Seattle overcomes mistakes to beat Titans

Seattle overcomes mistakes to beat Titans

Published Oct. 13, 2013 6:45 p.m. ET

SEATTLE -- Tired of the comical errors, Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman did all the right things and the Seattle Seahawks remained perfect at home.
Lynch ran for two touchdowns and had 155 all-purpose yards, Sherman got his third interception of the season early in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks finally shook the Tennessee Titans for a 20-13 victory.
Seattle (5-1) won its 11th straight at home despite a long list of mistakes that allowed the Titans (3-3) to hang around. There was a careless turnover, missed defensive assignments and a comical muffed field goal attempt that led to the Titans' only touchdown on the final play of the first half.
But the Seahawks made enough plays thanks to Lynch, quarterback Russell Wilson and Sherman's interception to remain on top of the NFC West.
Lynch finished with 77 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards, and a career-best 78 yards on four receptions. Wilson was 23 of 31 for 257 yards, and Seattle dominated in total yardage, outgaining the Titans 404-223.
Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 17 of 29 passes for 171 yards and threw two interceptions. None was more costly than his decision to challenge Sherman on the first play after Seattle took a 13-10 lead. Sherman didn't bite on Nate Washington's fake.
Seattle immediately turned the interception into points, with Lynch scoring from the 3 for a 10-point lead.
Chris Johnson was limited to 33 yards on 12 carries. Fitzpatrick also scrambled for 33 yards.
Steven Hauschka kicked field goals of 31 and 29 yards in the second half for Seattle, but only after being injured in the first half, a development that led to a major special teams blunder and Tennessee's only touchdown.
Hauschka was plowed by Darius Raynaud during the kickoff return following Lynch's first TD midway through the second quarter. Just before halftime, Hauschka went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.
He missed a memorable special teams mistake. Chris Maragos, a reserve safety, was asked to hold on a short field goal attempt by punter Jon Ryan on the final play of the half. Maragos caught the snap cleanly, but lost the ball as he went to place it down. Instead of falling on the ball, Maragos tried to make a play. He was stripped by Michael Griffin and Jason McCourty picked up the loose ball and raced 77 yards to give the Titans a 10-7 halftime lead.
On Seattle's first possession of the second half, Sidney Rice caught his first pass of the game, only to expose the ball as he was spun to the ground. Moise Fokou knocked the ball free and Griffin recovered.
Eventually the mistakes subsided for Seattle. Hauschka returned to hit both field goals to give Seattle the lead, but the second came after a lucky bounce.
The Seahawks opened the fourth quarter with three straight chunk plays that covered 78 yards, including Wilson's 55-yard pass to Lynch.
On first down at the 2, Lynch ran to the left and had the ball knocked free by Fokou. The ball bounced perfectly for Zach Brown, but instead of falling on it he tried to pick it up and run. He never had control and it caromed from Brown's hands into the arms of Wilson chasing the fumble. Instead of another costly red-zone turnover, the Seahawks had second down at the 11. Hauschka eventually hit his second field goal.
Tennessee tried to rally late, with Rob Bironas hitting his second field goal with 2:18 left, but the Seahawks ran out the clock.

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