SEATTLE — Paul Richardson already had set a career-high for touchdown catches in a season with three entering Sunday’s game.
He nearly tripled that total in the Seattle Seahawks’ 41-38 win over the Houston Texans.
Instead, he had to settle for two touchdown grabs as a potential third was called back because of a chop-block penalty on teammate Thomas Rawls in the fourth quarter.
Nevertheless, Richardson turned in a career day, with six receptions for 105 yards and the two scores.
“If I had two touchdowns and we would have lost, I probably wouldn’t have anybody to talk to right now,” Richardson said, referring to the assembled media. “So for us to win the game, I’m so happy. I couldn’t be happier. The defense pulled through, they made stops when we needed it, Russell (Wilson) found a way, Jimmy (Graham) scored a touchdown and I’m happy for the Seahawks.”
Richardson’s biggest catch might not have been either of his touchdowns. He hauled in a 48-yard jump ball from Wilson on Seattle’s final drive that set up Graham’s game-winning touchdown catch in the final minute.
It’s a play Richardson and Wilson often practice.
“One of the final routes we do in every workout is that route,” Richardson said. “We do some sort of corner-post or post-corner and I’m happy we were able to do it at a key time and put points on the board moments later and seal the game.”
No running game
Wilson rushed four times for 30 net yards. Aside from that the Seahawks rushed for just 3 yards on 17 carries. J.D. McKissic managed 6 yards on four attempts and was the only running back to achieve positive yardage.
“We didn’t think that was going to happen at all. We wanted to get our rhythm and get going,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. “But I think it’s worth noting that in this game, when we realized that we were struggling, I thought that (offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell) and (offensive-line coach Tom Cable) and those guys did a great job to go ahead and go where we could go, and fight it.”
Freeney makes Seattle debut
The Seahawks created a stir this week when they signed future Hall-of-Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of the 12s,” said Freeney, who played 11 seasons in Indianapolis and is in his 16th NFL season. “The 12th Man is always something that I admired as an opponent, because to play with that type of crowd noise and those fans behind you, that’s something that every defensive player wants to be a part of.”
Freeney recorded a half sack along with Sheldon Richardson on Houston’s final drive of the first half.
Britt, Lane active
Center Justin Britt and nickel corner Jeremy Lane were each active for the game after being game-time decisions
Running back C.J. Prosise was not.
Britt had been battling an ankle injury. Lane committed a pass interference penalty in the first quarter and did not return.
Free safety Earl Thomas said he suffered a pulled right hamstring that kept him off the field for Seattle’s final defensive series.
A number of Texans kneel
Approximately two-thirds of the active Houston Texans players knelt for the National Anthem.
An ESPN article released Friday ignited a firestorm when it reported Texans owner Bob McNair had said in a closed-door meeting of owners that “we can’t have the inmates running the prison.”
McNair issued a statement Friday apologizing for the comment. Houston players reportedly had considered a number of actions in protest, but settled on Sunday’s demonstration.
The Seattle defense line also sat for the anthem.
Odd challenge
The Seahawks appeared poised to attempt a 50-yard field goal at 3:15 in the first quarter after a Wilson pass attempt was ruled incomplete.
But Carroll challenged, alleging Wilson fumbled the ball and that it had subsequently been recovered by tight end Luke Willson for a first down.
The replay sided with Seattle, and two plays later the scrambling Wilson found Richardson for a 20-yard touchdown pass at 2:11 in the first quarter
“That’s a first right there,” Carroll said. “I was really happy about having that chance to challenge that. Really it’s totally coming out of the other side of my brain. The guys upstairs did a great job to jump on that one and obviously it was the right thing and it helped.”
Notes
Rookie Ethan Pocic played the entire game at left guard after rotating with Mark Glowinski last week. … Wilson has never lost to an AFC team at CenturyLink Field.
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