Daunting challenge

The Seahawks have seemed unstoppable so far this season.

Road win against an average team with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff? Handled Carolina in the season opener.

Home win against a good team? Demolished the 49ers in Seahawks Stadium.

No letdown against a bad team? Destroyed the Jaguars in Seattle.

This week presents a different and quite daunting challenge. For the Seahawks, playing the Texans is a lot like playing themselves. Houston plays in a loud stadium and fields a similarly stout defense and a similarly potent offense.

The difference is that Seattle enters today's contest with a makeshift O-Line. Paul McQuistan is a good guard, but he has disappointed thus far as a fill-in for All-Pro left tackle Russell Okung. Now Lemuel Jeanpierre must step up for All-Pro center Max Unger, and rookie Michael Bowie needs to replace right tackle Breno Giacomini. The reserves looked good last week against Jacksonville last week in garbage time, but now they need to develop the chemistry to open holes and protect the passer against the world's most fearsome pass rush, keyed by All-Pro badasses JJ Watt and Brian Cushing. Russell Wilson is an escape artist in the backfield, but he will need to raise that art to a new level today.

The defense should be able to keep it close, but today's game is the ultimate test for Seattle.