Smith-Njigba leads Seahawks past Texans with 123 yards and TD

SEATTLE Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his breakout season Monday night, catching eight passes for 123 yards and an 11-yard touchdown as the Seattle Seahawks beat the Houston Texans 27-19 at Lumen Field. Smith-Njigba celebrated the score by dunking the ball over the goalpost crossbar and was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was enforced on the extra-point attempt.

The Seahawks opened the scoring on a one-yard run by Zach Charbonnet and extended their lead on the Smith-Njigba touchdown late in the first quarter. The scoring drive was aided by a penalty on Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after third-and-11, when officials flagged him for tackling Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold after Darnold had reached the sideline. The foul gave Seattle a fresh set of downs at the Houston 11, and Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba in the middle of the end zone on the next snap.

Seattle’s defense also played a key role. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud for an 18-yard loss that pinned Houston at its own one-yard line, a play that was the third-longest sack in franchise history. Charbonnet added a second touchdown on a two-yard run late in the third...