NASHVILLE – The Titans, and their fans, got a jolt of excitement with a highlight-reel punt return in the third quarter here on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the team didn't make enough plays around it in a 30-24 loss to the Seahawks.
Chimere Dike's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown was Tennessee's biggest highlight on a day when the Titans couldn't muster up enough offense, or defense.
The team did make it interesting late, when quarterback Cam Ward connected with Dike for a one-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left to make it a one-score game. But the Titans couldn't recover the onside kick, and Seattle ran out the clock.
Ward completed 28-of-42 passes for 256 yards in the contest, with a touchdown pass, and he also scored on a six-yard touchdown run.
But for large chunks of the game the Titans had trouble slowing down Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Seattle offense, and that kept them from building any kind of momentum on a day when the offense had trouble finishing drives in the middle portion of the game, which put them in a big hole.
Penalties were an issue once again, too – the Titans were penalized 10 times for 63 yards in the game.
With the loss, the Titans dropped to 1-10 on the season.
The Titans put together a time-consuming drive (15 yards, 63 yards, 9:09) to start the contest, but it ultimately ended with a 22-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye. Ward completed a 10-yard pass to tight end Gunnar Helm on a fourth-and-2 play, and he also picked up 18 yards on the ground on the drive before things stalled out near the goal line.
The Seahawks answered back with a scoring drive of their own, and they tied the game at 3-3 on a 47-yard field goal by kicker Jason Myers.
Early in the second quarter, Darnold connected with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njibga for a 63-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-3.
A 30-yard field goal by Myers made it 13-3 Seattle with 4:44 left in the first half.
After the Titans were stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-one run by Julius Chestnut, the Seahawks stretched their lead to 16-3 on another field goal by Myers, this one from 36 yards, as time expired in the first half.
The Seahawks then blew the game open early in the third quarter on another Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba touchdown pass, this one from 13 yards out. It stretched Seattle's lead to 23-3 with 13:19 left in the third quarter.
Then came the 90-yard punt return by Dike, which tied the Titans' franchise record, set by Pacman Jones in 2006.
It cut Seatle's least to 23-10, and at least for the moment gave Titans fans something to be excited about. Dike became the first Titan to return two punts for touchdowns in a season since Darius Reynaud did so in 2012.
But the good feelings were short-lived, as Seattle drove the field in just minutes and stretched their lead to 30-10 on a five-yard touchdown from running back Zach Charbonnet.
The Titans didn't quit.
Ward and the Titans responded with a nice drive of their own, and capped it off with a six-yard run by Ward to make it 30-17 with 1:18 left in the third quarter.
Then, the defense got a big play from edge Arden Key, who sacked Darnold on a fourth-and-three play from the Tennessee 41-yard line with 13:17 left, and the Titans had life.
After a drive deep into Seattle territory eventually stalled, the Titans got the ball back, and that drive ended with a Ward-to-Dike touchdown with 43 seconds left.
But the hope for a comeback win ended on the failed onside kick, which was first touched by a Titan.
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12 at Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Camden Hall/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks compete at Nissan Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
