Titans edge Seahawks 19-16 in preseason comeback

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — D'Ernest Johnson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:45 remaining, lifting the Tennessee Titans to a 19-16 comeback victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Sunday night's preseason game at Nissan Stadium.

Joey Slye kicked four field goals, including a 55-yarder, as the Titans (2-0) gave coach Robert Saleh a win in his preseason home debut. Seattle (0-2) jumped out to a 16-3 lead behind backup players, with coach Mike Macdonald resting his starters after a joint practice Friday.

Drew Lock threw for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Jacardia Wright ran 69 yards for a score as the Seahawks built their early advantage. Tennessee struggled from the start, winning the coin toss but deferring, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found Elijah Arroyo wide open for a 36-yard touchdown.

Cam Ward started for Tennessee with the rest of the starters and completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards. He led the Titans to Slye's first field goal but also lost a fumble when linebacker Chazz Surratt poked the ball out as Ward scrambled early in the second quarter.

The Titans committed three penalties in the first quarter, including an illegal contact call on cornerback Cor'Dale Flott that wiped out safety Kevin Winston Jr.'s interception at the Tennessee 3. Even after Jalen McMurray recovered a muffed punt by Seattle's Cody White at the Seahawks 11, a holding penalty negated Mitch Trubisky's 4-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Restrepo, forcing another field goal.

Seattle had its share of miscues as well. The Seahawks were penalized for unsolicited celebration after Wright's touchdown, and Jason Myers missed the extra point on that drive, leaving the score 13-3. Myers also pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter.

Injuries affected the Seahawks during the trip, though details were not immediately available.

Betting and preview context

Ahead of the game, CBS Sports noted that Tennessee opened as 4.5-point favorites but the line had moved to 3 points by kickoff, with an over/under of 38.5 total points. Handicapper Jeff Hochman, who holds a 99-88-3 record over the past five NFL seasons, was leaning toward the Under.

Both teams went Under in their Week 1 preseason games — the Titans beat the 49ers 19-13, while the Seahawks lost to the Cowboys 17-7. Cam Ward completed just 5 of 12 passes in the opener.

Several outlets, including USA TODAY and Gannett properties, provided streaming guides for the game, highlighting Sling as an option with 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day passes. The game aired on FOX.

Player performances and roster battles

Sports Illustrated's postgame analysis highlighted several Titans. Julius Chestnut led the backfield with 48 yards on seven carries, and Johnson scored the lone Tennessee touchdown. Will Levis, competing for a roster spot, went 4 of 9 for 15 yards and took a sack. Hendon Hooker completed one pass for the same yardage total. Rookie Anthony Hill Jr. recorded the Titans' first interception and finished with a team-high seven tackles.

Cor'Dale Flott, a free-agent addition, was described as a disappointment, while rookies Fernando Carmona and Hill impressed. The Titans' first-team defense struggled early, allowing two touchdowns on Seattle's first two possessions, including a 69-yard run by Wright. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. was singled out for a blown assignment on the opening touchdown.

Perspectives

Titans' outlook: Sports Illustrated's pregame analysis said Tennessee needed to show more consistency from quarterback Cam Ward and better play from its secondary. Coach Robert Saleh expressed confidence in Ward's development, citing work with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll on lower-body mechanics.

Seahawks' approach: Coach Mike Macdonald rested starters after a joint practice, giving backup players extended reps. Seattle's defense, despite playing without many starters, built an early lead, but the offense stalled after halftime, allowing Tennessee to rally.