The Tennessee Titans remain undefeated this preseason under new head coach Robert Saleh, but their 19-16 comeback victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night showed there is still plenty of work to do before the regular season begins.
D’Ernest Johnson scored on a 2 yard touchdown run with 5:45 remaining, completing a comeback from a 13 point deficit and giving Tennessee a victory in Saleh’s preseason home debut. Joey Slye also provided a major contribution, connecting on four field goal attempts, including a 55 yarder.
The Titans improved to 2-0 in the preseason, while Seattle fell to 0-2. Tennessee struggled early and appeared out of sync for much of the first half. The Titans won the opening coin toss but elected to defer, and Seattle quickly took advantage. Drew Lock needed only seven plays to find a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36 yard touchdown, putting the Seahawks ahead.
Seattle eventually built a 16-3 advantage behind Lock, who finished with 103 passing yards and a touchdown, and Jacardia Wright, who broke loose for a 69 yard touchdown run.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward started alongside the rest of the Titans’ starters and completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards. He helped lead Tennessee to its first score, a Slye field goal, but his second drive ended when linebacker Chazz Surratt punched the ball loose as Ward scrambled to the right.
Both Saleh and Ward credited Surratt for making an excellent defensive play.Despite the early struggles, Ward remained confident in the Titans’ offense and what the team can accomplish.
Tennessee also had several costly mistakes. The Titans committed three penalties in the first quarter, including an illegal contact penalty on cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. The call erased safety Kevin Winston Jr.’s interception at the Seahawks’ 3 yard line.
Later, Jalen McMurray recovered a muffed punt by Seattle’s Cody White at the Seahawks’ 11, but Tennessee again failed to capitalize. A holding penalty wiped out Mitch Trubisky’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Restrepo, forcing the Titans to settle for another field goal.
Slye continued to keep Tennessee within striking distance, eventually helping set the stage for the late comeback.
Seattle’s backups had some impressive moments, but the Seahawks also struggled with penalties and missed opportunities. After Wright’s long touchdown run, Seattle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct while celebrating. Jason Myers also missed the extra point attempt and later pushed a 44 yard field goal wide right.
The game was sloppy on both sides. Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee committed 11 penalties for 100 yards.
The Seahawks also suffered several significant injuries. Wide receiver Jake Bobo was placed on injured reserve Saturday after suffering a knee injury during Friday’s joint practice. Left guard Mason Richman went down on Seattle’s opening drive and had to be helped from the field after his right leg was stretched awkwardly.
The most serious injury came on Seattle’s first defensive play when rookie safety Bud Clark suffered a broken right ankle. Coach Mike Macdonald said Clark is expected to miss months. Trainers placed Clark’s leg in an air cast, while players from both teams came over to offer support before he was carted from the field.
Clark, Seattle’s second-round pick and the 64th overall selection out of Texas Christian, had entered the game hoping to make an impression in his first NFL preseason.
For the Seahawks, the focus now shifts to finishing the preseason healthy and correcting the mistakes that contributed to Sunday’s loss. Seattle will wrap up the preseason Friday night at Kansas City.
The Titans, meanwhile, will host the Chicago Bears on Saturday night. Tennessee is 2-0 under Saleh, but Sunday’s comeback also served as a reminder that an undefeated preseason does not mean the Titans are ready to coast into the regular season. Penalties, turnovers, missed opportunities and inconsistent execution remain areas the team must address.
Still, the ability to erase a 13 point deficit and find a way to win gives Saleh and the Titans another positive building block as they prepare for the games that count.
