The 19-16 preseason loss by our defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to the Tennessee Titans might make some of you hit the panic button, but hold up, 12s. This wasn’t the kind of game to lose sleep over. While the Titans did raise their preseason record to 2-0, the real takeaways from this matchup have a lot more to do with Tennessee’s internal struggles than anything our Hawks did.
Preseason Wins Are Not Created Equal
Yeah, the Titans won. But if you dig into it, that “heavy lifting” was done by players who will likely be on the practice squad or out of the league completely in a couple of weeks. Their starters, frankly, need to play a lot better in their third preseason game. Remember those “positive outings” Tennessee had in joint practices against the San Francisco 49ers and our own Seattle Seahawks? That production just didn’t translate to the actual game. Why? Because *both* teams, ours included, rested their starters. The Titans didn’t even game-plan or review tape, opting for a base scheme on both sides of the ball. The intensity in those joint practices was actually higher than in the game itself. So, a win is a win, but this one for the Titans feels more like a warning sign than a celebration.
The Titans’ Real Troubles Are Still Obvious
Even with a victory against our champs, the Titans have some clear issues they are wrestling with. Their offensive line is still a work in progress, especially in pass protection. Fernando Carmona seems to have grabbed the starting right guard spot, but they need to build continuity and cut down on penalties. They had two critical holding penalties that wiped out big plays, which is never a good look. Then there’s the running back battle: Julius Chestnut took advantage of his opportunities, running with speed and power, and looks like he has the inside track on the fourth running back role. Nick Singleton could return, but Chestnut’s experience and special teams prowess make things interesting.
On defense, things are even more glaring for Tennessee. Cody Barton might be a liability. After a second uneven performance, Anthony Hill Jr. is absolutely coming on strong. Hill looked like an impact linebacker, leading the team in tackles, grabbing an interception, and notching part of a sack. He was the emotional leader on defense once the starters hit the sidelines. Barton, on the other hand, was overwhelmed at the point of attack and looked at least a step slow in coverage. It’s experience versus raw athleticism, and Hill is making a very strong case.
The Titans still have their third preseason game to figure out their offensive line issues and defensive depth, especially with the Hill-Barton situation. For our Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champs? This 19-16 preseason loss is just another step toward staying healthy and getting ready for when it *actually* counts. No worries here, Emerald City, just another August tune-up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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