O’Neil: Seahawks survive historically bad day on defense against Texans

Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson became just the fourth player to throw for more than 400 yards against Seattle since Pete Carroll came to town.

The Seahawks still won.

Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins had the second-most receiving yards ever by a Seattle opponent.

The Seahawks still won.

Seattle gave up more yards than it has in any game since November 2015 and surrendered 38 points, which is tied for the fifth-most allowed under Carroll.

And still, the Seahawks won.

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“Today the defense really needed the offense,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve been in a lot of games on the other side of it.”

And Seattle is used to coming out on the wrong side when the score starts climbing.

Since Carroll became head coach, this was the 18th game in which an opponent has scored 30 or more points. It was only the second one of those games the Seahawks have won, the other being the Seahawks’ 39-30 victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 29, 2015.

“We didn’t do very well today,” Carroll said. “Come on. We gave up a million yards, points and all that stuff.”

Seattle isn’t alone in that regard. The Texans have been doing that to pretty much everyone they’ve played for the past month. This was Houston’s fifth straight game with 30 or more points.

Usually, that’s exactly the kind of offense that Seattle muzzles, though.

Not Sunday, though.

The Texans gained 281 yards in the first half, which is more than Seattle had allowed in three of its first six games this season. The Seahawks held five of their first six opponents to fewer than 20 points. The Texans had 21 at halftime.

“They made big play after big play,” cornerback Richard Sherman said.

There was a 57-yard touchdown throw to Will Fuller in the first half, a play that safety Earl Thomas said was his fault. Then Hopkins turned a wide receiver screen into a 72-yard touchdown.

It wasn’t the most memorable game for a proud Seahawks defense. That defense wasn’t too proud to acknowledge the game Watson played, though.

“The kid was using the same formula that Russell does,” Sherman said. “He was in the pocket. He had great pocket presence. Once he stood up, he found the open man.”

Watson rushed for 67 yards, most for any player in the game. He also ran to create room. His 2-yard touchdown pass to Lamar Miller in the fourth quarter came was made while Seattle’s Marcus Smith was dangling from Watson’s left ankle.

“He gave us all that we wanted,” Carroll said. “We respect the heck out of that.”

Watson finished with 402 yards passing, joining Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers as the only players to throw for more than 400 yards against Seattle since Carroll became coach.

And in spite of all Watson’s production, the Seahawks still won.

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