Before their bye week, Head Coach DeMeco Ryans’ team made Baltimore the third city in the last two seasons where the Texans got their first-ever win in franchise history. Coming off the bye, Houston heads to the Pacific Northwest looking to make Seattle the fourth (along with New England, Dallas and, of course, Baltimore).

It won’t be the easiest task in the world as the Seahawks may ultimately be the most complete team the Texans have faced to this point. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is arguably the best WR in the game at the moment. The defense returned DeMarcus Lawrence last week and the defensive front is outstanding. QB Sam Darnold continues his resurgence as a starting QB in this league. Man, it’s an exceptional squad.

This is the last Seahawks game before a bye week and it’s the Texans first game after the bye week. What that has told us over the years is, well, not much, I suppose, but it does add a little bit of intrigue to this matchup LATE on Monday night. With all of that in mind, let’s get to know the Texans’ foe for week 7 – the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle Seahawks 2025 Schedule (4-2)

Week 1 – L San Francisco 49ers 17-13

Week 2 – W @ Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17

Week 3 – W New Orleans Saints 44-13

Week 4 – W @ Arizona Cardinals 23-20

Week 5 – L Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-35

Week 6 – W @ Jacksonville Jaguars 20-12

Week 7 – Houston Texans MNF

Week 9 – @ Washington Commanders

Week 10 – Arizona Cardinals

Week 11 – @ Los Angeles Rams

Week 12 – @ Tennessee Titans

Week 13 – Minnesota Vikings

Week 14 – @ Atlanta Falcons

Week 15 – Indianapolis Colts

Week 16 – Los Angeles Rams

Week 17 – @ Carolina Panthers

Week 18 – @ San Francisco 49ers

Seahawks OFFENSE (in 2025 regular season)

QB – SAM DARNOLD
RB – Kenneth Walker III
WR – Jaxon Smith-Njigba
WR – COOPER KUPP
WR – TORY HORTON
TE – A.J. Barner
LT – Charles Cross
LG – GREY ZABEL
C – Jalen Sundell
RG – Anthony Bradford
RT – Abe Lucas

Key Offensive Non-Starters

RB – Zach Charbonnet
WR – Jake Bobo
TE – ELIJAH ARROYO
FB – Brady Russell
TE – Eric Saubert
WR – Dareke Young

ALL CAPS – New to team in 2025

Keys to Winning v. the Seahawks Offense

4th time is another charm – When he takes his first snap on Monday night, Seahawks QB Sam Darnold will become one of three NFL QBs to start four times with four different teams against the Texans. He’s improved each and every start with the four teams and is playing his best football in the Pacific Northwest. Last year in week three, he was the perfect maestro of the Minnesota Vikings offense, but he’s really tapped into his true self in Seattle. Why? The deep ball. Darnold is as skilled a thrower I ever studied in the NFL Draft, but he’s never really been used as a deep ball dime dropper in his first seven years. But, in Seattle, they’ve needed those deep shots and Darnold has provided. Against the Jaguars last week, Darnold hauled off and flung one 50 yards in the air, landing it perfectly on Jaxon Smith-Njigba who had just a step on the Jaguars defensive back. Touchdown. The Seattle offense has plenty of layers but it’s Darnold becoming Darnold, i.e throwing deep accurately and productively, that scares me the most.

Better than Advertised – Even though I was fairly certain that Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba was going to be an excellent NFL WR, I didn’t think he’d be THIS good, THIS fast. He’s leading the league in total receiving yards, yards per game and yards per target, even though he has 12 receptions fewer than league leader Puka Nacua. JSN didn’t play his final season at Ohio State due to an injury, so there was some mystery as to his overall development, but there is mystery no longer. He runs outstanding routes, freeing himself up with YARDS to spare. He is excellent AFTER the catch, but, most importantly, he’s truly tapped into his ability to create explosives down the field. He roasted new Jaguars CB Greg Newsome II on Newsome II’s first play of the game on a simple post route down the field. The Texans do have a pair of CBs that love the challenge of slowing JSN down, but the Seahawks star will still get his targets as Darnold loves to look his way.

Bring the Noise – The Seahawks haven’t been able to run the ball effectively this year and the Texans must keep that pressure on the Seahawks passing game by eliminating or stunting on that run game. The pass rush against Darnold in Jacksonville was non-existent, if I’m being honest. Now, the Texans won’t let Darnold sit in the pocket and dictate to them; DC Matt Burke will not allow Darnold to get comfortable. But, if the Seahawks are running the ball well, then the pass rush loses a little bit of aggressiveness and the play action becomes the staunch weapon that it has been for Seattle this year. So, it’s easy, in theory, for the Texans. Shut down the run. Mute the play action opps. Make Darnold’s life miserable with that fierce pass rush.