The Seattle Seahawks have Sam Darnold’s back.
That was the overwhelming message after Darnold threw four interceptions in a 21-19 loss to the host Los Angeles Rams in a first-place showdown in the NFC West last week.
The Seahawks (7-3) return to the road for a game Sunday against the struggling Tennessee Titans (1-9) in Nashville.
“Sam’s been balling, right? If we want to try to define Sam by this game, Sam’s had us in every (expletive) game. So for him to sit there and say, ‘Oh, that’s my fault.’ No, it’s not,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said.
“Defensively, we could have made plays. There were opportunities where we could have got better stops. Yeah, I mean, like, it’s football, man. And he’s our quarterback … and, if you got anything to say, quite frankly, (expletive) you.”
Despite the picks, Darnold drove the Seahawks from their own 1-yard line into field-goal range in the final two minutes, but Jason Myers’ potential winning 61-yard attempt faded wide right.
“We’re that close, and by our standards, offensively, played a very poor game,” Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp said.
Seattle scored just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone, while the Rams converted all three of theirs.
“We had some good 10-plus play drives out there,” Darnold said. “We just couldn’t finish in the red zone. … It starts with me, getting the guys out there and executing at a high level. And then, yeah, just can’t turn the ball over. I think that’s the biggest thing. Biggest takeaway is just protecting the football.”
The Seahawks look to bounce back against a Tennessee team that has lost five straight since a 22-21 victory at Arizona in Week 5.
Last weekend’s 16-13 setback to visiting Houston clinched a fourth consecutive losing season for the Titans.
“I’m tired of sugarcoating it,” three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “We need to be better. Especially at home.”
Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward has seen his wide receiving corps decimated by injuries, with Van Jefferson and practice-squad callup Mason Kinsey the lone healthy wideouts by the end of the Week 11 loss to the Texans.
No. 1 receiver Calvin Ridley was placed on injured reserve this week after breaking his right leg on the first play of the Houston game.
“The only bad thing is just the injuries that we dealt with, you kind of lose chemistry on guys just because they get caught up and you haven’t got a lot of reps,” said Ward, who has as many touchdown passes (six) as interceptions. “So that’s something that you got to get in practice.”
Dialing up explosive running plays is one way to take pressure off Darnold. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said this week he’s ready to give Kenneth Walker III more opportunities after he consistently found room to run against the Rams.
Tennessee is 26th in the league stopping the run at 134.7 yards per game.
Macdonald said the Seahawks “felt” Walker III because of his consistency.
“And just, even in the pass game, too, on check-downs, finding him late in the play,” Macdonald said. “Just shows you that he’s such an explosive player with the ball in his hands.”
The Titans are hoping to have enough healthy hands for Ward to throw to Sunday. Rookie wide receivers Chimere Dike (chest) and Elic Ayomanor (hamstring) are dealing with injuries and James Proche II was promoted to the active roster.
Tight end Chig Okonkwo leads the Titans with just 32 catches but is also battling an injury to his foot.
Ayomanor was among several Titans who missed practice this week. Also sidelined were cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. (knee) and safeties Kendall Brooks (concussion protocol), and Xavier Woods (hamstring).
The Seahawks practiced without wide receiver Tory Horton (shin), offensive guard Grey Zabel (knee) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (concussion).
