Sports
Seahawks overcome stubborn Texans, create three-way tie atop the NFC West
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Brady Henderson
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DJ Bien-Aime
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DJ Bien-Aime
ESPN
- DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”
SEATTLE — Not everything was bad for Seattle sports fans on Monday night.
While the Mariners fell just short of their first-ever World Series appearance, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business at Lumen Field, beating the Houston Texans 27-19. The Seahawks’ defense held Houston to 254 yards and sacked C.J. Stroud three times, helping them overcome four turnovers. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a touchdown pass while running back Zach Charbonnet ran for two more scores.
Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:
Moments before kickoff on Monday, the Seahawks had franchise legends Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas raised the ceremonial 12 flag at Lumen Field. And then their defense turned in a performance that would make the Legion of Boom proud.
The Seahawks harassed C.J. Stroud, sacking him three times, intercepting him once and holding the Texans’ quarterback to under a 50% completion rate (23-for-49). Their loaded pass rush and typically strong run defense were enough to keep Houston’s offense out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter despite Seattle again playing short-handed in the secondary, with Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love both inactive.
Seattle’s offense got another huge game from Smith-Njigba, who caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but it turned the ball over four times and converted only 2 of 14 times on third down.
This night belonged to the defense, whose dominance helped Seattle improve to 5-2 heading into the bye. The Seahawks are off the rest of the week, but they may not be idle with the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching and a potential trade chip in their back pocket in cornerback Riq Woolen, who isn’t part of their long-term plans. The Seahawks are expecting Witherspoon (and Love) back after the bye, which could give them more freedom to move Woolen and, depending on what they get in return, potentially improve what is already one of the best defenses in the NFL.
What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold has done an excellent job this season of avoiding sacks and negative plays in general, but he didn’t do that Monday night. With the Seahawks backed up near their own goal line in the third quarter, he tried to retreat in the end zone with the pocket collapsing in front of him, leading to a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr. that the Houston edge rusher recovered in the end zone. Darnold was sacked another time and threw an interception in the fourth quarter, making it an atypical performance for a quarterback who had entered this game ranked third in Total QBR. Darnold completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and another touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba.
Trend to watch: If it wasn’t clear already, it should be now: Uchenna Nwosu is back to his old self. His sack of Stroud in the first quarter was his sixth in as many games this season. The veteran edge rusher missed the opener while coming back from offseason knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus he suffered in last season’s finale — one of several injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons. All the time he’s missed forced the 28-year-old Nwosu to take a pay cut over the offseason to return to Seattle, creating plenty of uncertainty over his future with the Seahawks beyond 2025. But that’s becoming less of a question.
Stat to know: Smith-Njigba became the first player in Seahawks history with at least 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in three straight games, according to ESPN Research. That’s just one stat that illustrates the incredible start he’s had to the season — the kind of tear that is putting him in the conversation of the best receivers in football. He entered Monday night leading the NFL in receiving by a wide margin with 696 yards, and he extended that lead with another 123 yards against Houston. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, his 11-yard touchdown catch had a completion probability of 28%, the least likely scoring pass for the Seahawks so far this season. — Brady Henderson
Next game: at Washington Commanders (Sunday, Nov. 2, 8:20 p.m. ET)
The Texans’ disappointing offensive showing Monday night was best symbolized by an anemic fourth-quarter, goal-line possession.
Down 27-12 with 5:21 remaining, Houston’s offense lined up on the Seahawks’ 3-yard line while dealing with a deafening, flag-waving Lumen Stadium crowd. And the Texans’ offense did nothing to silence them. The series of plays — a 2-yard run, an incompletion, another incompletion, a false start then yet another incompletion – equaled a turnover on downs and their best shot to come back to win a game in which they forced four Seahawks turnovers.
When the game was on the line, Houston folded. The evening featured another slog for the Houston offense, which could only generate 13 points and 254 total yards. Stroud was sacked three times, threw a touchdown pass and an interception while Houston’s run game was invisible, totaling only 56 yards. It was a disappointing showing coming off a bye, which followed a 44-point showing against the Ravens two weeks ago.
Biggest hole in the game plan: All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. versus Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, was a marquee matchup. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 123 yards along with a touchdown, with Stingley allowing 49 yards and the score. But Stingley never matched up against him in press coverage, his strong suit. Heading into Monday’s game, opponents only completed 36% of their passes against Stingley in press coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. And last season he allowed a passer rating of 14.0 when playing press, the best in the NFL. Maybe Stingley, who had a fourth-quarter interception, could have slowed Smith-Njigba down if he was allowed to play press coverage.
QB performance: Stroud didn’t pick up where he left off before the bye, when he threw four touchdown passes in a 44-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. This week Stroud passed for 229 yards and threw an interception while only leading his offensive group to 13 points. It wasn’t all his fault; there were multiple plays when there were free rushers, leading to a sack or throwaways. Even on Stroud’s interception there was a free rusher at his feet, leading to the errant throw. Overall, Stroud’s numbers weren’t good, but the pieces around him didn’t help enough.
Turning point: The Texans were trailing 20-12 late in the third quarter as their offense faced a third-and-1 at their own 41-yard line. Running back Woody Marks got stuffed for no gain. Then on fourth-and-1, they called a similar run play in which Marks got stuffed again, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to go up 27-12, which gave them enough of a cushion to win. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Sports
US Olympic medalists MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogsead join activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics
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EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. women’s Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have signed with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, aligning themselves with the mission to advocate for the protection of women’s sports from biological male transgender athletes.
Skinner, who won silver in vault at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, spoke up about the issue earlier this year, and is now taking a harder stance.
“I am excited to partner with [XX-XY Athletics founder] Jennifer Sey and her pro-woman XX-XY Athletics to tell my story as an athlete and a woman,” Skiner told Fox News Digital.
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Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team United States pose for a photo during Women’s Podium Training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Finding my voice has been hard — there’s no training for that. But every female athlete should find and use hers. No one trains you for moral courage or unwavering positivity — that’s a different kind of journey. I’m going to share that too. Why? To use my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes. But really, this is for my daughter.”
Skinner joins the brand after previously speaking out against her former teammate Simone Biles back in June.
After Biles ignited a social media feud with fomer NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines for posting about a trans softball pitcher who won a Minnesota girls’ state title, Skinner was quick to side with Gaines publicly. Skinner now joins the same brand championed by Gaines, who was XX-XY Athletics’ first brand ambassador when it launched in 2024.
“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should elevate us — not diminish others. That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser’ — simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports,” Skinner said in a June statement.
“I commend and appreciate Riley Gaines for having the courage to speak up. Throughout my own career, I endured being belittled, dismissed and ostracized behind the scenes by Simone… It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to use your platform to bully and demean… We should be lifting each other up — not tearing one another down for speaking hard truths.”
SIMONE BILES DEFENDS CALLING OUT FORMER TEAMMATE: ‘IT WAS RIGHT IN THAT MOMENT’
Meanwhile, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist, is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. She has authored a petition to protect the women’s category with over 500 signatures.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Women’s Sports Foundation senior director of advocacy, attends the 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2012. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
Now, Hogshead joins XX-XY Athletics as the brand’s first Olympic gold medal brand ambassador.
“Only strict eligibility standards for girls’ and women’s sports can guarantee fair, safe and respectful competition for us,” Hogshead told Fox News Digital. “More than 500 Olympians & Paralympians are playing it forward by signed Champion Women’s petition; they understand the dedication required to succeed and firmly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.”
The two medalists headline the brand’s new campaign, “The Gold Medal Collection.” The campaign features other Team USA talent, including Taekwondo athlete Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady and swimmer Réka György.
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Former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner with Simone Biles (left) and former Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead (right). (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images, Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)
“As an athlete training to be the best in the world, I look up to women like Nancy and MyKayla, who’ve paved the way,” Bassett told Fox News Digital.
“But I also know it’s on my generation to speak up and protect the path. Every hour I’ve spent training has been to test myself against the best female athletes in the world. If I’m ever asked to compete against a male, I’ll refuse. The integrity of competition relies on a level playing field for every female athlete that invests her time, dedication and sacrifice in her pursuit of excellence.”
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Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly proposed holding a ceremony to present the Asia Cup 2025 trophy to India, which clinched the title last month.
The Indian team, acting on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, following their victory over Pakistan in the final on September 29.
The BCCI has since written a formal letter to the ACC chairman, requesting that the trophy be handed over to them.
In his response, the ACC chairman reportedly asked the BCCI to send an Indian player to attend a ceremony and collect the trophy from him.
The sources said that Naqvi remained firm on his stance that he would present the silverware during the ceremony.
The ACC has also proposed holding the ceremony on November 10 in Dubai, they added.
The development comes a month after the Indian team received backlash for consistently making political statements during last month’s Asia Cup.
Pundits slammed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for refusing the customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss for their game on September 14.
In the following two games, including the final, the two sides skipped handshakes and also stayed in separate huddles during the post-match ceremonies.
Following the final, BCCI officials said that they refused to collect the trophy because Naqvi was a minister in the federal government of Pakistan.
However, the ACC chairman stood firm on his decision to present the trophy himself, leading to a delay of around 90 minutes in the post-match ceremony.
With both sides refusing to back down from their positions, the ceremony concluded without the trophy being presented to the winners.
Resultantly, the organisers then took the silverware away and returned it to the ACC office.
India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 final after restricting them to 146 runs in 19.1 overs despite Sahibzada Farhan’s valiant half-century.
The Men in Blue chased down the 147-run target in 19.4 overs, losing five wickets in the process to claim the continental title.
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The agent of former NFL star Doug Martin provided clarity on the circumstances around his death on Monday as he released a statement on behalf of the late player’s family.
Athletes First CEO Brian Murphy said the retired running back was dealing with mental health issues in the days before authorities in California were requested to be involved by Martin’s family. Martin died on Saturday after an incident while in police custody.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) stretches before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
“Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” the statement read. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run.
“Following recent media reports about Doug’s untimely passing, the family wishes to clarify the circumstances. Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway.”
Oakland police also released more information about Martin’s death.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
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“Prior to his death, Martin was involved in a break-in at a residence in Oakland,” police said in a news release. “While responding officers were attempting to detain him, a brief struggle occurred. After being taken into custody, Martin became unresponsive.
“Paramedics responded to the scene, provided medical aid, and transported Martin to a local hospital, where he later died.”
Police said they have been in contact with Martin’s family since the incident on Saturday and the situation remained under investigation.
Martin’s death was announced on Sunday. He was 36.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on Dec. 17, 2017. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)
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He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders during his career.
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