Titans Host Seahawks in Week 12 Showdown with Both Teams Coming off Close Losses
The Tennessee Titans have actually been competitive in their last two games, which may be a sign of improvement. Or it is just a sign that the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans just had off days against the Titans.
The Chargers had another off day in Week 11.
The Seattle Seahawks also had a poor performance in Week 11, losing to the LA Rams 21-19.
That doesn’t sound so bad. The Rams are one of the best teams in the league. But Sam Darnold threw four interceptions. The Seahawks also missed a potential game-winning field goal.
Despite Darnold’s struggles, the Seahawks almost won. That should encourage Seahawks fans while also warning the Titans that a third straight close game is not a guarantee.
The Titans had chances to beat the Texans. They also dominated the game defensively for much of the contest. Yet they still fell to a game-winning field goal, 16-13.
Before that, it was a 27-20 loss to the Chargers, in which the Titans had chances to win again.
The Titans are still 1-9. They are not a good football team. But they don’t look like the same team that was being blown out by the Colts (twice), Patriots, Rams, and Texans (in Week 3).
They look more like the team that rallied late to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.
The only reason the Titans won that game is that the Cardinals made several costly errors. Errors that the Chargers and Texans just didn’t make.
But the Titans showed grit, spirit, and fight. The offense still spluttered and is now dealing with two key wide receiver injuries: Calvin Ridley and Chimere Dike. Ridley is out for the year. Dike did not return after leaving with an undisclosed injury, and there is no update yet.
The Titans’ defense, though, has really shown resilience and skill. Jeffery Simmons continues to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Arden Key, like Simmons, came back from an injury in the Texans game and was immediately impactful. Cody Barton and Cedric Gray are the men in the middle, and they often get in the middle of opposing offenses’ plans. Even the secondary has performed better, despite being one of the most depleted units on the team. Jalyn Armour-Davis and Darell Baker Jr. look like capable starting corners. Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, and Kevin Winston Jr. are a trio of dependable safeties.
The Titans have a few pieces on both sides of the ball that they can build around. The rest of this season is about figuring out exactly which position groups they are happy with, and which ones need an upgrade in next year’s draft and free agency.
The Titans might continue keeping games close, or they might not. But the final score is not the most important thing in Nashville this season.
Prediction
With that being said, the Seahawks will undoubtedly be dying to put last week’s loss behind them. They will view the Titans as the perfect opponent to face. And they’re probably right. But the Titans will continue relying on their improving defense to keep the game close.
Seahawks 27, Titans 17