Seahawks Score Prediction for Week 8 Against Texans
By Ben Renner
The Seahawks host the Houston Texans on Sunday looking for their fourth win in a row. Who will win this matchup of exciting quarterbacks and stout defenses?
The Seahawks face a challenge at home this week in the Houston Texans, who, at 3-3, sit in third place in a very win-able AFC South division. A road win for Houston would be a huge lift for a team that has already lost its defensive star J.J. Watt for the season and returns offensive tackle Duane Brown from a holdout this week.
The focus for the Seahawks defense will of course be on rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who just may well possess the skills to fight through the Legion of Boom. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins has resurrected himself this season after dealing with replacement-level quarterback play last season and is once again one of the better wideouts in the league. Hopkins will likely be shadowed by Richard Sherman, but look for the Texans to move Hopkins around and try to find a matchup in the Seahawks secondary Watson and company likes.
The Seahawks secondary looks better than ever with the emergence of rookie cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Griffin gave up some plays early in the year, but recently he’s looked exactly like Sherman, and not just because of the similar jersey number and the dreadlocks. In his last two games, he’s seen 19 coverage targets and allowed only 9 catches for 75 yards. He’s only allowed one touchdown in coverage all season and has batted down six passes total. The Texans will probably keep testing him to avoid Sherman.
The Texans had a scary pass rush coming into the season, but after losing both Watt and Whitney Mercilus (a perfect name for an NFL defensive end), Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel will have to mix in some blitz packages to confuse the Seahawks offensive line. Mercilus and Watt were placed on Injured Reserve after sustaining injuries on the same drive three weeks ago against Kansas City. Houston does still have former first-overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, but he was mostly non-existent in the Texans’ last game against Cleveland. Look for the Seahawks to try and (finally) establish their run game against Houston. Watt was probably even more disruptive against run plays in the past, and without him, Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls could find some running room.
More from Emerald City Swagger
- Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
- Washington State Football: What you need to know for 2018 Alamo Bowl
- Washington Basketball: 3 takeaways from Huskies win over Sacramento St.
- Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
- Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers
Okay, now for the elephant in the room. Houston owner Bob McNair said, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison,” at a meeting between some NFL owners and players this week, causing Houston players to consider boycotting practice today. Houston coach Bill O’Brien came out in support of his players doing whatever they damn well please before NFL games (see the Bill of Rights, US Constitution, Amendment 1 for more information). But there still has to be some residual anger on the part of the Houston players. Be on the lookout for more Texans than normal taking a knee during the National Anthem this Sunday, joining Michael Bennett and probably several other Seahawks.
Score Prediction: The Texans will play the Seahawks tough on the road, but in the end their injuries on the defensive line allow Russell Wilson and the running attack to put up enough points to take over first place in the NFC West. 31-20.
Next: Seahawks Sign DE Freeney
Injury note: Seahawks center Justin Britt will be a game-time decision versus Houston. Glass-tendoned running back C.J. Prosise is out.