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Rapid Reactions: Seahawks Jump To Big Lead, Hang On For 30-24 Win Over Titans

The Seahawks Improve To 8-3 With A 30-24 Win Over The Titans, Thanks In Large Part To Another Big Game From Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Nov 23, 2025 at 01:22 PM

John Boyle

Seahawks.com Senior Reporter

NASHVILLE—The Seahawks and Titans each managed field goals on their opening drives, and the game was tied a 3-3 after one quarter when Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba jumpstarted Seattle's offense in a manner that has been so successful for them all season.

And after those two connected for a 63-yard touchdown, the Seahawks raced to 23-3 and 30-10 leads to take control of the game. The Titans put a bit of a rally together, but it wasn't enough, and the Seahawks held on to win 30-24 to improve to 8-3.

Here are five rapid reactions to Sunday's win in Nashville:

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to do amazing things.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba's incredibly impressive 2025 season continued with another big game Sunday, one that not only added to his league-leading receiving total, but that also saw him break another Seahawks record.

The third-year receiver started his day with a 63-yard touchdown catch, the longest reception of his career, and he added another touchdown in the second half to give him seven this season, a new career high.

Smith-Njigba, who finished with a season-high 167 yards on eight catches, also broke a pretty significant franchise record. With 1,313 yards this season, Smith-Njigba broke DK Metcalf's single-season receiving record of 1,303 yards, set in 2020, and he did it with six games left to play.

2. Seattle's defense keeps stepping up despite being short-handed.

The Seahawks have not been fully healthy on defense since the season opener, but that hasn't stopped them from playing very well on that side of the ball all season, and that was again the case in Nashville.

With safety Julian Love and defensive tackle Jarran Reed still on injured reserve, and with linebackers Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight sidelined by injury, the Seahawks limited the Titans to 296 yards and a 4.4 yards-per-play average, and didn't allow an offensive touchdown (their first touchdown came on a punt return) until late in the first quarter when it was already 30-10.

Patrick O'Connell, up from the practice squad for the game, took over at linebacker next to starter Drake Thomas with Jones and Knight out, and had eight tackles and his first career sack. Up front, Brandon Pili, whose role has increased with Reed out, had a fourth-down stop on a run up the middle. Ty Okada, who has been filling in for Reed, went down with an oblique injury late in the first half, and D'Anthony Bell took over and recorded four tackles.

3. Kenneth Walker III had another strong outing.

After finishing with over 100 scrimmage yards last week, Kenneth Walker III once again made the most of his touches, making plays on the ground and through the air for another strong showing.

Walker led the Seahawks with 71 yards on just 11 carries, good for a 6.5 yards-per-carry average, and he added 30 receiving yards, 29 of which came on a long catch and run down the sideline that helped set up a Zach Charbonnet touchdown run.

4. The Seahawks pass rush was disruptive, but rookie quarterback Cam Ward was also elusive.

The Seahawks defensive front, which has been great all season, was able to put a lot of pressure on rookie quarterback Cam Ward, but the No. 1 pick was also able to make a lot of plays under duress.

The Seahawks managed four sacks and 11 quarterback hits, with Patrick O'Connell, Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams and Derick Hall all recording sacks, but could have had several more sacks if not for Ward's elusiveness and playmaking ability.

5. The Seahawks played a much-needed turnover-free game on offense.

While it wasn't a flawless offensive performance for the Seahawks, they did manage to avoid turning the ball over, a significant accomplishment given their turnover issues in recent games.

The Seahawks who previously had only one turnover-free game this season, their Week 6 win in Jacksonville, committed 12 turnovers in their previous four games, giving them a league-leading 20 this season, including four interceptions in last week's loss to the Rams.

Quarterback Sam Darnold wasn't flawless, he had few throws he would like back, including a couple of near interceptions, but it was still a solid outing, with Darnold completing 16 of 26 attempts for 244 yards, two touchdowns and a 118.1 passer rating.