Seahawks completely collapse, fall to Titans 33-30 in overtime home opener

The last time the Seattle Seahawks lost a home opener, they blew a 14-point lead and fell to the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 33-30 in overtime.

In front of fans once again for the first time since 2019, they blew a 14-point lead to the Tennessee Titans and lost 33-30. Russell Wilson threw over over 300 yards and two touchdowns on poor defensive coverages, but the offense was a mess in the 2nd half. Only 6 points scored and the running game was largely nonexistent.

The defense? Let’s not talk about it. Actually let’s talk about it. Tennessee punted just twice. Derrick Henry ran wild in the 2nd half and had a hat trick of TDs. A 24-9 lead evaporated and Jason Myers had a pivotal missed extra point that explains why this was 30-30 in the first place. Ryan Tannehill was scarcely pressured, and it was just a poor game all around in the 2nd half.

Tennessee had north of 500 yards of offense — Henry had 182 on the ground — and really just had their way with Seattle’s defense bar a few plays here and there.

1st Half

Both teams went three-and-out on their respective opening possessions. When Seattle got the ball back, Russell Wilson found Tyler Lockett downfield for 51 yards. Two runs and an incomplete pass later, it was time for Jason Myers to hit his first field goal of the year. 3-0 Seahawks.

Tennessee responded with a field goal drive of their own, albeit one far more methodical. A 13-play, 70-yard drive that saw Ryan Tannehill get into a groove and find Julio Jones and A.J. Brown, as well as a couple of his tight ends before the drive stalled out. Randy Bullock knotted things up at 3-3.

The Seahawks’ offense continued to sputter and even after a roughing the punter penalty gave them a fresh set of downs, Wilson was sacked twice and penalties led to them punting again. Tennessee took the lead with another field goal after Julio Jones beat Tre Flowers for 51 yards. Bobby Wagner had a 3rd down blitz sack of Tannehill to stall the drive in the red zone. 6-3 Titans.

What’s that about sputtering offense? Here’s Russell Wilson to Tyler Lockett for a 63-yard touchdown. Poor tackle by Elijah Molden and it took Bradley McDougald out of the play, too. 10-6 Seahawks.

Tannehill was strip-sacked by Alton Robinson on the next series, with Kerry Hyder Jr on the recovery. Chris Carson scored two plays later right up the middle. 17-6 Seahawks in the blink of an eye.

Tannehill got going with a screen pass to Derrick Henry and a 19-yard strike to Julio Jones, whom at this point already eclipsed 100 yards receiving. An apparent touchdown to Julio Jones in the back of the end zone was overturned as the officials saw Jones’ left heel touch out of bounds. From all the TV angles it did not look that conclusive at all. Bullock kicked another field goal and instead of at least 6 it’s just 3. 17-9 Seahawks.

With 65 seconds left in the half, the Seahawks had two timeouts and time to get some more points. They got 7! It took only 7 plays to go 75 yards, with Alex Collins notably getting a 25-yard run on his first touch of the season. Wilson completed 5/6 passes and after Tyler Lockett drew a DPI in the end zone, Carson picked up his second TD. 24-9 Seahawks.

2nd Half

Tennessee arguably needed a TD to start the 2nd half and that’s what happened. An 8-play, 80-yard drive that was aided by Seahawks penalties but was predominantly about Derrick Henry. He finished off the drive with a 9-yard TD after reversing field. 24-16 Seahawks.

The Seahawks got a gift first down when Chris Carson was clearly short on a 3rd and 1. Somehow the Titans didn’t challenge this and Seattle was able to retain possession, only to punt in Titans territory. Even with the Titans backed up, Derrick Henry started to get going both on the ground and through the air and Tennessee found itself into field goal range. A 3rd and 5 stop sent out Randy Bullock, whose 45-yarder to end the 3rd quarter went wide right.

That miss proved pivotal, as three plays layer on 3rd and 11 the Titans defense just disappeared out of sight. Freddie Swain was unbelievably open and had the easiest touchdown of his life for 68 yards. 30-16 Seahawks after Jason Myers missed the PAT.

Back came the Titans, though. Derrick Henry for 60 yards. Poor tackling by Tre Flowers after Jamal Adams blew contain. Quandre Diggs is fast but Derrick Henry is fast and stronger than him. 30-23 Seahawks.

Seattle went three-and-out on the next series. Scary time, right? Tannehill drove Tennessee to Seattle’s 29 (with the aid of a garbage taunting penalty on D.J. Reed). On 4th and 2, pressure from Kerry Hyder Jr forced an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs. BIG time play.

Inevitably the Seahawks went three-and-out. Tannehill repeatedly carved up Seattle’s tired and porous defense and had the ball inside Seattle’s 30 with under two minutes left. A Derrick Henry run got them into the red zone. Another Henry run picked up the first down. Henry caught a checkdown to get to the 10 with under a minute to go. Seahawks not calling timeout. McNichols stopped at the 5 and a yard short of the first down. Touchdown for Henry but it looks like he was short and they overturned it with :32 left. He scored on the next play so it was moot. Tie game. 30-30.

:24 to go and ball at their own 28. Homer with a short catch on a poor throw and Seattle wastes a timeout. Wilson nearly sacked on the next play. Brandon Shell was injured which caused the other TO to be used. Overtime it is after a stat-padding joke of a final play to Lockett.

Overtime

Titans won the coin toss and only gained six yards on the first two plays. Pivotal 3rd and 4. They get a stop only for Adams to commit roughing the passer. A Titans false start derailed the drive anyway and they punted it to the Seahawks, who started at their own 12. It was awful. Wilson threw two incomplete passes and just about got sacked for a safety but somehow it was ruled that he was down at his 1.

Tennessee was in field goal range in no time and got inside the 25. Randy Bullock hit the winner. 33-30 Titans FINAL.

Seahawks Injury Report

G Damien Lewis was in and out of the lineup and replaced by Jamarco Jones.

RT Brandon Shell was injured late in the 4th quarter and did not return.

Next week’s opponent

The Seahawks are back on the road against the Minnesota Vikings (0-2). Kickoff is 1:25 PM PT on FOX on Sunday, September 26th.