NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Cam Ward Progress
This season was always going to be about gauging rookie quarterback Cam Ward's progress, and that will continue on Sunday. With 1,954 passing yards this season, Ward is on the verge of eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark. He leads all rookie quarterbacks in passing yards, and he's coming off a game when he guided a clutch, 95-yard game-tying drive late in the contest. But Ward ranks in the bottom three among 34 qualified QBs in completion percentage (58.4, 33rd), TD-INT (6-6, 32nd) and passer rating (73.8, 33rd). He's missed some throws he's going to need to make for the team to win more games. Ward continues to provide moments for optimism, as well as moments that's left some fans wondering.
Can the Titans Protect Cam?
Ward has been sacked 41 times this season, and we all know that's way too much. Now, a pressure-hungry Seahawks defense is headed to town. Seattle has six players with 20-plus pressures in 2025, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Uchenna Nwosu has 5.5 sacks on the season, followed by five sacks from Leonard Williams. The Seahawks have the fourth highest pressure rate in the NFL (39.9 percent), per Next Gen Stats, despite blitzing on just 20.9 percent of their opponents' dropbacks this season, which is second lowest in the NFL. Ward, by the way, has a 56.4 passer rating when pressured this season. The Titans better tighten up.
Receivers Need to Step Up
Calvin Ridley was placed on Injured Reserve this week, just a few days after Bryce Oliver was officially put on the shelf. On Friday, receiver Elic Ayomanor was officially ruled out for Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. The good news is Chimere Dike practiced all week and is good to go after leaving last week's game early with a chest contusion. The Titans are looking for receivers to step up, and some new guys could be called into action. In addition to Dike, Van Jefferson, Mason Kinsey and James Proche II are on the 53-man roster, and there's been a lot of buzz about Xavier Restrepo entering the mix this Sunday as a gameday elevation. Stay tuned.
Cut Down on the Penalties
The Titans are 13.5-point underdogs on Sunday, and the challenge against the 7-3 Seahawks is clear. The Titans need to stop making things more difficult on themselves. The Titans committed nine penalties for 62 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Texans, many of them pre-snap penalties. The Titans have been penalized seven times or more in six of their 10 games this season, and been penalized 60 yards or more in five of the team's 10 games. These Titans can't keep making their job more difficult, with their own mistakes.
Defense Needs Turnovers
The Tennessee defense has been depleted of late, with injuries, and players being traded. The personnel that remains has been battling, and we saw it this past week against the Texans. The Seahawks are dangerous on offense, with a veteran QB in Sam Darnold, a productive running back in Kenneth Walker (733 scrimmage yards) and a talented receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has 1,146 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. One thing the Titans could benefit from: Turnovers. Darnold three four interceptions this past Sunday, and he's thrown seven picks since Week 7. He has four straight games with at least one INT. Pressure, and better coverage, could produce turnovers.
Special Teams
Dike made his only blunder of the season at punt returner last week, when he took a big hit and lost the football. The Titans got it back, and Dike has recovered from his injury. Now, the Titans need him to keep making plays, something he's done on special teams all season. Dike has been one of the most consistent players to watch this season, but it remains to be seen if he gets his full duties back in the return game. The Titans also have a strong-legged kicker in Joey Slye, who has four field goals of 55 yards-plus on the season, which trails only Chris Boswell (five) for the NFL lead. No previous Titans kicker has ever made more than one field goal of 55-plus in a season. (Yes, I remember the 60-yarder from Rob Bironas).
