Sep 24, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) breaks a Seattle Seahawks tackle and rushes for 75 yards for a touchdown during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Photo Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans needed nearly 12 minutes of the first quarter before gaining a first down. After that, they couldn’t be stopped.
Scoring on seven of its next eight possessions and recording 21 points in the third quarter, Tennessee dumped the Seattle Seahawks 33-27 Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 20 of 32 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, hitting Rishard Matthews with a 55-yard catch-and-run score at the 7:34 mark of the third quarter to give the Titans a 16-14 lead. Matthews took a screen pass on the left side and weaved through Seattle defenders.
After a three-and-out, Tennessee made it 23-14 when Mariota found tight end Jonnu Smith for a 24-yard scoring strike at the 3:50 mark. Smith whipped middle linebacker Michael Wilhoite in coverage off a play-action fake and had a step on him.
DeMarco Murray made it 30-14 with a winding 75-yard run off left tackle with 1:34 left in the quarter. Left tackle Taylor Lewan provided a nice kickout block, and Murray also got good downfield blocks from rookie wide receiver Taywan Taylor and fullback Jalston Fowler.
Following Russell Wilson’s 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Willson 61 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Titans added a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Succup with 10 minutes left. Wilson hit Paul Richardson on an 8-yard touchdown toss with 1:50 remaining, but tight end Delanie Walker covered the onside kick to seal it.
Murray finished with 115 yards on 14 carries for Tennessee (2-1), which compiled 420 yards against an opponent that had allowed only 26 points in their first two games.
Wilson hit on 29 of 49 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns while facing steady pressure. He gave Seattle (1-2) a 14-9 lead just under five minutes into the third quarter on a 10-yard scoring strike to rookie running back Chris Carson.
Wilson also found Doug Baldwin for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 left in the first half. Baldwin collected 105 yards on 10 catches before leaving in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
Succop converted second-quarter field goals of 24, 37 and 47 yards for Tennessee, which won its second straight after a Week 1 loss to Oakland.
NOTES: Seattle RG Mark Glowinski was a healthy scratch Sunday after starting the first two games. The Seahawks also made RB J.D. McKissic, CB Neiko Thorpe, FS Tedric Thompson, LB D.J. Alexander, G Jordan Roos and T Isaiah Battle inactive. … Tennessee inactives included WR Corey Davis (hamstring) and S Johnathan Cyprien. The Titans also deactivated CB Kalan Reed, OLB Josh Carraway, LB Nate Palmer, OL Corey Levin and DT Karl Klug. … Tennessee RB DeMarco Murray collected the 27th 100-yard game of his career.
