Tennessee Titans Vs. Seattle Seahawks: 6 Matchups To Watch In Week 12

The Tennessee Titans are coming off another disappointing loss and enter this week with even more questions for their struggling offense to answer as they prepare for a Week 12 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Titans’ wide receiver room is a mess. With Calvin Ridley and Bryce Oliver on injured reserve (IR), and Chimere Dike (chest) and Elic Ayomanor (hamstring) battling injuries of their own, the unit could be challenged even more against a stout Seahawks defense. The team did add James Proche to the roster, but may need to add some more bodies on game day if Ayomanor or Dike can’t go.

The Seahawks will be coming to town fresh off a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams and will be looking to bounce back against the Titans with their balanced attack on both sides of the ball. Tennessee has shown some improvement in recent weeks, but it’s still a work in progress, and they will have their hands full on Sunday.

There is no doubt the Seahawks will pose some problems this week, and here are six key matchups to watch that could be pivotal in determining the outcome.

Titans’ cornerbacks vs. Jaxson Smith-Njigba

The Titans’ cornerback room struggled to stop Nico Collins and the Texans’ receivers in Week 11, and will have their hands full this week with Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Seahawks’ explosive receiving corps.

Smith-Njigba has come into his own with Seattle, and the dynamic receiver is in the midst of a tremendous season. The former first-round pick has shone at every level on the field and has already amassed 72 receptions for 1,146 yards and five touchdowns on the season, and will be a matchup nightmare for the Titans’ rebuilt cornerback room.

Last week, the Titans couldn’t slow down Collins, and if they can’t slow down Njigba this week, it could be another long afternoon.

Titans’ offensive line vs. Seahawks’ pass rush

The Seahawks have one of the better rush units in the league, led by DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu, and consistently generate pressure with their base four-man rush. Tennessee had some limited success last week against the Texans, but it must be better.

The Titans’ offensive line has been a disappointment all season, and they have to be at the top of their game this week if they want any chance at pulling off an upset. Tennessee has invested way too much in this unit for it to struggle week in and week out.

Titans’ offense vs. Themselves

Tennessee might be the most undisciplined team in the NFL and must find a way to stop killing itself with unforced, self-inflicted penalties each week. Against the Texans, Tennessee committed five false-start penalties (JC Latham alone had three), and the offense was not dynamic enough to overcome those infractions.

This week, with the questions in the receiving corps, the offense must be flawless and put these self-inflicted wounds behind them if they want to have any shot.

Titans’ rushing attack vs. Seahawks’ defense

Tennessee did absolutely nothing on the ground against the Texans, rushing for only 25 yards on 14 carries between Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard, and something must change if the Titans want to generate any sustainable offense.

This will be a tough matchup against the Seahawks, but the Titans must find a way to generate some success on the ground to take some pressure off Cam Ward and that ailing receiving corps. If they don’t, it will be another frustrating day for the offense.

Titans’ receivers vs. Seahawks’ secondary

With Calvin Ridley on injured reserve and Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor battling injuries, Tennessee has many questions to answer heading into this contest. If neither Ayomanor nor Dike can go, Tennessee will have to rely on Van Jefferson, Mason Kinsey, and James Proche to make plays on the outside, which could be a struggle against the Seahawks.

The Titans will have to find a way to get some production through the air if the rushing attack continues to struggle, and could decide to rely on multiple tight end sets to get both Chig Okonkwo and Gunnar Helm involved in the passing game. Still, at this point, there is no definitive outline for what the offensive staff will draw up.

Who knows, they could actually call up Xavier Restrepo to add some depth and let the rookie make his NFL debut.

Titans’ front seven vs. Sam Darnold

The Titans’ defensive front came to life against the Texans and may have to carry an even bigger load against Darnold and the Seahawks. Jeffery Simmons returned from his hamstring injury and picked up where he left off. But the big story was the return of Arden Key from injury, and the explosive play off the edge he provided all afternoon.

Tennessee could use that against Darnold, who proved against the Los Angeles Rams that he can be forced into mistakes when pressured. Darnold turned into a pumpkin, throwing four interceptions in a winnable game, and looked more like the quarterback jettisoned by the New York Jets than the recent high-level incarnations.

If Tennessee is to have any shot this week, the defense, specifically the front seven, must rise to the occasion.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks: 6 matchups to watch in Week 12

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