The Seahawks host the Houston Texans Monday night in a late version of Monday Night Football, with the game serving as the back end of a MNF double header. It will be the latest kickoff time for a regular-season Seahawks home game in franchise history, and will feature a pair of tough defenses looking to make life difficult for their opponents.
The Texans come into the game with a 2-3 record, having won two straight before a Week 6 bye, while the Seahawks are 4-2 after Sunday's win in Jacksonville. To help you learn more about the Texans' season so far and get ready for Monday's game, we reached out to Texans reporter and analyst John Harris with five questions about this week's opponent.
Obviously, rest is always welcome in the NFL, but is there any sense that this early bye for the Texans came right as they were building some momentum with back-to-back wins? And either way, what do they need to do to build off that momentum coming out of the break?
Harris: Given the rhythm the offense started to find over the past two weeks, the bye week wasn't at the most advantageous time, but any rest is good rest. Honestly, it can be spun any number of ways, but finally having some success offensively allowed the offensive staff to go into the bye week, not always searching for answers (as they did in the first three weeks), but the opportunity to build off a foundation of success after the two wins, regardless of who they faced. But, all that bye week rhetoric goes right out the door if we can't block the Seattle defensive front. I shudder at that thought.
The Texans were already good on defense last year, but the numbers say they've taken it to another level this season with the league's No. 1 scoring defense. That has been the key to DeMeco Ryans and company building one of the league's top defenses?
Harris: It's a number of the same names the past two years and it's evident how much that continuity (cohesion and communication are very solid) is allowing them to play faster than I can ever remember. The breakdowns that led to big plays early in the season were alarming, but those mental errors haven't been as prevalent recently. The speed and ferociousness of this defense is a lot like what I remember the Seattle defenses back in the day. The Texans can only hope to match that success, but the tools are certainly there to be that good in the future.
C.J. Stroud appears to have taken a positive turn over the past couple of games, completing 81.8 percent of his passes and throwing six touchdown passes with no interceptions after posting a 2-3 touchdown to interception ratio in the first three games. What has gone into his recent improvement?
Harris: He's learning a new offense and being asked to do a ton more than he did the previous first two seasons, so he's adapting. But this is what he wanted, to be in charge at the line of scrimmage. The offensive line has protected better lately and it's key that the OL has found its starting, and best, five. The non-Nico Collins receivers have stepped up in a major way as well and Nico is still that DUDE. The run game has steadily improved, so the play action has gone up a level as well. But, this will be the biggest test for this offense perhaps all year long. Ultimately (and not shockingly), the key is how the Texans OL can protect against four Seahawks rushers. If the Texans have early success and C.J. has time to throw, it'll force Seattle into making a pressure decision - to blitz or not to blitz? But, if the Seahawks get the pressure they want with four, it's going to be a LONG night for the Texans offense.
Other than the obvious big names, what player(s) could you see being an X-factor in this game for the Texans?
Harris: Nick Chubb and Woody Marks. The two running backs haven't made anyone forget about Joe Mixon around these parts, but the success lately has helped put thoughts on Mixon to the back burner. They've got to continue to find success in the passing game because they can both put pressure on 2nd and 3rd level defenders out in space, in different ways - Chubb's power and Marks' quickness/speed.
What matchup or matchups are you most looking forward to seeing play out on Monday night?
Harris: There's no question in my mind that Derek Stingley Jr. vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and even Kamari Lassiter v. JSN is worth the price of admission. Maybe better put, Kupp/JSN v. Sting/Kamari is going to be one of the best WR/CB matchups either team will see this year. I hope Sting is fully healthy after a bye week, because then it's a GREAT matchup to watch.
Check out photos of the Seahawks 53-man active roster for the 2025 season.


This is a 2025 photo of DeMarcus Lawrence of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0)

Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1)

Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1).

This is a 2025 photo of Drew Lock of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)

This is a 2025 photo of Nick Emmanwori of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3)

This is a 2025 photo of Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)

Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5).

Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)

This is a 2025 photo of Jalen Milroe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6)

This is a 2025 photo of Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7)

This is a 2025 photo of Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8)

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)

This is a 2025 photo of Cooper Kupp of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10)

This is a 2025 photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)

This is a 2025 photo of Ernest Jones IV of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13)

This is a 2025 photo of Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14)

This is a 2025 photo of Tory Horton of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15)

This is a 2025 photo of Elijah Arroyo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18)

This is a 2025 photo of Jake Bobo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)

This is a 2025 photo of Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)

This is a 2025 photo of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)

This is a 2025 photo of D'Anthony Bell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23)

This is a 2025 photo of Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)

This is a 2025 photo of Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)

This is a 2025 photo of Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28)

This is a 2025 photo of Josh Jobe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29)

This is a 2025 photo of George Holani of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks running back George Holani (36)

This is a 2025 photo of Brady Russell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38)

This is a 2025 photo of Ty Okada of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39)

This is a 2025 photo of Chris Stoll of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41)

This is a 2025 photo of Drake Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42)

Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44)

Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44).

This is a 2025 photo of Tyrice Knight of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48)

This is a 2025 photo of Jared Ivey of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Jared Ivey (51)

This is a 2025 photo of Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)

This is a 2025 photo of Olu Oluwatimi of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55)

This is a 2025 photo of Connor O'Toole of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57)

This is a 2025 photo of Derick Hall of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)

This is a 2025 photo of Jalen Sundell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61)

This is a 2025 photo of Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)

This is a 2025 photo of Abraham Lucas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)

This is a 2025 photo of Josh Jones of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tackle Josh Jones (74)

This is a 2025 photo of Anthony Bradford of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)

This is a 2025 photo of Grey Zabel of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76)

This is a 2025 photo of Bryce Cabeldue of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue (77)

This is a 2025 photo of Mason Richman of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks offensive lineman Mason Richman (78)

This is a 2025 photo of Eric Saubert of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert (81)

This is a 2025 photo of Cody White of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82)

This is a 2025 photo of Dareke Young of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83)

This is a 2025 photo of AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88)

This is a 2025 photo of Nick Kallerup of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Signed tight end Nick Kallerup (89) on May 2, 2025.

This is a 2024 photo of Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90)

This is a 2025 photo of Byron Murphy II of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91)

This is a 2025 photo of Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94)

This is a 2024 photo of Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99)