Photo Credit, ossports/Yalanda Charles
McNair’s words didn’t effect Texans play
When the game started, there was no indication Texan players were competing with a bad taste in its mouth. If you have not followed new headlines of the comments made by Texans owner Bob McNair, who mentioned, “letting the inmates run the prison” in a meeting discussing players kneeling during the National Anthem, you would not know the disappointment shared among Texan players.
McNair words did little to shake the Texan player’s performance on the field, even though it kneeled during the National Anthem as it displayed an energetic effort that left Seattle fans biting its nails before the final big play of the game.
Richard Sherman intercepted Deshaun Watson twice with the last coming with seven seconds left and Russell Wilson completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 21 seconds left as the Seattle Seahawks rallied to defeat Houston, 41-38 in a thriller on Sunday evening at CenturyLink Field.
As the clock ticked down to seven seconds, Sherman knew patience was the Texans least worry but having his presence in the right place at the right time mattered most as he intercepted Watson at the 38-yard line of Seattle to wipe out any thoughts. On the previous play, Watson was dropped for a 12-yard loss, setting up Sherman’s game-icing play.
Then Seattle (5-2-0) took possession of the ball as Wilson kneeled to run out the clock.
For Watson, 19-of-30 for 402 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions and rushed for 67 yards on eight carries, another game of adjusting to the NFL.
The Texans (3-4-0) hoped it could use the small amount of time to regain the lead after Wilson directed a three-play 80-yard scoring drive that watched Graham reel in an 18-yard touchdown reception with 21 seconds remaining.
Texans rookie quarterback, Watson have continued to impress since getting his first start on September 14, the day of his birthday by breaking free on a thrilling 49-yard touchdown run which led to a 13-9 victory over the Bingles.
The elusive scrambling of Wilson made it impossible for Texan defenders to corral him as he bought time while completing 26-of-41 passes for 452 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
The action-packed seesaw affair guaranteed a photo finish with the game tied a 21 entering enter mission. And after the first half, both teams combined for seven lead changes in the second half alone while Houston held a 509 to 479 total yards of offense advantage.
The much-improved Texan offense with the addition of Watson took a 24-21 lead after Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 30-yard field goal with 7:05 left in the third quarter.
After, both defenses shared the unfortunate task of stopping each other’s offense. It was only temporary.
Not to be outdone by rookie quarterback Watson, Wilson continued to topple his game by finding Tre Madden over the middle of the field wide open. Madden rambled to the Texans 12-yard line, a 76-yard pickup. A couple plays later, the effort nearly turned out for not, when Thomas Rawls dropped a sure-handed touchdown pass in the end zone. But Blair Walsh made sure the Seahawks would at least tack on three points after a 21-yard field goal with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
Sherman’s 28-yard interception return to the Houston’s eight, set up Walsh’s second 21-yard field goal, giving Seattle its first lead of the game with 2:24 left in the third quarter, 27-24.
Shortly after both teams traded punts, Watson and the Texans settled down and marched 71 yards to take a 31-27 lead. Hopkins 34-yard reception followed by Fuller 36-yard catch down at the two-yard line of Seattle steamed huge. Lamar Miller capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown reception from Watson on its second series of the fourth quarter.
That score opened the door to a thrilling fourth quarter which lacked defense.
On the ensuing series, the Seahawks drove 75 yards to paydirt to recapture the lead, 34-31. Midway through the drive, Rawls was easily sited for chop blocking. However, the next play Johnathan Joseph’s pass interference gave Seattle a first down and the momentum at the one.
DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller kept the Seahawks secondary’s busy most of the evening. Hopkins caught eight passes for whopping 224 yards and a touchdown. Fuller took advantage of five receptions which tallied 125 yards and two scores.
But the three turnovers eventually caught up to Houston.
