With the Seattle Mariners blowing their shot at their first World Series berth in franchise history, it was up to the Seattle Seahawks to give the Emerald City something to cheer for, taking control of this primetime game early and not letting go against the regressing Houston Texans. Looking to keep their dominance of Monday Night Football intact (31-13 all-time and 12-2 in their last 14) but also turn their home fortunes around (2-8 in their previous 10), Seattle did just that, coming out firing on all cylinders—particularly wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
JSN continues to rewrite expectations, as his transition from slot role player to an outside-the-numbers bona fide superstar has been seamless—he’s now officially one of the league’s best wideouts, currently leading the league in receiving. Against Houston’s stingy defense (coming into the week, they ranked fifth in fewest passing yards allowed, averaging 151 yards per game), he posted his third consecutive 100-yard game (the second player in club history to accomplish this feat), and his leading league fifth (tied for second most by a Seahawks player), hauling in 8 catches for 123 yards and a score. His touchdown in the first quarter gave Seattle an early 14-0 lead and showcased his elite route-running and body control. He’s not just emerging anymore—he’s arrived.
Quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t have his best game, but took what the defense gave him while also connecting downfield with three of his completions going over 20+ air yards—including a gorgeous 32-yard strike to former Seattle nemesis Cooper Kupp and a 27-yard dime to rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo. After gaudy numbers the past few weeks, the former Trojan finished with a below-average average line: 17/31 for 213 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. But it’s encouraging that even when the former Trojan didn’t have his fastball, the offensive operation was still humming with confidence and rhythm, with coordinator Klint Kubiak’s game plan continuing to cater to Darnold’s strengths—play action, bootlegs, and layered reads targeting the middle of the field. Coming into Monday, Houston was ranked first in scoring defense, allowing 12 points per game. Seattle still put up 27, with plenty of mistakes—namely an ill-advised pick thrown by Kupp (!) on a trick play, a missed 53-yard field goal from Jason Myers, and a strip sack of Darnold by EDGE Will Anderson Jr. in the endzone that was initially ruled a safety, but was later overturned to a defensive score.
A large part of that offensive explosion was the running game, and by extension, the offensive line. Seattle ran the ball 33 times for 118 yards and two rushing scores—both by understudy running back Zach Charbonnet from one and two yards out, respectively. The Michigan and UCLA alum was the more efficient of the two between him and Kenneth Walker, finishing with a healthy 4.1 yards per carry. The much-maligned offensive line looked tough and physical on Monday—bulldozing defenders, protecting Darnold (only 2 sacks on the day), and paving the way for a diverse, hard-to-defend system. It’s a far cry from the inconsistent push and protection seen during the Geno Smith and “Dangeruss” years.
Seattle’s scheme continues to evolve under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whose history with Darnold and coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco is paying dividends. The Seahawks leaned heavily this week on under-center wide zone concepts, mixing in power runs and spread formations that kept Houston’s top-five scoring defense on its toes all night.
That same nastiness that was in the trenches also showed up on the other side of the ball. EDGE rusher Uchenna Nwosu ended Houston’s first drive with a violent sack of signal caller C.J. Stroud, setting the tone for a defense that harassed the Texans all night. Seattle’s front seven was relentless, amassing three sacks and seven QB hits, while the secondary held up despite injuries (Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon and safety Julian Love were inactive), kept Houston out of rhythm (12 pass breakups) and out of the end zone until late. In the fourth quarter, when the Texans were making a comeback, the defense held firm with safety Ty Okada and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence making key stops to snuff out Houston’s final push.
This win sends Seattle into its Week 8 bye with momentum, confidence, and a clear identity: a physical team with a balanced offense, a ferocious defense, and a rising star at wide receiver. If they can stay healthy and keep building on this foundation, the Seahawks could be a serious threat in the NFC playoff picture.
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