The Seattle Seahawks ( 5-2) prevailed in a rare offensive shoot-out against a stubborn Deshaun Watson lead Houston Texans(3-4) team Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defense bent but never broke during one of the wildest football games to be played at CenturyLink Field.
Half of the Houston players were bent on one knee during the playing of the National Anthem then the fireworks started. The 69,025 fans were in a raucous mood as the Seahawks were playing their first home game in over a month.
Watson quickly spoiled the mood when he connected on a 59-yard touchdown pass play to Will Fuller V. to give the visitors the 7-0 lead after just 2:22 had been played.
The Seahawks offense went into its normal first half sleepwalking routine by failing to get a first down and punted the ball back to the Texans after just three plays. Fortunately for the Seahawks, the defense was up to its normal routine of making big plays while the offense finds it’s rhythm.
Earl Thomas intercepted a Watson passes and returned it 78 yards to assure the Seahawk faithfull that the defense was up for the task of defending their home turf.
Texans running back Lamar Miller gave the visitors the 14-7 lead when he punched the ball in from three yards out on the Texans next offensive possession. Russell Wilson answered the Texans score with a nifty 20 yard touchdown pass to Paul Richardson tie the game at 14 -All as Seahawk nation had to rub its eyes to believe what was happening on the field. Its offense was scoring multiple touchdowns in the first half.
The Watson to Fuller V connection was at it again in the second quarter as Watson found the speedy wideout on a 20-yard pass play that gave the Texans a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter. Russell Wilson tied the game at 21-All when he connected with Paul Richardson from seven yards out after a 6 play 75-yard drive with 6:02 left in the first half.
The halftime break seemed to slow both offenses as neither one was able to score a touchdown in the third quarter. A 31-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn gave the Texans a 24 to 21 lead halfway through the quarter. Seattle had the ball inside the Texans three-yard line on two separate occasions but settled for two 21yard field goals by Blair Walsh to lead 27 to 24 lead after three-quarters of play. With the lead in hand, the game looked to be is Seattle’s favor with just one quarter to play.
A Deshaun Watson to Lamar Miller two-yard touchdown play gave the Texans the lead with 9:09 to play and quieted the home crowd. The harshness turned to a decibel breaking cheer when Wilson led a seven play 75 yards that ended with a one-yard touchdown throw to Jimmy Graham for the 38 to 34 lead with 4:48 left in the game.
The roar of the home was turned into a murmur when Watson connected with wide receiver De Andre Hopkins on a 72-yard pass play that gave the Texans a 38 to 34 lead with 4:49 left in the game. With their team in possession of the ball the crowd cheered on their team and raised the noise level to a dull roar. The roar turned into a shriek when Marcus Williams intercepted a Russell Wilson pass intended for Paul Richardson with 2:49 left to play in the game.
The Texans were gained one first down and punted the ball back to the Seahawks with 1:39 left in the game. With the ball at his 20-yard line, Wilson connected with Richardson on a 48 pass that brought thunderous cheers from the crowd were watching their team come back from dead.
After a Rees Odhiambo false start, Wilson hit Tyler Lockett on an 18-yard pass play and stepped up to the line after the completion and hit Jimmy Graham for an 18-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks the 41 to 38 lead sent the crowd into sheer bedlam.
The crowd went from bedlam to a delirious state when Richard Sherman intercepted a Deshaun Watson pass intended for Will Fuller V with sixteen seconds to ice the game for the Seahawks. Despite the win Safety Earl Thomas believes the defense can get better.
