Titans Rally Past Seahawks 19-16 : D'Ernest Johnson's Late Touchdown Seals Preseason Win
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 17 hours ago
- 6 min read
Author: Dr. Layne McDonald Published: August 24, 2026
Immediate Answer:
The Tennessee Titans rallied from a 16-3 deficit to beat the Seattle Seahawks 19-16 in preseason action on August 23, with D’Ernest Johnson scoring the go-ahead two-yard touchdown with 5:45 remaining. The victory moved Tennessee to 2-0 in the preseason, while also giving coaches valuable film before final roster decisions.
What Happened
The Titans defeated the Seahawks 19-16 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville after falling behind by 13 points early in the game.
Seattle opened the scoring with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Drew Lock to tight end Elijah Arroyo. Tennessee answered with a 55-yard field goal from Joey Slye, but the Seahawks quickly extended their advantage when Jacardia Wright broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run.
A 45-yard Jason Myers field goal gave Seattle a 16-3 lead late in the first quarter.
From there, Tennessee steadily narrowed the gap.
Slye added a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, followed by a 40-yard kick before halftime. The Titans entered the break trailing 16-9.
After halftime, Tennessee’s defense created another opportunity when rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. intercepted a pass. Slye converted the takeaway into his fourth field goal of the evening, this time from 43 yards, cutting Seattle’s lead to 16-12.
The decisive drive came late in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Will Levis directed a 13-play, 64-yard possession that ended with Johnson’s two-yard touchdown run with 5:45 remaining. The score gave Tennessee its first lead of the game.
The Titans’ defense then protected the advantage. Linebacker Derrick Canteen intercepted a pass late in the contest to help secure the 19-16 victory.
Johnson’s touchdown was the final offensive score, but Slye’s perfect four-for-four night was also central to the comeback. Tennessee’s kick-starting field position, defensive takeaways, and late rushing execution combined to overcome the early deficit.
The game also showed the uneven nature of preseason football. Tennessee’s starters played limited action, with quarterback Cam Ward completing 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards before leaving the game. The Titans’ backups handled much of the second half.
Seattle also used a preseason rotation after a joint practice with Tennessee. The Seahawks’ early scoring came largely against Tennessee’s first defensive unit, while the Titans’ comeback developed after both teams moved deeper into their rosters.
Penalties affected both sides. Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee committed 11 penalties for 100 yards. Those numbers point to areas each coaching staff will want to correct before the regular season.
The victory improved Tennessee to 2-0 in preseason play. The Titans are scheduled to finish the preseason against the Chicago Bears before opening the regular season at home against the New York Jets on September 13.
Both Sides
For Tennessee, the comeback offered encouragement without erasing the need for improvement.
The Titans’ reserve players showed resilience after the team struggled early. Johnson finished the final drive, Slye provided consistent scoring, and the defense produced timely interceptions. Those performances may help players competing for roster places and special-teams responsibilities.
At the same time, the early portion of the game exposed problems. Tennessee had difficulty getting stops, committed several penalties, and allowed Seattle to create explosive plays. The Titans’ starters did not produce the kind of complete performance coaches would want to see as the regular season approaches.
The Seahawks can view the game differently.
Seattle built a 16-3 lead and displayed big-play ability through Lock’s touchdown pass and Wright’s long run. The team also gave valuable preseason snaps to players fighting for roles on offense, defense, and special teams.
But Seattle’s second-half production disappeared. The Seahawks were held scoreless after the first quarter, missed a long field-goal attempt, and gave Tennessee opportunities to remain within reach. The closing stretch will provide important film for Seattle’s coaching staff.
A fair reading of the game recognizes both realities: Tennessee deserves credit for finishing the comeback, and Seattle has legitimate reasons to treat the result as an evaluation opportunity rather than a final judgment.
Preseason results do not carry the same weight as regular-season victories. Coaches are managing workloads, testing combinations, protecting players, and studying individuals who may not play together again once the roster is finalized.
Still, late-game execution matters. A team cannot always control the circumstances of a preseason matchup, but it can control effort, communication, discipline, and response.
Why It Matters
The most useful lesson from this game is not simply that Tennessee won.
It is that the Titans responded after the game began poorly.
In a regular-season contest, falling behind 16-3 would create a difficult path. In preseason football, the meaning is more specific. Coaches want to know whether players continue to execute when the first plan does not work, whether backups can maintain structure, and whether young or less-established players can handle pressure late in a game.
Tennessee’s comeback provided evidence in those areas.
The Titans did not erase every concern. The penalties and defensive lapses remain important. But the team continued to compete, converted field-goal opportunities, created turnovers, and completed the final scoring drive.
For Seattle, the game carries a similar value. A preseason loss can still reveal players who are ready for larger opportunities. It can also show where depth, communication, and situational football need attention.
That is why wise evaluation looks beyond the scoreboard.
A win may encourage Tennessee, but it does not guarantee regular-season success. A loss may frustrate Seattle, but it does not define the Seahawks’ season. The better question is what each team learns and whether that learning produces improvement.
Top Three Takeaways
1. A slow start does not have to become a final result
Tennessee trailed 16-3, but the team kept working through the game. The Titans used field goals to stay close, created defensive opportunities, and eventually found the end zone.
That is a useful reminder for any team, family, workplace, or individual facing an discouraging beginning. The first chapter matters, but it is not always the conclusion.
2. Depth becomes visible when starters leave
Preseason games are designed to test the full roster. Once the starters exited, Tennessee’s backups had to manage the pressure of closing a game.
Johnson, Levis, Slye, and the defensive reserves helped Tennessee finish. Those opportunities can influence roster decisions because coaches are looking for dependable players who can execute when their number is called.
Preparedness is often built in quiet moments before anyone is watching.
3. Discipline still matters in exhibition football
The game featured 25 combined penalties for 229 yards. Even when the final result does not affect the standings, poor discipline can extend drives, erase scores, change field position, and create unnecessary risk.
The Titans and Seahawks will both want cleaner execution moving forward. Talent can create opportunity, but discipline helps sustain it.
Biblical Perspective: The Eternal Center
Galatians 6:9 says:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
A football comeback is not the same as a spiritual harvest, and Scripture should not be reduced to a sports slogan. Yet the image of perseverance gives us a helpful point of connection.
Tennessee’s score changed because the team continued to play. The players did not know exactly how the game would end when they were down 16-3. They were responsible for the next possession, the next assignment, and the next opportunity.
Faith often asks us to live with that same steadiness.
The Christian life is not built on panic when circumstances turn against us. It is built on trust in God, obedience in the present, and perseverance when the outcome is not yet visible. The cross of Christ reminds us that apparent defeat is not always the end of the story. God’s work is deeper and more enduring than any scoreboard.
That does not mean every effort produces the result we want. It means faithful endurance is never wasted in God’s hands.
We can celebrate a team that kept competing while remembering that our ultimate hope is not found in victories, records, reputations, or public recognition. Our confidence rests in Jesus Christ, who calls His people to remain faithful, humble, courageous, and loving.
Practical Takeaway
Celebrate effort and teamwork, but do not confuse a scoreboard with a person’s worth.
When you face a difficult week, focus on the next faithful step. Make the phone call. Finish the assignment. Tell the truth with kindness. Encourage someone who is tired. Return to prayer. Ask for wisdom. Keep doing what is right even when immediate results are not visible.
Perseverance is not denial. It is the decision to remain faithful while acknowledging that the road is difficult.
The Titans’ comeback is a small sports story, but it offers a larger reminder: character is revealed not only when things go well, but also in how we respond when they do not.
What To Watch Next
The Titans will use their final preseason game against the Chicago Bears to continue evaluating roster hopefuls, offensive and defensive combinations, special-teams roles, and overall discipline.
The Seahawks will finish their preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs. Seattle’s coaching staff will be watching how the team responds after being held scoreless in the second half against Tennessee.
For both teams, health and development will matter more than preseason records. The next stage will be turning lessons from these games into preparation for the regular season.
Follow The McReport for faith-centered perspective on sports and culture. Visit www.laynemcdonald.com.
Sources:ESPN/AP game recap; Tennessee Titans official game report; Tennessee Titans official game page. Attributed preseason game reporting, August 23, 2026.
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