The Tennessee Titans had a few impressive moments, but plenty of problems as well in losing their preseason opener, 27-17 to the host Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
The game started in the worst way possible for the Titans as Matt Hasselbeck's pass on the first play from scrimmage in the game deflected off receiver Nate Washington, bounced into the air and eventually was corraled by Brandon Brawner,who returned it for a touchdown and a 7-0 Seattle lead.
Hasselbeck, making his homecoming to Seattle where he spent a decade, managed to go 5 for 9 for 45 yards, but had a second pass picked off on his final throw of the night before giving way to Jake Locker.
Locker's night was impressive, even if much of it came against the Seahawks second defense. Locker got in a nice rhythm, completing his first five passes on the Titans' last drive of the half before the drive bogged down and ended with Rob Bironas' 32-yard field goal.
Locker showed poise in the pocket and in buying time with his legs as well, completing 7 of 13 passes for 80 yards.
Chris Johnson, hoping to prove last year was an aberration, instead struggled to find any rushing room. He had just eight yards rushing on five carries.
Instead, the Titans star of the game was another running back, one far less heralded in Darrius Reynaud, who had 21-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and may have improved his long odds of earning a roster spot with an 85-yard punt return for a TD that tied the game at 17-all.
The Seahawks soon regained the lead on Stephen Hauschka's second field goal and then added a late score on rookie Russell Wilson's naked bootleg run for a 32-yard touchdown.
Most of the focus from the game was on the quarterback battle, and while it is too early to declare a winner, Locker showed the type of poise and skills the Titans believed he possessed when they drafted him eighth overall a year ago.
The next question will be whether or not Locker gets the start Friday night in Tampa Bay with a chance to run the first-team offense.
- Terry McCormick
- co-publiser of TitanInsider - Lions247
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