The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 7:
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Ty Okada #39 of the Seattle Seahawks sacks C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images) Getty Images
Maybe it WAS the opponents: When Houston outscored the Titans and Ravens 70-10, it did beg the question whether Houston’s offense was coming into its own or was the offense benefiting playing two of the worst teams in the league. Based on Monday’s result, it was the later. Granted, Seattle brings one of the best defenses in the game, particularly its defensive front. They were sans two top DBs, but it didn’t matter much. Stroud couldn’t get much going in the passing game (23-49, 1 TD/1 INT), sacked three times and faced constant pressure. The passing game received no help from the running game, only rushing 17 times for 56 yards. When you subtract Stroud’s team-leading 25 yards on 2 carries, the numbers are even worse (15 rushes for 31 yards). The Texans did have their chances in the 2nd half to make this more of a game, but overall, the offense looked more like the hapless unit that went 0-3 vs. the juggernaut that went 2-0. Matters are not going to be helped much with the news that Nico Collins suffered a concussion during the game, likely sidelining him for a Sunday or two.
Where the Game Turned: Short yardage disaster in the 2nd half:
3:43, 3rd Qtr, 3rd &1 at the HOU 41: Houston ran the ball behind left guard, but Woody Marks ran into the Seattle defensive front for no gain. 3:15, 3rd Qtr, 4th & 1 at the HOU 41: Houston decided to go for it, down 8. They once again ran the ball with Marks, going off Left Tackle, but lost two yards.
After Anderson’s play cut the deficit to 5, Seattle did scored a FG on the subsequent drive to go up 20-12. Houston got the ball back at their 32-yard line after a solid kick return. Two plays netted a -1 run by Marks and a 10-yard completion from Stroud to Schultz. Marks had played well the previous two games, hence his getting the majority of the carries, but was he the right back for that particular short-yardage play? Also, did Ryans envision going for it on 4th down if they didn’t convert and didn’t suffer a major lost yardage situation? If so, you could maybe understand the run on 3rd, but then why run it again on 4th? Seattle, after receiving the ball at the HOU 39, took the gift and drove down the field for the TD, going up 27-12. While it wasn’t the coup de grace, given the way that the game unfolded, Houston’s short-yardage buffoonery (along with a strong Seattle defense) effectively ended Houston’s chances to get its first win in Seattle.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball in the end zone as Will Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans tackles him during the third quarter at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images) Getty Images
The defense did enough to win the game, but they were not perfect: 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. The defense certainly did enough to win this game, especially when you consider the performance of the offense. Yet, they will have some things to work on/consider in the short week. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) gashed the vaunted Texans secondary for 8 receptions/123 yards and a TD. This offers some bad memories of Puka Nacua’s season-opening roasting of this same secondary. A key factor was that Stingley wasn’t playing much press coverage on JSN. That is considered Stingley’s strong suit. Something to consider for future opponents. Also, some killer defensive penalties sabotaged what slim comeback chances the Texans had in the second half. Additionally, the Texans surrendered 118 yards on the ground, which is nearly 30 yards/game more than the Houston average. Far from an “A” game, but the Burke film session should have better vibes than the Caley film review. Special teams will have a mixed session, as punting and the FG block are nice highlights, but allowing 13.4 yards/punt return isn’t up to Houston’s usual standard.
The playoffs aren’t dead, but the division title is getting further out of reach. At 2-4, the Texans aren’t close to where they want to be as a team. Yet, they have 11 more games to move up. It won’t be easy, even with most of their remaining games at the friendly confines of NRG. However, they will enter Week 8 four games back of the division-leading Colts (6-1). While the Colts have benefited from a relatively weak schedule to start the season, they did just beat the-then 4-2 Chargers on their home turf. Houston still has their two games remaining against Indy, and if Houston harbors any remaining hopes of winning the division, they will have to sweep those games. The Texans have been 2-4 before and still made the playoffs (2015), but with this schedule and the state of the AFC, the Texans can’t afford to fall that much further behind. If there is a silver lining with this 2-4 start, it is that 3 of the losses are against the NFC, which won’t hurt the critical conference tiebreakers.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) Getty Images
3-0: Sam Darnold’s record against the Texans this decade:If there is a QB that likes to see Houston, it is this guy. He beat the Texans as a member of the Panthers (2022), Vikings (2024) and now the Seahawks (2025). His one loss came back in 2019, when Darnold was still a member of the Jets.
1: Offensive touchdowns the Texans have scored on a Mike Macdonald defense: Since 2023, the Texans have faced a Macdonald defense 3 times. Twice in ’23, when Macdonald was the defensive coordinator for Ravens, which saw the offense muster only 4 combined FGs (the TD in the playoff game was a punt return). In this game, the offense only got 2 FGs before the 4th quarter, when Stroud hit Woody Marks for a short TD pass. Houston must be glad that they don’t have the Seahawks on the schedule all that often.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Denico Autry #96 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images) Getty Images
DE Will Anderson, Jr.: At this point, you have to consider him the MVP of the squad. A monster strip/sack-turned-fumble-recovery-for-a-TD gave a morbid Texans’ team just enough life to think it could steal the game in Seattle.
DT Denico Autry: 2 Tackles (both solo); 1 TFL, 1 Sack and a blocked FG. Yeah, for this game, that’ll work for a Game Ball
Fresh fish on ice for sale at the famous Pike Place Fish Market in downtown Seattle, Washington. (Photo by: Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
SHOULD BE SLAPPED PROFUSELY BY THE FOULEST-SMELLING FISH FROM THE PIKE PLACE MARKET WHILE LISTENING TO THE TEARS OF MARINERS’ FANS BEMOANING THE SEASON-ENDING SPRINGER-DINGER THAT CLINCHED THE ALCS FOR THE BLUE JAYS :
OC Nick Caley: After a bye week following two relatively nice offensive performances, and this is what we got from the Texans? Credit to the Seahawks defense, but it is fair to ask just what Caley is thinking? Especially on those two critical short yardage situations that effectively decided the game, the play-calling is very much in question.
RB/KR Dameon Pierce: Just how far has your stock fallen when you are a healthy scratch for this game, when none of the Texans’ RBs got anything going?
LB Azeez Al-Shaair and DL Tim Settle: Both here due to 3rd Down Unnecessary Roughness penalties. Al-Shaair’s in the 1st Quarter kept a Seattle drive alive, allowing the Seahawks to score a TD. Settle’s in the 4th quarter ended any chance for Houston to get the ball back for a Hail Mary. Dumb penalties at the worst times will always get you acknowledgement here.
Good news is that Houston doesn’t have to go back to Seattle. They return home for the 1st of 3 home games, starting with the NL West-leading San Francisco 49ers this coming Sunday. Kickoff slated for noon CDT on Fox.