Seattle Seahawks Hold Off Hard-Fighting Tennessee Titans 30-24

The Seahawks, after their loss to the Rams, looked to rebound against the one-win Titans. Seattle won, but it was much closer than they would’ve liked. The struggling Titans gave the Hawks one of their most spirited fights of the year.

How David Almost Got Goliath

While headlines will be all about how impressive Shedeur Sanders’ debut was, Cam Ward’s game against the Seahawks was better. He carried the Titans’ offense on his back, as he was both the team’s leading rusher and passer. Ward added a touchdown on the ground and through the air. He had 256 passing yards, which was better than Sam Darnold’s total.

“We’ve each got to be more consistent because these guys fought their tails off once again up until the very end,” Titans Interim Coach Mike McCoy said. “But got to be more consistent throughout a game.”

The Titans’ biggest weaknesses came back to haunt them in this game. So far this NFL season, Ward has been the most sacked QB in the NFL. Part of that is the rookie’s lack of experience leading to dumb mistakes, but much of it is on a horrible O-line.

The Seahawks also have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. They added four more against Ward. After the Titans’ one-yard pass touchdown, the Titans tried an onside kick as a last gasp to complete the comeback after cutting the lead to 30-24. Linebacker Dorian Mausi touched the onside kick before the ball traveled 10 yards, and Seattle finished off the win.

Seahawks’ Key To Victory

Jaxon Smith-Njigba made Seahawks history in only the 11th game of the season. He has the most receiving yards in one season by a Seahawk with 1,313 yards, beating out DK Metcalf’s 1,303 yards in 2020.

“It means a lot,” Smith-Njigba said. “This is a great organization, and great receivers have come through here. Honestly, I look at it as a team award, because, without Sam, without the protection, without Sheed and Coop, this doesn’t happen.”

Smith-Njigba once again took the brunt of Seattle’s offense this week. He had a total of 167 yards, which is a season high. He helped to create both of Darnold’s passing touchdowns and the majority of his 244 passing yards.

“He was a spark for us,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said of Darnold. “The big touchdown to Jax, to see his emotion and his excitement, I thought really got the team going, which is something that we needed. Like we said, same guy. Just ripped it; did a great job.”

Zach Charbonnet kept doing his job as well. The Seahawks running back got another rushing TD with one of his six carries against the Titans. Despite being Kenneth Walker III’s backup, Charbonnet has been racking up touchdowns like they’re going out of style. It was his seventh touchdown of the season. That put him in the top 10 of all running backs in the NFL in rushing touchdowns.