Seahawks lose 33-27 as defense wilts in the Tennessee heat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A day that united the Seahawks before the game in what Michael Bennett called a “revolutionary” way ended with Seattle split on the field.

So said Kam Chancellor.

Richard Sherman lost his helmet and his head, getting steamed at officials for calling three penalties on him — on one play. That negated Chancellor’s interception in the first half. The play possibly could have changed the vaunted defense’s malfunctioning and fatigue that ultimately doomed Seattle in its 33-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on a steamy Sunday down South.

Sherman also argued, pushed and shoved with dozens of Titans after whacking quarterback Marcus Mariota after Tennessee’s quarterback had run out of bounds at the end of a scramble. Teammates had to separate the three-time All-Pro cornerback from Tennessee’s irate sideline.

“I think every time we get into bickering, it’s wasted energy,” Chancellor said in a quiet locker room full of spent Seahawks. “I think it takes a little bit of the focus. It distracts. And it takes a little bit of energy.”

The Seahawks’ defense could have used some of that energy before it wilted on an 88-degree day with 97 percent humidity.

The unit that had kept Seattle in the first 2½ games of the season got run over in the latter half of game No. 3.

Tennessee and its power-running game scored 21 points in the third quarter, after the maligned Seattle offense seized a 14-9 lead. Missed tackles, missed assignments and overwhelming fatigue allowed the Titans to romp for 195 yards rushing. Seattle allowed 165 of those yards on the ground after halftime.

For a change, the defense let down the offense. Russell Wilson threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns, completing 29 of his career-high 49 passes. The offensive line provided decent pass protection for a large swath of the day. Doug Baldwin had a career-high 10 catches for 105 yards with a touchdown — and moves like a salsa dancer following several of those catches for extra yards.

That kind of offense should win games against anyone, even a favorite to win the AFC South.

“We’ve got to do a better job. It’s on us,” Seahawks All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner said, refusing to use fatigue as a reason for his unit’s collapse. “I don’t think anyone in here is making excuses (on defense). It’s execution.”

The 195 yards rushing were the most allowed by Seattle in four years, since Oct. 28, 2013, when it gave up 200 to the Rams.

“We get paid a lot of money not to make those kinds of mistakes,” Pro Bowl outside linebacker K.J. Wright said.

Wright’s bad angle left him chasing Demarco Murray in vain on Tennessee’s 75-yard touchdown run. That made it 30-14 late in the third quarter. Seattle was in desperation mode from there while falling to 1-2 entering next week’s home game against Indianapolis (1-2 after its 31-28 home victory over winless Cleveland on Sunday).

Coach Pete Carroll said he was “disappointed” in his defense.

“Really surprising characteristic to see big plays (allowed),” Carroll said. “We’ve got to get it right.”

The Seahawks trailed 33-20 through much of the fourth quarter. Then they got to the Tennessee 16 but went backward because of an intentional-grounding penalty on Wilson. He got chased by four Titans pass rushers who beat five Seahawks offensive linemen on second down from the 16 then just chucked the pass from the pocket to no one. With 7 minutes left Carroll chose to go for it on fourth-and-22 instead of kick a field goal, perhaps sensing Seattle’s tired defense couldn’t stop Tennessee’s power running. Wilson jump-ball desperation pass into the end-zone got batted down.

“I just wanted to take a shot,” Carroll said. “Sometimes you’ve just got to take a shot.”

By the time the Seahawks got down there again, 2 minutes remained and they were in an all-out fire drill. Wilson’s touchdown pass to Paul Richardson of 8 yards with 1:50 left got Seattle within 33-27.

With only one timeout remaining, the Seahawks had to attempt an onside kick. It rolled low and directly to Tennessee’s Delanie Walker, who smothered the ball and the Seahawks’ chances of a miracle comeback.

Beginning with the last drive of the first half, Seattle’s offense functioned consistently and efficiently for the first time this season. And once again an increase in tempo and use of the no-huddle offense were the sparks.

Down 6-0 late in the second quarter, Wilson completed consecutive passes to Baldwin and C.J. Prosise for 82 yards. Then he rolled right and connected with Baldwin at the goal-line pylon to give Seattle a 7-6 lead.

Jimmy Graham had five catches for 10 yards for the season until he caught Wilson’s pass and rumbled 26 yards to the Titans 11-yard line on the opening drive of the second half. Without huddling, Wilson then flipped a throw over the middle to rookie Chris Carson. The seventh-round pick started again and played most of the game as Seattle’s lead running back while Thomas Rawls got just a couple snaps and Eddie Lacy was active yet didn’t play at all. Carson caught the pass and then made a lightning-quick move past the Titans defender for a 10-yard touchdown. The Seahawks led 14-9.

Thirty-nine of the Seahawks’ 48 points this season have come on drives that have included no-huddle offense.

Graham, the target subject of much discussion already this season, finished with seven catches for 72 yards.

The Seahawks gained 306 yards—263 of it passing—and scored 20 points after halftime. They had scored 21 points total in the first two games.

But it ultimately did not matter with all that went wrong on defense.