The Seattle Seahawks roll into Nissan Stadium as massive favorites against a Tennessee Titans team that looks every bit the part of a 1-9 squad already eyeing the draft. After a frustrating loss to the Rams where Sam Darnold threw four picks yet Seattle still nearly stole it, this feels like the perfect bounce-back game for a Seahawks group sitting at 7-3 and fighting for NFC West positioning.
Seattle’s offense has been one of the league’s best this season, ranking top-three in points per game behind a resurgent Darnold, a breakout Jaxon Smith-Njigba (already over 1,000 yards receiving), and a ground game featuring Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet that wears down defenses. The Titans, meanwhile, rank dead last in points scored and have been trailing for huge chunks of games all year. Their rookie quarterback Cam Ward has shown flashes of leadership, but 12 turnovers and a decimated receiving corps make life brutal against anyone, let alone a Seattle defense that limits yards per play better than almost everybody.
Tennessee’s biggest issue heading into Sunday is at wideout. Calvin Ridley is done for the year with a broken fibula on injured reserve. Rookies Elic Ayomanor (hamstring) and Chimere Dike (chest/concussion concerns) are both banged up and likely limited or out, leaving practice squad types like Xavier Restrepo, Mason Kinsey, and maybe James Proche to carry the load. Jeffery Simmons remains a monster up front for the Titans defense, but the unit as a whole has struggled to get off the field or force mistakes consistently.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Seattle’s pass rush vs. Titans depleted offensive line and rookie QB Ward has taken sacks at a high rate behind shaky protection. Seattle’s front, even if a bit nicked up, generates pressure without blitzing much and could force the rookie into more mistakes in a loud road environment.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp vs. Tennessee’s secondary JSN is on fire as the clear WR1, and Kupp provides a reliable veteran target. With the Titans likely missing speed on the outside and struggling to cover slot routes, expect Darnold to target the middle of the field early and often for chunk gains.
- Seahawks run game vs. Titans front seven Seattle leads the league in rush attempt percentage and controls clock better than anyone. Jeffery Simmons can disrupt, but Tennessee ranks near the bottom in stopping the run when teams commit to it. If Seattle jumps ahead early, Walker and Charbonnet could pound away in the second half.
- Cam Ward’s legs and improvisation vs. Seattle’s discipline Ward can extend plays with his mobility, something that gave Houston fits last week on a late drive. Seattle’s defense under Mike Macdonald is excellent at containing mobile QBs and forcing negative plays, though. Limit the scrambles, and this becomes a long day for Tennessee.
The betting world has Seattle as 13-point road favorites with a low total around 41, reflecting expectations of a controlled, low-scoring affair where the Seahawks pull away late. Seattle should cover comfortably as Darnold cleans things up against a defense that does not force many turnovers.
Prediction: Seattle 30, Tennessee 13 – The Seahawks vent some frustration, dominate time of possession, and cruise to a multi-score win that gets them back on track before tougher December tests. For the Titans, it is another gritty effort that falls short against superior talent, keeping the focus squarely on developing Ward and building for next year.
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