The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up to play an AFC South team who finished last season with a record of 11-5, lost in the Wild Card round and has aspirations of a deep playoff run. Rest assured, this isn’t Groundhog Day and no one told you. It is because the Seahawks are playing yet another nearly identical AFC South team in the Tennessee Titans.
It is the first time since 2013 the Seahawks have hosted the Titans and the first time since 2017 these teams have met. On Sunday Seattle will look to avenge a 33-27 loss in Nashville which was not as competitive as the final score might indicate. Running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry ran rampant over the Legion of Boom.
Murray may no longer be in the NFL, but Henry has since emerged as perhaps the most dominant running back in the entire league. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year presents a difficult problem for defenses to solve, as opponents are incapable of selling out to stop him, as quarterback Ryan Tannehill throwing to receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones gives the Titans a balanced attack.
In May I laid out what I believed to be Seattle’s top-five matchups for 2021. Although it isn’t as flashy as others, I selected the Titans as one of them and I stand by it. Seattle’s defense looked vastly improved last week, but the Titans field a much more potent offense and provide a more unique challenge. It will be a good bellwether to see if the Seahawks defense is actually improved, or if issues from last year will persist.
Prediction: Seahawks over Titans 20-17
Last week the Titans were trounced at home 38-13 by the Cardinals. Do not expect a similar fate. Tennessee is too well coached by Mike Vrabel to look unprepared two weeks in a row.
The Titans will certainly plan to get Henry more involved early and often in an attempt to keep Russell Wilson and his top two receivers off the field. It will be imperative for the Seahawks to slow the run game and take advantage of Tennessee’s offensive line – which allowed six sacks to Arizona last week.
Every team in the NFC West is currently 1-0. The 49ers, Rams and Cardinals all play very beatable opponents in Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Minnesota. The Seahawks simply cannot afford to drop a September home game to their good, but similarly beatable opponent themselves.
