It’s prolific offense versus stifling defense as the Houston Texans (3-3) make their way to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) at CenturyLink Field Sunday.
The game will be broadcast on your local CBS station at 4:05 p.m. EST.
The Game: Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks (-6.5)
O/U: 45.5
The History
The Texans and the Seahawks have played just three times since 2005 with Seattle holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.
They last faced off on September 29, 2013 at Reliant Stadium. Seattle won 23-20 with Russell Wilson completing 12 of 23 for 123 yards and one pick. He rushed 10 times for 77 yards. Marshawn Lynch was most of the offense for the Seahawks. He carried the ball 17 times for 98 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 45 yards. Matt Schaub was in command for Houston on that day. He was 31 of 49 for 355 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
HOUSTON TEXANS (3-3)
You can’t really read a whole lot into the Texans’ last victory two weeks ago over the Cleveland Browns. Houston won the game 33-17, because of course they did. Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is probably going to be offensive rookie of the year, was 17 of 29 for 225 yards, three touchdowns and a pick.
Watson and the Texans have had a week off to prepare for this one. Against the Browns, the rook completed balls to eight different guys with none more than three catches. That’s a good thing facing off against the Seahawks team. Watson is comfortable with all his backs and receivers and that will allow him to move the ball.
Watson will need more from the running game than he got against Cleveland. Fellow rookie D’Onta Foreman had 12 carries for 59 yards. Lamar Miller gained 41 on 15 carries. If the Texans can get anything going, other than Watson scrambling, that will open up plays downfield for DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller V.
Oh, and before I forget, there’s Texans owner Bob McNair putting his whole ass in his mouth this week. When asked about the National Anthem issues in the NFL, McNair said, dumbly, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.” He pissed off his own team and Hopkins actually skipped out of practice for a day in protest. It didn’t just upset his Texans players, but the Seahawks squad has made it clear that they too were not pleased at his idiocy.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2)
So McNair has tossed a little red meat to the Seahawks and that’s not good. What else do they have going for them in this game? Against the New York Giants last Sunday Russell Wilson was on fire, completing 27 of 39 for 334 yards and three touchdowns against what used to be a great defense. They’re not great this year, but there’s nothing great going on in New York.
Wilson is still running for his life many times when he drops back for a pass. With his skills and athleticism, it doesn’t always spell disaster. Last week, Doug Baldwin hauled in nine passes for 92 yards and one touchdown. Baldwin was the only guy to catch more than four passes as Wilson hit 11 different receivers as they scored 21 points in the second half.
Defensively, the Seahawks forced a turnover, sacked Eli Manning once and got four stops in the backfield. Watson will be significantly more difficult to corral. His ability to make chicken salad out of chicken shit will cause plenty of headaches for Seattle all game.
The Pick
This line has ticked up a point in the last couple of days and the over/under has moved down half a point. A lot of people were obviously going Seahawks and the under, enough to where the sportsbooks had to make an adjustments. I’m not sure I like either. The Seahawks have been slow starters this season and Houston, with Watson, can score plenty of points. I still like Seattle, but think it’ll be close. Seahawks 27, Texans 24
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 12-3
Against the spread: 7-8
Season
Straight up: 60-46
Against the spread: 50-56
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