When Sam Darnold dropped back on fourth-and-2 at the Tennessee 38 with 1:12 left, the Seattle Seahawks weren’t just protecting a lead—they were locking up a playoff berth. His 12-yard completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba sealed the clock, and moments later, Dorian Mausi slapped the Tennessee Titans’ onside kick out of bounds, ending a wild 30-24 victory at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The win pushed Seattle to 8-3, clinched the top NFC wild-card spot, and handed the Titans their 10th straight home loss—a streak stretching back to November 3, 2024.
First Half Dominance, But Frustration in the Red Zone
The Seahawks didn’t need fireworks to build a commanding lead. Jason Myers nailed three field goals in the first half, including a 47-yarder that left the Titans’ defense stunned. Seattle’s offense moved the ball with precision, but too often, they settled. Darnold finished 20-of-28 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn’t happy.
“We were able to move the ball up and down the field, and we’ve just got to finish when we’re in the red zone,” he said afterward. The stats backed him up: Seattle reached the red zone five times in the first half and came away with only 16 points. That’s not elite. But with Tennessee Titans rookie QB Cam Ward struggling under pressure, Seattle didn’t need perfection—just control.
Second Half Surge and Defensive Breakthrough
The game shifted in the third quarter. Darnold found Smith-Njigba on a 56-yard seam route, then hit him again three plays later for a 13-yard touchdown. The Seahawks led 23-3. The defense, tied for fourth in the NFL with 32 sacks entering the game, added four more. Derick Hall got to Ward with 6:11 left in the third, forcing a turnover on downs at Seattle’s 21. It was the kind of stop that changes momentum—and it did.
But the Titans weren’t done. Chimere Dike, the NFL’s leader in all-purpose yards, returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown, igniting the home crowd. Then, with 6:40 left, Zach Charbonnet bulldozed in from 6 yards out, making it 30-10. The Seahawks looked done. The Titans, however, had other ideas.
Titanic Effort, Too Little, Too Late
Cam Ward, the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this season, responded like a man with nothing to lose. He found Dike again on a 1-yard slant with 43 seconds left—his second TD pass of the day—and the Titans, who had scored just 137 points all season, now had 24. The sideline erupted. The crowd roared. One last onside kick. One last chance.
But Dorian Mausi was waiting. He got his hand on the kick before it traveled 10 yards, the rule requiring a 10-yard travel for the kicking team to recover. The ball rolled harmlessly into the end zone. The Seahawks celebrated. The Titans slumped.
“We’ve each got to be more consistent,” said interim coach Mike McCoy. “These guys fought their tails off once again up until the very end. But got to be more consistent throughout a game.”
What This Means for the Playoff Race
Seattle’s win wasn’t just about the record. It was about identity. After a 3-1 start, they lost at San Francisco in Week 5 and looked vulnerable. Since then? Five wins in six games. Darnold, acquired in a low-risk trade last offseason, has become the steadying force Seattle lacked since Russell Wilson’s departure. The offense is balanced. The defense is relentless. And now, they’re the top wild-card team in the NFC—with seven games left.
Meanwhile, the Titans (1-10) are officially the NFL’s worst team. Their home losing streak is the longest in franchise history. Their offense ranks last in scoring. Their defense is porous. And Cam Ward, despite flashes of brilliance, is still learning how to win. He threw for 256 yards and ran for a touchdown, but the mistakes—three turnovers, four sacks—were too costly.
What’s Next? A Contrast in Paths
On Sunday, November 30, 2025, the Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field in Seattle. A win there could put them in prime position for a divisional bye. Meanwhile, the Titans stay at home, welcoming the Jacksonville Jaguars—a team that’s also struggling, but far from hopeless. For Tennessee, it’s not about wins anymore. It’s about development. About pride. About proving they can compete, even in defeat.
Why This Game Matters Beyond the Box Score
There’s a quiet narrative here: the rise of a quarterback who wasn’t supposed to be the answer. Darnold, once the No. 3 overall pick, has been bounced around, labeled a bust, then resurrected. Now, he’s leading a playoff-contending team on the road, in a hostile environment, against a defense that had held three of its last four opponents under 17 points. That’s not luck. That’s leadership.
And for the Titans? This isn’t just a losing streak. It’s a systemic collapse. They’ve had three head coaches since 2023. Their front office is in chaos. And now, with a 10-game home losing streak, they’re not just losing—they’re being forgotten.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Sam Darnold’s performance compare to his past seasons?
Darnold’s 244 yards and two touchdowns on 71.4% completion rate marked his best game since 2021 with the Carolina Panthers. He’s thrown for 1,982 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 games this season—far surpassing his 2024 totals. His QBR of 74.2 ranks seventh among NFL quarterbacks, a dramatic turnaround from his 49.1 QBR in 2023.
Why is the Titans’ home losing streak so significant?
The Titans’ 10-game home losing streak is the longest in franchise history, surpassing the previous record of eight set in 2013–14. Their last home win came on November 3, 2024, against the Houston Texans. No NFL team has lost 10 straight home games since the 2016 Cleveland Browns.
What role did the Seahawks’ defense play in this win?
Seattle’s defense recorded four sacks and forced two turnovers, including a critical fourth-down stop in the third quarter. They held Cam Ward to just 5.6 yards per attempt after his first 10 completions. With 36 sacks on the season, they’re now the league’s third-most prolific pass rusher, trailing only Buffalo and Kansas City.
How did Chimere Dike impact the game despite the loss?
Dike’s 90-yard punt return for a touchdown was the longest of the 2025 season and his second of the year. He now leads the NFL with 1,102 all-purpose yards and is the only player with two punt return TDs this season. His performance kept Tennessee in the game and earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
What does this win mean for the Seahawks’ playoff chances?
With the win, Seattle is now the top NFC wild-card team, one game ahead of the Green Bay Packers and two ahead of the Detroit Lions. They control their destiny: a 4-3 finish would likely lock in a home playoff game. Their next three opponents—the Vikings, Rams, and 49ers—are all playoff-caliber, making every game critical.
Is Cam Ward the future of the Titans?
He shows flashes—mobility, arm talent, poise under pressure—but his 7.8% interception rate and 21 sacks taken in 11 games suggest he’s not yet ready to carry a team. The Titans are likely to draft a QB in 2026, and Ward’s future hinges on whether he can reduce turnovers and improve decision-making under duress.
