Sam Darnold threw for 244 yards for two TDs as the Seahawks defeated the Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Both Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks bounced back very well from their first road losses this season.

Darnold threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and the Seahawks beat the Tennessee Titans 30-24 on Sunday for their fifth win in six games.

The quarterback, sacked four times in last week’s loss to the Rams, led the Seahawks to stay with a 63-yard TD pass to Jackson Smith-Njagba in the second quarter.

“He was a spark for us,” Seattle coach Mike McDonald said of Darnold. “Big touchdown to Jacques, to see his passion and his enthusiasm, I think that’s really what the team is going for, which is what we need. Like we said, same guy. Just nail it, do a great job.”

The Seahawks (8-3) also improved to 5-1 on the road and secured a hold on the first wild-card spot in the NFC playoff chase.

Darnold wasn’t happy that the Seahawks had to settle for three field goals from Jason Myers in taking a 16-3 lead.

“We were able to move the ball up and down the field, and we just have to finish when we’re in the red zone,” Darnold said.

Seattle, tied for the fourth-most sacks in the NFL, added four more against the NFL’s most sacked quarterback in Titans rookie Cam Ward. Linebacker Derek Hall sacked Ward for a fourth down with the Titans at the Seattle 21, helping the Seahawks force a turnover on downs two plays later with 6:11 left.

Ward once again tried to rally the Titans. He found Chamier-Deck with a one-yard TD pass with 43 seconds left, giving the NFL’s worst scoring team a season high in points and a Finals opportunity.

But linebacker Dorian Moses fumbled the onside kick before the ball traveled 10 yards, and Seattle’s victory was over.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leader in receiving yards, finished with eight catches for a season-high 167 yards with two TDs and a game ball. He set Seattle’s single-season receiving yardage mark with 1,313 yards through just 11 games, topping DK Metcalf’s 1,303 yards in 2020.

“It means a lot,” Smith-Njagba said. “This is a great organization, and great receivers have come through here. Honestly, I look at it as a team award because, without Sam, without protection, without Sheed (Rashid Shaheed) and Cope (Cooper Cope), it doesn’t happen.

The Titans (1-10) are sixth all-time and have lost 10 in a row at home where their last win was Nov. 3, 2024.

“We each have to be more consistent because these guys once again fought their tails off until the end,” Titans interim coach Mike McCoy said. “But a game should be more consistent.”

Ward finished with 256 yards passing and his first rushing TD late in the third quarter.

After falling behind 3–0, Seattle scored 23 consecutive points, the Seahawks started the second half with Darnold finding Smith-Njagba for a 56-yard completion before he hit it again for a 13-yard TD and a 23–3 lead.

The Seahawks led 30-10 after a six-yard TD run by Zach Charbonnet with 6:40 left.

Tennessee finally forced Seattle to punt for the first time early in the third quarter. Dyke, the NFL’s all-purpose yards leader, scampered 90 yards up the Seahawks’ sideline for a TD. It is the second of this season.

Smith-Njigba, who had 86 yards receiving by halftime, had his 11th straight game with at least 75 yards receiving this season. He now trails only Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison (14 in 2002) and Cope (13 in 2001) for most such games in a single season in NFL history.

Seattle LB Chazz Surratt did not return after injuring his ankle on the Seahawks’ first kickoff return. RB George Halani suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and did not return. S Ty Okada suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out for the second half.

Titans LT Dan Moore Jr. injured a knee and was replaced by Olisaemeka Udoh. DT Sharma went to the locker room in broken concussion protocol. C Lloyd Cushenberry suffered a leg injury late. McCoy said all three were subject to further review.

The Seahawks will host Minnesota on November 30.

The Titans ended a four-game homestand against Jacksonville on Nov. 30.