HOUSTON - J.J. Watt’s face was blood-splattered from a gash on the bridge of his nose which required six stitches. His white pants were splayed with crimson from the same injury.
But his mangled nose and filthy uniform weren’t as troubling as the rage Houston’s star defensive end displayed as he discussed the Texans 23-20 overtime loss to Seattle on Sunday.
“Nobody likes to lose, especially like this in your own building,” he said. “This isn’t fun, man. I was sick of it after one loss.”
Steven Hauschka kicked a 45-yard field goal in overtime to give the Seahawks the victory and their first 4-0 record in franchise history.
Houston (2-2) failed to score on two possessions in overtime and also lost linebacker Brian Cushing to a concussion. The Seahawks got the victory on their second drive in overtime after rallying from a 20-3 deficit.
A key to the winning drive came when Doug Baldwin caught a 7-yard pass and Kareem Jackson was penalized for unnecessary roughness for dumping him into the ground. That got Seattle in field goal range and Hauschka’s kick came four plays later.
Jackson couldn’t understand why he was penalized.
“I was making a tackle,” he said. “You’ve got to get them on the ground. I stop and he breaks loose and scores. We lose. So what do you want me to do?”
The Seahawks rallied to tie it at 20 on an interception return for a touchdown by Richard Sherman in the fourth quarter. The NFL’s best defense held Houston scoreless after halftime.
“We were dominating the whole first half … and the second half we just didn’t finish the game,” Watt said. “It’s very, very frustrating.”
Houston’s Matt Schaub threw for 355 yards and 2 touchdowns, but also had 2 interceptions and failed to move the offense effectively in overtime.
He lamented making the throw that Sherman intercepted.
“It hurts,” he said of the game. “It hurts bad.”
Houston Coach Gary Kubiak couldn’t believe they let this one get away and described his mood after the game.
“Obviously miserable,” he said. “Our team played as hard as they could play. Played tremendous in a lot of areas, but couldn’t put the game away in the second half.”
Wilson finished with 123 yards passing and a touchdown, and Marshawn Lynch had with 98 yards rushing and another score.
Sherman’s interception came with less than three minutes left. Schaub was pushed down as he threw the pass and remained on the grass on his hands and knees beating the ground with his fists as Sherman became the third player to return one of his passes for a touchdown this season.
The Seahawks marched downfield with a 14-play, 98-yard drive capped by a 3-yard scamper by Lynch to get within 20-13 in the fourth quarter.
They were driving again when Johnathan Joseph stepped in front of a pass intended for Jermaine Kearse to give Houston the ball before Schaub’s costly interception.
A field goal by Hauschkaafter a fumble by Ben Tate cut the lead to 20-6.
The Texans punted on their first drive and Schaub was intercepted on the second one. The pickoff was a crazy play: the throw was first bobbled and deflected by Daniels, then bounced off two Seahawks before Earl Thomas grabbed it just inches from the ground.
The Texans went up 7-3 when Garrett Graham ran untouched into the end zone on a 31-yard reception from Schaub. They extended the lead on a 5-yard touchdown reception by Arian Foster.
A 22-yard field goal by Houston after a fumble by Lynch made it 17-3.
Randy Bullock added another field goal at the end of the second quarter for a 20-3 lead at halftime.
Sports, Pages 16 on 09/30/2013