The Seattle Seahawks were 13.5-point road favorites heading into their Week 12 matchup against a vulnerable Tennessee Titans team. The most Seattle had ever beaten the franchise by was 20 points (against the then-Oilers) back in 1979. Surely this year’s top-five scoring unit could do the same?

Seahawks beat Titans | Observations | Instant Reaction | Stats

Unfortunately not. It was a final of 30-24, though Seattle did lead by 20 twice in the third quarter. Still, a win’s a win, and Seattle added another to the column in a tight NFC race.

“Our guys showed a lot of resilience,” Mike Macdonald told reporters after the game. “Obviously would’ve liked to close the game out earlier, but our guys fought really hard. You don’t play team’s records in this league. Teams are too talented … (The Titans) had a lot of one-score games that haven’t gone their way and today’s one of them. Hats off to them.”

The defense is banged up and looked like it.

Seattle’s defense has been stellar all season and given its rash of injuries, particularly at linebacker and safety, you can hardly knock it for a shakier day against the Titans. But it’s still an easy takeaway against a Titans team that’s averaged just over 14 points per game and scored their most of the season (24) against Seattle. It’s worth noting the defense didn’t allow all 24 points; there was a Titans punt return touchdown as well.

Does it matter? Not really, at least assuming starters like Ernest Jones IV (knee) and, eventually, Julian Love (on injured reserve) are able to return when it matters most. Credit a few backups for having a big day in relief — guys like Patrick O’Connell, who had one of Seattle’s four sacks today.

“We have an ongoing joke that we can’t block Patty-O on a daily basis,” Macdonald said of O’Connell’s day postgame. “Excited to watch the tape and see how he did.”

A zero turnover game with a few turnover-worthy plays.

Week 12 marked just the second time this season Seattle’s offense did not turn the ball over in a game (at Jacksonville was the first). That’s great! Especially for a team that’s leading the league in giveaways. But the play on the field wasn’t as clean as it looked in the box score. In addition to a few miscues and overthrows, a deep incompletion by Sam Darnold was very nearly (and probably should have been) picked off by Titans cornerback Darrell Baker Jr.

Still, it’s a step. Given the first takeaway, here’s what matters: if Seattle’s defense can’t get healthier by next week, the offense is going to need to play cleaner football. A big-time play by a backup linebacker is great; more conversions and positive plays in the red zone by Seattle against a bad defense does more. The Titans’ 32nd-ranked offense outpaced Seattle in red-zone conversions, fourth-down conversions and third-down conversions.

History-maker, record-breaker.

With an 8-yard reception in the third quarter, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke DK Metcalf’s franchise record for single-season receiving yards (1,303).

JSN breaks Seattle Seahawks’ season receiving record – in just 11 games

Smith-Njigba is at 1,313 on the season with six (!) games left to play. That outpaces the production of the current league-wide record holder for single-season receiving yards, Calvin Johnson. It’s a fun reminder that Johnson’s final seven games of the season back in 2012 saw jaw-dropping production.

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