Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Texans Monday Night Football - NFL Week 7 

The Battle for Seattle's Screens: A City Divided

For sports fans in Seattle, tonight is a special kind of beautiful, stressful chaos. It's a split-screen nightmare that bar owners are dreading and fans are agonizing over. On one channel, the 4-2 Seattle Seahawks are hosting a pivotal Monday Night Football game against a rested and dangerous 2-3 Houston Texans squad. It's a dilemma that pits a historic, franchise-altering baseball game against a crucial mid-season test for a Seahawks team trying to prove its legitimacy. 

The entire city is holding its breath. And on the other channel? You have the Seattle Mariners, fresh off a gut-wrenching loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, playing in a do-or-die Game 7 of the ALCS. A win sends them to the World Series for the first time in franchise history; a loss is another chapter in a long book of heartbreak. 

The Hawks desperately need to get right at home. They’ve been road warriors, posting a perfect 3-0 record away from Seattle, but they’ve stumbled to a shocking 1-2 record at Lumen Field, a place once considered the league’s most terrifying fortress. The 12s are getting impatient. The good news is that the cavalry is finally arriving for their banged-up secondary. Cornerback Riq Woolen has officially cleared the league’s concussion protocol and is set to return. 

Even more importantly, star rookie corner Devon Witherspoon (knee) and veteran safety Julian Love (hamstring) could play after missing the last two games. They were both able to practice this week and, while they might be on a limited snap count, their presence is a massive boost. They’ll need every body they can get against Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is coming off a bye week. 

The last time we saw Stroud, he was surgically dismantling the Baltimore Ravens for 244 yards and four touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He’s had an extra week to heal up and prepare, and while his offense will be without receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring), the Texans have proven they can move the ball.

The Seahawks are -175 moneyline favorites to take down the rested Texans. Anything's possible, but I'm not sure I'd dismiss Houston so easily. Give the Texans some love and back them on to take the first half. The HT/FT prop for the Texans/Seahawks is getting +400 odds and deserves a look.