Titans overcome 13-point deficit to beat starter-less Seahawks, 19-16

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are undefeated this preseason with new coach Robert Saleh. They also have a lot to work on before the season opener.

D'Ernest Johnson had a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:45 left to help the Titans overcome a 13-point deficit Sunday night and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 19-16 in a preseason game.

Joey Slye kicked four field goals, including a long of 55 yards, as the Titans (2-0) gave Saleh a win in his preseason home debut. Slye chipped away at a lead built by Seattle's backups with coach Mike Macdonald resting his starters after a joint practice with the Seahawks' preseason finale Friday night.

“It’s got to be better,” Saleh said. “Guys, I’m not trying to sugar coat it.”

Drew Lock threw for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Jacardia Wright ran 69 yards for a touchdown as Seattle (0-2) jumped out to a 16-3 lead.

“It was a successful week, but ultimately you want to be able to win these games,” Macdonald said. "But we definitely made an improvement from last week, so let’s keep going.”

Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD.

Cam Ward started for Tennessee with the rest of the starters and was 8 of 12 for 69 yards. He led the Titans to Slye's first field goal. Ward also had the ball poked out of his hand by linebacker Chazz Surratt as the quarterback scrambled right early in the second on his third and final drive.

Both Saleh and Ward credited Surratt with making a great play. Ward also was just as confident talking about the Titans' offense.

“We’re actually right there to getting where we want to be," Ward said. "And the coaching staff, they continue to push us to that standpoint where we want to be, but it’s going to end up paying off.”

The Titans also had three penalties in the first quarter, including an illegal contact on cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, among their many defensive free agents signed in March. The penalty on Flott wiped out safety Kevin Winston Jr.'s interception at the Titans 3.

Even when Jalen McMurray recovered a muffed punt return by Seattle's Cody White at the Seahawks 11, the Titans still had to settle for a field goal after a holding penalty wiped out Mitch Trubisky's 4-yard TD pass to Xavier Restrepo.

The Seahawks had their moments. Celebrating Wright's TD so enthusiastically Seattle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Jason Myers missed the extra long extra point attempt just right for a 13-3 lead. Myers also pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter.

Seattle lost wide receiver Jake Bobo to a knee injury that had him carted out of Friday's joint practice and placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Left guard Mason Richman went down on the opening drive and had to be helped to the sideline after getting his right leg stretched. Macdonald said they have to figure out what the specific issue is, but he called it a “major injury, a long-term injury.”

On Seattle's first defensive play, rookie safety Bud Clark broke his right ankle and Macdonald said he'll miss months. Trainers put his leg in an air cast, and players from both teams came up to the rookie before he was carted off the field. Clark was Seattle's second-round pick and 64th overall out of Texas Christian.

“Two guys that we love, that play our style of ball, that are our type of guys,” Macdonald said of Richman and Clark. "Teammates love ’em, great teammates, great guys, great football players. They have great futures. It’s a heartbreaker, honestly. We’ve had three heartbreakers this week, which is tough.”

The Seahawks and Titans kept officials very busy. Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee was penalized 11 for 100 yards.

The Seahawks wrap up the preseason Friday night at Kansas City.

The Titans host Chicago on Saturday night.

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