The Seattle Seahawks are heavy road favorites in their Week 12 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, but there are still two numbers that matter Sunday. Keep them top of mind when this game kicks off at 10 a.m.
Chasing history: Where Seattle Seahawks’ JSN stands in push for NFL record
• Your first and second number that matters is: 20
A noteworthy number this week that deserves to be mentioned twice for two very different reasons. You’ll love hearing one and be tired of hearing the other, but both are relevant for Sunday.
The Seahawks are 13.5-point favorites this weekend, tied with the Ravens (-13.5 over the Jets) for the heaviest favorite in Week 12, though Baltimore is at home so tip the cap to Seattle for drawing that while on the road (where it’s been stellar).
The single largest margin of victory between the Seahawks and Titans all-time is 20 points. That was set when the Seahawks beat the Titans 34-14 … way back in 1979. Will this year’s squad set a new high mark there?
It sure feels possible. Not just because the 2025 Seahawk offense is third in points per game (29.4) but because this year’s Titan offense is especially awful. They’re 32nd in points per game (14.3) and 32nd in yards per game. They’re only positive is their run game … where they’re ranked 30th.
Rookie quarterback Cam Ward is incredibly easy to root for — he was the first zero-star recruit to be drafted No. 1 overall, has a million quotable lines from press conferences, and obviously spent two seasons with Washington State. But like many a rookie passer before him, he’s struggling mightily in his first season. He has a sub-60 completion percentage and has thrown six interceptions to match his six touchdowns.
Saying the Seahawks could beat the Titans by 20 would sound disrespectful and certainly appear to be looking past Week 12 — a horrible habit that’ll beat the best teams — if it weren’t for the Titans allowing that twice already this year. Their three biggest margins of loss:
• Patriots by 18 points
• Colts by 21 points
• Texans by 26 points in a shutout
Seattle is currently second (behind Indianapolis) in average scoring margin (+10.1), and despite their loss to the Rams, they’ve averaged a two-touchdown margin of victory over their last three games.
My call? The 2025 Seahawks set a new record for the biggest margin of victory in the all-time matchups between these two teams. Their best bet to do that though depends on another factor.
The Seahawks have 20 giveaways this season, most in the league. Sam Darnold has accounted for 15 of those (10 interceptions and five fumbles) and told reporters Thursday he knew it needed to end.
“It’s unacceptable,” Darnold said of Seattle’s turnovers. “We understand as an offense we have to be better. I have to be better at protecting the football, and we’re doing everything we can in practice … to try to take care of the football a little bit better.”
More: Bump confident Seahawks QB Darnold will ‘bounce back’
The Titans defense has recorded at least one takeaway in just five games this year, though two of those contests saw them force three or more turnovers. They’re 1-1 in those games. So maybe turnovers don’t feel quite as costly as they should against this particular opponent, but this opponent also gives the offense another good opportunity to focus on sharpening one of their greatest weaknesses. If the Seahawks don’t beat the Titans by two touchdowns, consider it another win if they simply don’t turn the ball over. It would be just the second time this season with zero giveaways.
• Your final number that matters is: 98
A reminder that even the worst team in the league is full of talent.
Pretty much the only thing going right for Tennessee’s defense is Jeffery Simmons. He has 5.5 sacks (which would be tied for first on Seattle’s defense), nine tackles for loss and a forced fumble in just eight games. He missed two games with a hamstring injury and recorded a sack in his return to action last week against Houston.
Simmons missed practice Wednesday, but he was upgraded to limited yesterday and still appears on track to play Sunday (he followed the same trajectory last week).
FOX Sports’ Titans reporter Ben Arthur told The Huddle he’s the brightest spot.
“Early in the season, he was honestly playing at a defensive player of the year level,” Arthur said. “Obviously, even if he maintained that, he wouldn’t get the award just because of how bad the Titans have been. But he is a true game-wrecker in the pass game, in the run game. His relentlessness, the way he finishes, you’ll see him track guys from the opposite end of the line. You put a guy like that on a contender, and that’s a wrap for whatever defense he’s on. He definitely stands out.”
Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• FOX’s Daryl Johnston has high praise for Seattle Seahawks TE AJ Barner
• Seattle Seahawks cut former UW star from practice squad, add OL depth
• Seattle Seahawks add tribute on helmets to late Hall of Famer Kenny Easley
• Seattle Seahawks down to 3 DNPs on week’s second injury report
• Seattle Seahawks primed to give RB Kenneth Walker III ‘more opportunities’