Seahawks present tough test for Texans, Watson
Seattle’s secondary, defence another measuring stick for Houston rookie quarterback
SEATTLE — Deshaun Watson was brilliant against New England. He handled Tennessee and Cleveland, and threw five touchdowns against Kansas City.
Watson has done all the Houston Texans could ask of him through the first five starts of his career.
For his next act, Watson will be asked to solve the best scoring defence in the NFL — featuring some of the best defensive backs of this generation in one of the loudest, most hostile road venues in the league.
“You play music and try to create noise, but you really can’t prep yourself for it. You just have to wait until you get there Sunday and experience it,” Watson said. “You can blast the music all you want, but that’s not going to help you on Sunday. It’s going to be way louder.”
The biggest test thus far in Watson’s rookie season arrives on Sunday when the Texans (3-3) travel to Seattle to face the surging Seahawks.
After a shaky start, Seattle (4-2) has won three straight — two of those on the road — and now gets four of the next six games at home with the only road trips being to Arizona and San Francisco.
And for as much respect as the Seahawks have for what Watson is accomplishing as a rookie, they’re ready to introduce him to one of the league’s premier defences.
“He’s poised. It’s like (Carson) Wentz was last year when we played him. He doesn’t always make the greatest decisions because he’s a rookie. He’s going to make mistakes. People make mistakes,” Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said. “But he’s poised. He doesn’t get rattled easily. The moment is not too big for him.”
Watson is on pace for one of the best rookie seasons ever by a quarterback, especially considering he didn’t start the opener.
Watson’s 15 touchdown passes are the most by a rookie in his team’s first six games of a season.
Twelve of those have come in the past three games where he’s posted a 118.3 passer rating and tossed just two interceptions. He’s the first rookie in league history with three straight games of three or more TD passes.
It’s special what Watson has accomplished. Doing it against a calibre of opponent such as Seattle would be a significant next step.
“It doesn’t take long to see how versatile he is, the dynamic player that he is,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “There’s nothing he can’t do. He’s doing it all and he’s making marvelous throws. They’ve got to be just thrilled they have him.”
Seattle has a pretty good quarterback of its own, one with many of the same attributes as Watson. It’s no wonder that Russell Wilson is regularly included in the clips Houston coach Bill O’Brien shows his quarterbacks each week.
Wilson threw for 334 yards and three TDs in last week’s 24-7 win over the New York Giants. Wilson has 10 touchdown passes and three interceptions in the past four games.
Here’s what else to watch for as the Texans visit Seattle for the first time since 2005:
BACK ON TOP: Seattle is back to having the best scoring defence in the league at 15.7 points per game. They looked shaky early in the season — especially after giving up 33 points to Tennessee — but have been outstanding during the three-game win streak in shutting down the Colts, Rams and Giants.
While the Seahawks’ secondary gets most of the credit, the run defence has led the way during the win streak, allowing 81.3 yards per game. Seattle’s defence has not allowed any first-quarter points.
FREENEY DEBUT: Seattle signed veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney this week to help bolster a pass rush looking for additions after Cliff Avril was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. Freeney had just three sacks last season with Atlanta, but Seattle would like to see more from its pass rush.
The Seahawks have just 12 sacks in part because teams are using more short and quick passes against Seattle’s defence.
Also worth noting, No AFC team has won in Seattle since Week 8 of 2011.
Staying in sight of Eagles the aim for Cowboys and Redskins
Through the decades, when the Cowboys and Redskins met, it often was for the division lead. On Sunday, the archrivals go at it for the 115th time. At stake: second place in the NFC East behind the high-flying Eagles.
While the Eagles host the winless 49ers already owning a 2 1/2-game edge in the division, the winner at FedEx Field at least can remain in sight of Philly.
So even though neither Dallas nor Washington, both 3-3, will have reached the halfway mark of the schedule, this is a critical matchup.
For Washington, the challenge is heightened because it lost on Monday at Philadelphia.
Cowboys fans were having anxiety attacks with their team under .500, but a romp at the 49ers brightened the outlook.
“We are definitely going into the direction that we want to go,” said quarterback Dak Prescott. “We are playing up to our standards and expectations of the way we expect to move the ball, the way we expect to get points. And it’s been going well. We are getting into a groove.”
Off this week are the Rams (5-2), Cardinals (3-4), Giants (1-6), Jaguars (4-3), Titans (4-3) and Packers (4-3).
San Francisco (0-7) at Philadelphia (6-1)
Wentz made such a strong impression on Monday night that he’s surged in MVP talk. Yes, it’s just seven weeks, but the Eagles do have the NFL’s best record. And Wentz has been superb.
He leads the league with 17 TD passes, including 11 in the past three games. And the way he uses his running skills has Redskins cornerback Josh Norman comparing Wentz to Houdini.
A key element here: Philadelphia is one of the NFL’s best with the ball on third downs. San Francisco is one of the worst defending third downs.
Pittsburgh (5-2) at Detroit (3-3)
The Steelers have won four straight in this series. In addition to the three-pronged attack of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh is tied for second in the NFL with 24 sacks. Detroit has allowed 23.
Fortunately for the Lions, they come off a bye, allowing Matthew Stafford to heal up a bit before facing that emerging defence.
Pittsburgh has the distraction of receiver Martavis Bryant, who was suspended for last season, complaining publicly about his role. Coach Mike Tomlin has said there are no plans to trade Bryant, who noted during the week that he was being benched for Sunday’s game.
Denver (3-3) at Kansas City (5-2), Monday night
Like Cowboys-Redskins, this is another classic rivalry.
Both teams have lost two in a row. Denver’s offence has disappeared; the Broncos scored 42 points over the past four games and were shut out by the Chargers last week.
One player who would love to have an impact on Denver’s offence is Jamaal Charles. The long-time star running back for KC is now a Bronco and needs 44 yards from scrimmage to reach 10,000.
His replacement in Kansas City, Kareem Hunt, is the only player in NFL history to start his career with seven straight 100-yard scrimmage games. Hunt leads the NFL in rushing and is second in yards per carry.
Minnesota (5-2) vs. Cleveland (0-7) at London
It would be no surprise if Browns coach Hue Jackson, 1-22 so far, gets fired if Cleveland loses at Twickenham Stadium. The Browns are off next week, which would allow for more time to adjust to a new boss.
Cleveland is making its first regularseason international trip and doing so without the face of the franchise.
Tackle Joe Thomas underwent surgery for a torn triceps that sidelined him in last week’s overtime loss to Tennessee. Thomas participated in 10,363 consecutive plays since being drafted in the first round in 2007.
Minnesota’s balance has been impressive. Sitting atop the NFC North, the Vikings are getting solid contributions from third-string (albeit veteran) QB Case Keenum, wideout Adam Thielen, RBs Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray, and a staunch defence led by end Everson Griffen. He stands third in the NFL with nine sacks and has at least one in each game.
Los Angeles Chargers (3-4) at New England (5-2)
Both clubs have won three in a row, with the Patriots looking more like the Patriots, the Chargers perhaps having saved their season.
Gillette Stadium, whether around Halloween or any other time, is a house of horrors for Chargers QB Philip Rivers. He is 1-6 against the Patriots (1-4 regular season, 0-2 in postseason), including 0-3 at Foxborough.
Rivers journeys there this time with a good complement in RB Melvin Gordon, and a defence that gets after passers.
So Tom Brady must be cognizant of DEs Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Bosa has five sacks and two forced fumbles in the past three games and 7 1/2 sacks in total. He and Ingram (8 1/2 sacks) can become the fifth pair of teammates to each get at least nine sacks in their team’s first eight games of a season since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Oakland (3-4) at Buffalo (4-2)
The Raiders edged the Chiefs a week ago with no time remaining after a wild sequence of penalties. The Bills beat the Bucs on Stephen Hauschka’s 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds left.
This is a homecoming for 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. The Raiders defensive end played four seasons at the University at Buffalo before being selected by Oakland with the fifth pick in the 2014 draft. Mack has 12 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in two career games against the Bills.
Buffalo RB LeSean McCoy had 91 yards rushing, his most since 110 in the season opener, and scored twice last week to snap a six-game TD drought.
Carolina (4-3) at Tampa Bay (2-4)
Carolina is damaging itself by allowing big plays. It allowed two long defensive TDs to Chicago safety Eddie Jackson last Sunday, and that was the difference as the Panthers couldn’t find the end zone.
Cam Newton really struggled at Soldier Field, but this is an opponent that he enjoys seeing: In nine meetings, Newton has thrown for 2,068 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has eight rushing TDs.
Tampa Bay figures to move the ball through the air with Jameis Winston connecting with star wideout Mike Evans and tight ends Cameron Brate and rookie O.J. Howard. Brate has 12 TD receptions since the start of last season, the most by a tight end over that span. Howard comes off a breakout game against the Bills with six receptions for 98 yards and two TDs.
Chicago (3-4) at New Orleans (4-2)
The Saints have soared to the top of the NFC South with four consecutive wins. Their defence has been stout and the running game with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara is complementing Drew Brees’ passing.
By comparison, Chicago must make huge defensive plays, as Jackson did last week (76yard INT TD and 75-yard fumble return TD), to compete. Rookie QB Mitchell Trubisky has thrown only 23 passes in the past two games. That’s combined. He hit on 12 with one TD, no INTs.
Atlanta (3-3) at New York Jets (3-4)
A loss here will stoke up the “What’s wrong with the Falcons” mantra. They certainly looked discombobulated at New England last Sunday night, nearly getting blanked.
This one concludes a weird scheduling string for Atlanta: Buffalo, Miami and New England, all losses, preceded the trip to MetLife Stadium. Did someone err by thinking the Falcons were an AFC East franchise?
The Jets blew a 14-point lead in the final quarter at Miami. Their offence has been far better than projected; their defence has not been as good as expected.
Indianapolis (2-5) at Cincinnati (2-4)
Not much we can say to promote interest in this one.
Well, there is this: Indy RB Frank Gore needs four carries to pass Barry Sanders (3,062) for sixth on the career list. Gore will become the first NFL back to start 100 consecutive games since Curtis Martin started 119 in a row from 1998-2005. And Gore needs one 100-yard rushing game to tie O.J. Simpson for 16th with 42 for his career.
Ravens say QB Flacco’s concussion was on ‘dirty play’ by Dolphins’ LB
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens are angry and calling for a review of the rule book after watching Joe Flacco being helped off the field, bleeding and disoriented following a late hit.
Flacco sustained a concussion Thursday night against Miami after he went into a slide designed to prevent the quarterback from being tackled. The Ravens were off Friday, and provided no update on the quarterback’s condition.
It is unclear if Flacco will be ready when Baltimore plays on Nov. 5 at Tennessee.
Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso crushed Flacco late in the first half Thursday night, forcing his exit in a game the Ravens would win 40-0. Alonso received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the play, but that was of little consolation to the Ravens.
“He was sliding, and the guy came in high. They’re trying to take that play out, but it happens,” safety Eric Weddle said. “Maybe they’ll look at in in the off-season, and in that situation, the guy should get ejected.”
Flacco threw a touchdown pass earlier in the game and helped Baltimore take a 13-0 lead before Alonso’s hit ripped the helmet from the quarterback’s head and put a gash near his ear that required stitches.
“Was it clean? Was it dirty? It doesn’t matter,” Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “At the end of the day, our quarterback went down, and the whole team took it personally.”
Alonso insisted the hit to the head was unintentional.
“I thought he was going to slide. And then, I had to hit him, because he slid too late,” Alonso said. “It was bang-bang. I don’t know what else I could have done.”
On Friday, Miami coach Adam Gase said, “Kiko was in a tough spot. I don’t think Kiko was trying to do anything maliciously.”’
Perhaps, but that’s not how a few of the Ravens saw it.
“I thought it was dirty play, personally,” receiver Jeremy Maclin said. “I don’t think Kiko’s a dirty player, but I thought that particular play was dirty.”