Titans-Seahawks Preview
Though one winning streak has ended, the Seattle Seahawks are poised to make sure another continues.
Looking to bounce back from their first regular-season defeat in 10 games, the Seahawks try for an 11th consecutive home victory Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Seattle (4-1) led 12-0 early against Indianapolis on Sunday and controlled much of the game, but was outscored 11-0 in the fourth quarter en route to a 34-28 defeat. The Seahawks had won nine in a row in the regular season since a 24-21 defeat at Miami on Nov. 25.
"I don't want to get real good at this," coach Pete Carroll said. "I don't want to get good at playing after losses, but we need to handle it well, but I'm curious to see if we do.
"We'll take care of that stuff day by day and watch what is going on and listen to them and make sure we're on track and getting a great preparation."
Though there's obviously no need to panic, the Seahawks will look to address some issues on both sides of the ball.
A team that yielded 27 points in the first three weeks gave up 54 in the past two games. The Seahawks outscored their first four opponents 44-7 in the fourth quarter but allowed the Colts to dominate the final period by holding the ball for 12:11 and gaining 110 of their 317 total yards.
Seattle managed 30 total yards, ran eight offensive plays and earned one first down in the fourth.
Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch each ran for 102 yards as the Seahawks gained 218 on the ground, but Seattle lost for the first time in its last eight games in which it's rushed for at least 200. Wilson threw for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
"It's a very frustrating game to leave out there," Carroll said.
Seattle would appear to be in good position to get back on track at CenturyLink Field, as its 10-game run there is the longest active regular-season home winning streak in the league. The Seahawks have outscored opponents 222-53 in the last six of those victories.
Tennessee (3-2) snapped a five-game skid to the Seahawks with a 17-13 road win in the teams' last meeting Jan. 3, 2010, but it's dropped three straight road contests against NFC opponents. The Titans were outscored 85-14 at Minnesota and Green Bay in their two such games last season.
Tennessee will also be looking to bounce back from a defeat, as it was unable to complete a perfect three-game home stretch in a 26-17 loss to undefeated Kansas City on Sunday.
"We know going to Seattle, how hard it is," coach Mike Munchak said. "We have to go reload, and we will, and play better."
The Titans hope to run the ball better after totaling 183 rushing yards the past two weeks. Chris Johnson was held to 17 on 10 carries last weekend after gaining 21 on 15 against in a 38-13 win over the New York Jets on Sept. 29. Tennessee also failed to score on a first-and-goal situation from the Chiefs' 1-yard line, with bruising back Jackie Battle stopped twice in the sequence.
Tennessee ranks 19th in the NFL with 3.7 yards per carry, though it's fourth with 31.4 rushing attempts a contest. The Titans hope to have veteran Shonn Greene back this week to provide backfield depth after he missed the last four games with a knee injury.
The Seahawks allow 4.0 yards per carry and 109.0 a game on the ground.
"We're not playing near as well as we hope we will be at some time this season," Munchak said. "We've played well in spurts as far as doing things consistently but haven't yet to this point. When you're not converting things like that third-and-1s, fourth-and-1s, like I said that's concerning and that's up front. We have to get more push at times."
Ryan Fitzpatrick remains under center in place of Jake Locker. Fitzpatrick was 21 of 41 for 247 yards and a TD, but threw a pair of interceptions in final 6:14 against Kansas City.
"We just can't beat ourselves," defensive back Bernard Pollard said.
Johnson rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns at Seattle in 2010.