The Seattle Seahawks clung to a 30-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Nissan Stadium — a game that felt less like a blowout and more like a survival test. Seattle jumped out to a commanding lead, only to watch Tennessee, playing without their star receiver, claw back with grit, five fourth-down conversions, and a last-minute touchdown. The final whistle didn’t just seal a win — it preserved momentum in a playoff race that’s tightening by the week.
A Lead Built, Then Held
The Seahawks didn’t need flash to take control. They relied on discipline: short passes, methodical drives, and a defense that forced three punts in the first half. By the end of the third quarter, Seattle led 23-10. The turning point came on a third-and-8 from their own 12-yard line, when Patrick O'Connell, Seattle’s linebacker, shed a block and dropped Titans quarterback Cam Ward for a 1-yard sack. That play killed a drive and flipped field position — a microcosm of how Seattle won: by refusing to give inch, let alone yard.
The Titans’ Grit Without Ridley
But here’s the twist: Tennessee shouldn’t have been this close. Their All-Pro wideout, Calvin Ridley, was lost for the season after breaking his fibula in Week 11. He’d amassed 587 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. Without him, the Titans’ offense looked like a car missing a cylinder — until they didn’t. Coach Brian Callahan leaned on backups: Chimere Dike caught the 43-second touchdown, Tony Pard became a safety valve on check-downs, and running back Charbanet broke tackles with a low, churning style that kept drives alive. They converted five fourth downs — the most by any team in a single game this season.
Defense vs. Desperation
The Titans’ offensive line, ranked dead last in the league in pass protection, was under siege. Broadcast footage captured multiple third-down collapses, with linemen getting pushed back before the quarterback could even look downfield. Yet, they kept going. On one drive, Shahed took a direct snap, faked a handoff to two backs, and scrambled for 12 yards — a play so unorthodox it drew gasps from the crowd. Meanwhile, Seattle’s defensive coordinator, Aden Durde, mixed coverages like a chess master, blanketing routes and blitzing only when the Titans showed weakness.
One play defined the fourth quarter: Gunner Helm, Seattle’s safety, leapt into a crowd of Titans receivers, fought through contact, and batted away a high throw near the goal line. The ball fell incomplete. The Seahawks held.
A Slog, But a Vital Win
Field Gulls reporter John Boyle called it “a slog of a game,” and he wasn’t wrong. The pace was slow, penalties piled up, and neither offense looked crisp. But that’s what makes this win matter. The Seahawks (7-5) didn’t play beautifully — they played smart, tough, and resilient. In a division where the Los Angeles Rams are surging and the San Francisco 49ers are still dangerous, every win is a life raft. Seattle now leads the NFC West by half a game.
For Tennessee (4-8), the loss stings less than the reality: they’re playing for pride and draft position. But they showed something — heart. With Cam Ward throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and a unit that refused to quit, the Titans aren’t done. They just need more than guts to win games. They need depth. They need time.
What’s Next?
Seattle heads home to face the Rams on November 30, 2025 — a game that could decide home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Titans travel to Jacksonville on the same day, hoping to avoid their first 5-11 season since 2018. Both teams are on the clock. For Seattle, it’s about momentum. For Tennessee, it’s about rebuilding.
Behind the Numbers
- Five fourth-down conversions by the Titans — most in the NFL this season
- Calvin Ridley’s 587 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns lost to injury
- Patrick O’Connell’s 1-yard sack on third down with 7:12 left in the fourth quarter
- Chimere Dike’s 18-yard touchdown catch with 43 seconds remaining
- Seattle’s defense held Tennessee to 3-for-10 on third downs despite five fourth-down conversions
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Seahawks manage to win despite a sluggish offensive performance?
Seattle didn’t need fireworks — they needed control. Their offense averaged just 5.2 yards per play but minimized mistakes, converting 8 of 12 third downs and holding the ball for over 34 minutes. The defense forced three turnovers and kept Tennessee out of the end zone in the red zone twice, which proved decisive. It was a win built on time of possession, discipline, and clutch stops — not big plays.
Why were the Titans able to convert five fourth downs despite having the league’s worst offensive line?
The Titans compensated with creativity. They used misdirection plays, quick slants, and motion to confuse defenses. Quarterback Cam Ward made smart, short decisions — often checking down to Tony Pard or Charbanet. And Seattle’s defense, focused on stopping the run and deep passes, left gaps in short zones. Tennessee exploited those gaps with timing and guts, not power.
How has Calvin Ridley’s absence impacted the Titans’ offense?
Ridley’s loss is the equivalent of losing a top-10 receiver in the NFL. He was Ward’s most reliable target, especially on third downs. Since his injury, Tennessee’s average yards per pass attempt dropped from 8.1 to 6.3. Chimere Dike, their new No. 1, has just 24 catches this season — compared to Ridley’s 54 before the injury. The offense is now more run-heavy and predictable, which makes it easier to defend.
What does this win mean for the Seahawks’ playoff chances?
It’s huge. At 7-5, Seattle now controls their destiny in the NFC West. A win over the Rams next week puts them at 8-5 and likely in the driver’s seat for the division. Even if they lose, they’re still in the wild-card conversation. Their defense is top-5 in points allowed, and they’ve won all three games against AFC South teams this season — a key tiebreaker.
Was the two-point conversion stop the deciding moment?
Absolutely. After Chimere Dike’s touchdown made it 30-24, Tennessee went for two to tie the game. Seattle’s defense lined up in a prevent look, then brought pressure from the edge. Titans tight end Jalen Tolbert was blanketed by safety Gunner Helm, and Ward’s pass was tipped at the line. That stop didn’t just preserve the win — it broke Tennessee’s spirit. They had no timeouts left and no chance to come back.
What’s the biggest takeaway from this game for future matchups?
You can’t count out a team just because they’re missing stars. The Titans showed that resilience, scheme, and execution can overcome roster gaps — even against playoff-caliber teams. For Seattle, it’s a reminder that winning ugly matters. In the NFL, the best teams don’t always look the best. They just find ways to win when it counts.