Seahawks 23, Texans 20 (OT)
HOUSTON - The Seattle Seahawks rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter, stealing a 23-20 overtime victory over the Houston Texans to remain unbeaten Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka nailed a 45-yard field goal with 3:19 remaining in the extra session to cap the Seattle (4-0) comeback. Houston cornerback Kareem Jackson paved the way for victory with a crucial personal foul penalty that gave Seattle the ball at the Houston 36.
The Texans (2-2) had a pair of possessions in overtime but failed to mount a significant push behind quarterback Matt Schaub, who was booed throughout the period following yet another critical mistake.
Clinging to a seven-point lead, Schaub threw a pick-6 for a third consecutive week, this time victimized by cornerback Richard Sherman for 58 yards with 2:40 left in the fourth attempting to hit Owen Daniels.
Just when the Seahawks appeared dead in the water, Wilson revived them with his scrambling ability. While leading a 14-play, 98-yard touchdown drive, Wilson rushed for gains of 25, 13 and 11 yards before converting a 4th-and-3 at the Houston 7-yard line by using his feet to beat a pair of defenders to the first down marker and the far sideline.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch scored on the ensuing snap to cut the Houston lead to 20-13 with 7:43 remaining, but after the Seahawks forced the Texans into a three-and-out, Houston cornerback Johnathan Joseph stepped in front of a desperation Wilson pass for an interception. Wilson, like most of the game, was under extreme duress on the play.
The Texans dominated the first half on both sides of the ball, stringing together four consecutive scoring drives against the top-ranked defense in the league while limiting the Seahawks to 88 yards and a field goal.
Seattle entered the weekend allowing just 241.6 yards per game. The Texans blew past that number by mounting touchdown marches of 90 and 80 yards in succession, both ending with Schaub touchdown strikes.
Schaub hit tight end Garrett Graham for a 31-yard scoring pass on the first play of the second quarter to cap a six-play drive. Running back Arian Foster snared a five-yard Schaub pass for a 14-3 Texans lead with 6:11 remaining in the first half. With an aggressive approach, Schaub passed for 226 yards against the No. 1 passing defense in the league.
NOTES: The Texans amassed 324 yards in the first half, the second-highest total in franchise history. Their best first-half performance also came against the Seahawks, when they totaled 364 yards on Dec. 13, 2009 in a 34-7 victory at Reliant Stadium. ... Already missing Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung (toe), the Seahawks also played without All-Pro center Max Unger (triceps) and right tackle Breno Giacomini (knee), both of whom were injured last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. ... Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett was taken to a local hospital with a lower back injury. Bennett was removed from the field on a stretcher late in the first half, but did have feeling in his extremities.
