Seattle Seahawks: Opponent Preview – Houston
The Seattle Seahawks look to get on a winning roll. This week they take on the lowly Houston Texans. What can Seattle expect in this matchup?
The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a win. Now they face Houston, who has only two wins on the year. They are also coming off their second shutout loss of the year and their first home shutout loss in team history. This sounds like a matchup that’s ripe for the Seahawks to start a winning streak.
This preview will be fairly short as the Seattle Seahawks need to take care of the football and play a smart game.
Seahawks defense vs. Houston offense
Houston doesn’t feature a strong run game or running back. David Johnson may be back from injury and illness for this game, but he’s nowhere near the back he once was. If Johnson can’t play, look for Houston to use a steady diet of Rex Burkhead and/ or Royce Freeman. For a Seattle run defense that hasn’t been great this year, this is a good week to make a concerted effort toward stopping the run.
Due to a wrist injury, Houston’s starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor may not play this week. If he does play, his ability to throw the ball will be severely compromised. If Houston is smart they play their backup, 2021 third-round draft pick Davis Mills.
Normally you don’t hear a statement like that. However, the NFL knows who Taylor is and what he can do. It doesn’t know what Mills can do aside from his rough 0-6 record.
Since Houston’s season is lost, they should focus on player evaluation and development. Also, Mills has two healthy wrists so he most likely can throw the ball better than Taylor. But no team wants to lose, and Taylor was the QB behind both Texans’ wins this year.
Seahawks offense vs. Houston defense
The Seattle Seahawks offense won’t have an easy time this week. Its strength against strength as Houston’s pass defense is the best part of the unit, which coincidentally is the best part of Seattle’s offense. So, it will be a battle of strength on strength.
If offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and quarterback Russell Wilson can utilize an offensive attack similar to what they used against San Francisco last week, it should make their task easier. The battle between Seattle receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett versus Houston corners Desmond King and Terrance Mitchell should be epic.
Here’s something to think about, running back Alex Collins should return from his abdominal injury on Sunday. If the Seahawks decide to keep the ball on the ground, Houston allows the third most yards-per-carry (4.6) this season.
.@Seahawks RB @travishomer4 had a breakout performance on Sunday, making the first TD of the game.
Homer’s 73-yard rush TD on a fake punt was the longest fake-punt rush TD in the last 30 seasons. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/niyAqYkBgm
— Troy Vincent, Sr. (@TroyVincentSr) December 7, 2021
How do you think the Seattle Seahawks match up with Houston? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.