Seahawks Top Texans 27-19 Behind Star Receiver, Defense/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Seattle’s defense propelled the Seahawks to a 27-19 win over the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Smith-Njigba posted his fifth 100-yard game of the season, while the defense delivered key stops and turnovers. Seattle moves to 5-2 entering its bye, tied atop the NFC West.
Seahawks vs Texans Quick Looks
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba logged 123 receiving yards and a touchdown, his fifth 100-yard game of the season.
- Seahawks’ defense forced multiple turnovers, including a strip sack and Ernest Jones’ third INT of 2025.
- Sam Darnold threw for one touchdown but was strip-sacked for a Texans score.
- Zach Charbonnet rushed for two TDs as Seahawks built a 27-12 lead.
- Texans’ offensive line struggled; Stroud was sacked three times and hit seven more.
- Houston’s only offensive TD came with 2:04 left in regulation.
- Seahawks improve to 5-2, while Texans fall to 2-4.
- Seahawks now tied with 49ers and Rams in the NFC West standings.
Deep Look: Smith-Njigba’s Spark and Defensive Grit Push Seahawks Past Texans, 27-19
SEATTLE — October 21, 2025 — In a primetime Monday night matchup at Lumen Field, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a resurgent Seattle Seahawks defense delivered in commanding fashion, helping Seattle notch a 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans and climb to the top of the NFC West standings.
Smith-Njigba, now firmly entrenched as one of the league’s elite receivers, caught 8 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, adding another 100-yard performance to his breakout season. His touchdown, an 11-yard strike from Sam Darnold, featured a rare show of flair — a spontaneous slam dunk over the crossbar that earned him a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“That was very spontaneous,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’ve seen a lot of my favorites do it growing up.”
The celebration may have cost 15 yards, but it underscored Smith-Njigba’s growing star power. The 2022 first-round pick has now posted three consecutive 100-yard games and is tied for second-most 100-yard games in a single Seahawks season.
“There’s nothing routine about what he’s been able to do,” said teammate Cooper Kupp. “It takes a ton of work. That’s the standard.”
Defense Steps Up Big
While Smith-Njigba dazzled, it was Seattle’s defensive unit that set the tone early.
Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, back from injury, delivered a crucial sack on Texans QB C.J. Stroud, pinning Houston at its own 1-yard line. That field position led to Zach Charbonnet’s first touchdown, a 1-yard plunge that gave Seattle a 7-0 lead.
Later, Ernest Jones IV picked off Stroud to start the second half, his third interception of the season — a career-high — and returned it 28 yards. The play led to a 26-yard field goal by Jason Myers, stretching the lead to 17-6.
“I didn’t see it until the last moment,” Jones said. “Just glad I was able to come down with it.”
Jones finished with a game-high 11 tackles, 4 solo, 1 tackle for loss, and a pass deflection. He leads Seattle in interceptions and total tackles.
“He’s the quarterback of the defense,” said Leonard Williams III. “He keeps everyone calm and hyped.”
Texans Offense Falters
Houston’s offense struggled to get going for most of the game. The Texans’ first touchdown didn’t come from the offense but from their defense — Sam Darnold was strip-sacked in the end zone, and Will Anderson Jr. recovered the ball for a score. Houston failed the two-point conversion attempt.
Stroud connected for his only offensive touchdown late in the fourth quarter — a 4-yard pass to Woody Marks with just over two minutes remaining.
“Our defense kept us in it,” Stroud admitted. “We’ve got to find a way to score.”
The Texans’ offensive line allowed 3 sacks and 7 QB hits, an issue that has plagued them even with improved protection this season. Through seven games, Stroud has now been sacked 18 times, an improvement over the 52 sacks he took last season — but Monday night felt like a regression.
“We were complacent today,” said right tackle Tytus Howard. “Didn’t come out with enough energy.”
Charbonnet’s Double, Myers’ Miss
Seattle’s Zach Charbonnet added another layer of offensive balance, scoring two rushing touchdowns — including a key 2-yard score in the third quarter that extended the Seahawks’ lead to 27-12.
Jason Myers connected on two of three field goals, missing a 46-yard attempt early in the game but bouncing back with kicks of 26 and 34 yards.
The Seahawks offense, beyond Smith-Njigba’s brilliance, did not light up the scoreboard, but did just enough — particularly against the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense.
Lumen Field Edge Returns
Seattle has now evened its home record to 2-2 after a disappointing 3-6 mark at home in 2024. Last season’s dominance came on the road (7-1), but Coach Mike Macdonald stressed the importance of re-establishing home dominance in 2025.
“The 12s were on fire,” Macdonald said. “Great atmosphere. Our home crowd was just tremendous.”
Injury Report
Seahawks:
- WR Dareke Young suffered a hip injury in the second half and did not return.
- LB Derick Hall, S Julian Love, and CB Devon Witherspoon were inactive.
Texans:
- WR Nico Collins exited with a concussion evaluation and did not return.
- RB Dameon Pierce, WR Christian Kirk, and DE Darrell Taylor were ruled out pregame.
What’s Next
- Texans (2-4): Host the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.
- Seahawks (5-2): Enter bye week, then travel to face the Washington Commanders on Nov. 2.
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