23/10/2025
The Seattle Seahawks might be riding a two-game winning streak heading into their bye week after a hard-fought 27–19 victory over the Houston Texans, but quarterback Sam Darnold knows better than anyone that the win masked some serious issues that need to be addressed before facing the Washington Commanders. Despite the scoreboard, Seattle coughed up the ball four times—a first since Week 9 of 2020—and yet somehow emerged victorious thanks largely to a defense that refused to let Houston capitalize. Darnold was candid in his postgame reflections, admitting that he must improve his decision-making, emphasizing the importance of throwing at his feet rather than risking turnovers when no one is open, and acknowledging the thin margin by which the team survived the Texans’ offensive pushes, including a rare collapse inside the Seahawks’ 1-yard line. While the offense struggled to find rhythm, the defensive unit delivered a masterclass performance: CJ Stroud of Houston was under constant pressure, sacked three times, forced into a key interception, and kept to a sub-50% passing rate on 23 completions of 49 attempts. The Seahawks’ front line smothered the Texans’ run game, and even missing stars like Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon, the secondary stood tall, anchored by Ernest Jones IV, who registered 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pivotal third interception of the season that set up a crucial field goal. Seattle’s run defense also shined in key moments, stuffing consecutive plays on third and fourth down to regain possession and keep the game firmly in control. Yet despite this heroics, Darnold’s candid admission that the offense needs to clean up its act underscores a larger truth: while the defense may continue to bail out mistakes in the short term, the team’s aspirations for a playoff run will demand a more consistent offensive performance, particularly against teams like the Commanders, where errors will be ruthlessly exploited. As the Seahawks regroup during the bye week, fans are left both appreciative of a thrilling victory and anxious for the next chapter, hopeful that Darnold and the offense can learn from this experience and tighten their game before the postseason battles loom.
