Seattle.
Problems at Home
Seahawks by Location Since 2024
Home Road
W-L 4-8 10-1 <<
PPG 22.4 24.7
PPG Diff -0.6 +5.7
TO Diff -12 +5
>> Best in NFL over span
Stroud threw just four total passing touchdowns in the first four games of the season before exploding for four passing touchdowns in Week 5 at the Baltimore Ravens, a team that was missing many key players. Seattle has a top 10 defense, and playing on the road at Lumen Field could cause some problems for Houston and Stroud.
Autrey entered Monday night listed as questionable after not practicing on Saturday, but Houston is making him available tonight to help rush the passer against Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold.
Safety Julian Love (hamstring) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) will not play in Week 8 vs. the Houston Texans.
Houston began 2025 with an 0-3 record, and the there's only been one team since 2000 to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start: the 0-3 Houston Texans. Can they continue their climb back up the AFC standings with a victory tonight?
2018 All Over Again?
Texans Season Comparison
2018 2025
Started 0-3 0-3
After 11-2 2-0
Playoffs Yes << ?
>> Only NFL team since 2000 to make playoffs after 0-3 start
Houston has won consecutive games after an 0-3 start, and each has been by 25 or more points: they won 26-0 against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, and they won 44-10 at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. That's the first time in franchise history that the Texans have back to back games by 25-plus points.
Texans This Season
First 3 Games Last 2 Games
W-L 0-3 2-0
PPG 12.7 35.0
Opp PPG 17.0 5.0
PPG Diff -4.3 +30.0
TO Diff -3 +4
>> Won back-to-back games by 25+ points for first time in team history
