Seattle looks to win 2 straight in visit to terrible Texans

Posted December 10, 2021 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Penny Hart (19) celebrates a play late in the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

SEATTLE (4-8) at HOUSTON (2-10)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

OPENING LINE: Seahawks by 7 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Seahawks 6-6; Texans 5-7.

SERIES RECORD: Seahawks lead 3-1.

LAST MEETING: Seahawks beat Texans 41-38 on Oct. 29, 2017 in Seattle.

LAST WEEK: Seahawks beat 49ers 30-23; Texans lost to Colts 31-0.

SEAWHAWKS OFFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (24), PASS (27), SCORING (22) .

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (24), PASS (32), SCORING (6).

TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (32), RUSH (32), PASS (31), SCORING (32).

TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (28), RUSH (31), PASS (15), SCORING (30).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Seahawks plus-3; Texans plus-1.

SEAHAWKS PLAYER TO WATCH: Ryan Neal returns to the starting lineup at strong safety with Jamal Adams out for the season following shoulder surgery. Neal has been used in spots throughout the season as a sixth defensive back but has not played consistently. When Adams missed time with injuries in 2020, Neal played very well in a starting role. The issue for Seattle is putting Neal into the starting lineup limits the Seahawks' ability to play packages with six defensive backs.

TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Davis Mills. Coach David Culley said Friday that Tyrod Taylor has been benched for Mills for the rest of the season. Culley said he believes Mills, a rookie from Stanford, gives Houston its best chance to win. Culley pulled Taylor in the third quarter last week and replaced him with Mills before making the benching permanent Friday. Mills threw eight interceptions with seven touchdowns in 6 ˆ½ games filling in when Taylor was injured. Taylor has five interceptions with just two TD passes in the four games since returning from a strained hamstring.

KEY MATCHUP: Seattle QB Russell Wilson vs. Houston's pass defense. The Texans have been atrocious against the run but not terrible against the pass this season. Now they'll face a quarterback who has thrown for more than 200 yards in three of four games since returning a finger injury, though Wilson has not approached his previous peak form.

KEY INJURIES: Adams is the biggest absence for Seattle, although it's unlikely starting RT Brandon Shell will play due to a lingering shoulder injury. With Jamarco Jones a week away from being eligible to come off injured reserve it could be undrafted rookie Jake Curhan starting at right tackle. ... Houston RB David Johnson is expected to return after missing last week's game with an illness and a thigh injury. ... DB Terrence Brooks likely won't play this week because of a hamstring injury. ... C Justin Britt missed practice this week with a knee injury but should play Sunday.

SERIES NOTES: The Seahawks have won the last two in the series. ... Houston's only win over Seattle came in a 34-7 victory at home on Dec. 13, 2009. ... In the last game in this series in Houston, the Seahawks rallied from a 17-point deficit to get a 23-20 win in overtime on Sept. 29, 2013.

STATS AND STUFF: This will be the second 10 a.m. PST kickoff of the season for Seattle. The Seahawks are 20-7 in their last 27 games played at 10 a.m. PST, including wins in 12 of the last 13 dating back to 2018. ... The Seahawks had 33:19 time of possession last week, the first time all season they had more time of possession than their opponent. ... The Seahawks have held eight straight opponents to 23 points or less and rank sixth in the league in scoring defense at 18.9 points per game allowed. ... Seattle coach Pete Carroll needs one win to become the 22nd coach in league history with 150 regular-season wins. ... Houston was shut out for the second time this season last week. ... OLB Zach Cunningham was waived Wednesday after his second suspension of the season for violating team rules. ... Johnson has 633 yards of offense and four rushing touchdowns combined in his last six games against Seattle. ... WR Brandin Cooks has a TD catch in two of his last three home games. ... RB Royce Freeman ran for 71 yards in his only game against Seattle in 2018. ... LB Kamu Grugier-Hill had a franchise-record 19 tackles last week, the second most by a player in the league this season. ... LB Christian Kirksey had seven tackles and a fumble recovery last week.

FANTASY TIP: Seattle WR Tyler Lockett has four 100-yard games this season and needs 119 yards receiving to join Hall of Famer Steve Largent as the only Seattle players with three straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson greets fans after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 30-23. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) is sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (97) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) is hit by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kemoko Turay (57) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

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