Titans’ Robert Saleh says seeing TDs in preseason helps, after defense allows two early scores

With Tennessee’s starters on the field in Sunday night’s preseason game, the Titans’ first unit surrendered touchdowns on the opening two possessions. Coach Robert Saleh viewed the results as a practical look at where the defense needs to tighten up.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Tennessee Titans got a quick, expensive reminder in their Sunday night preseason appearance, when the starting defense allowed a 36-yard touchdown pass on the first possession and then gave up a 69-yard touchdown run on the second.

According to the report, the Titans played their starters in the game, which meant the defensive staff was evaluating their own core in live, game-speed situations rather than watching backups work through reps.

The touchdowns set the tone early. In the first quarter alone, the Titans’ defense allowed two scores to Seattle’s backups, turning what could have been a routine preseason segment into a focused teaching moment.

Titans head coach Robert Saleh framed the night with a half-full perspective. In the account, he emphasized the usefulness of letting those issues show up during preseason, when the team can correct assignments, communication, and execution before the regular season.

For the Titans, the immediate takeaway is less about the final result of a preseason game and more about how their defense functions on the first two drives. Long plays on the opening possessions often point to the smallest details, from leverage and coverage posture to run fits and pass protection against designed explosive looks.

As the preseason continues, the key question is whether those early lapses were isolated to specific matchups and personnel packages, or whether they reflect broader consistency problems that will need attention in practice. The coaching staff will likely look for cleaner opening-drive structure, especially against the kinds of plays that turn small mistakes into immediate points.

For Seattle, the contrast also matters. The Seahawks’ ability to capitalize quickly, even when playing with backups, is a reminder that depth units are competing for roles. That dynamic can elevate the value of the Titans’ defensive work this week, because it tests whether the first group can limit big plays while the second group pushes the offense.

With the regular season approaching, the most important thing to watch will be if the Titans tighten the early-run defense and limit the big-play swings, and whether their starters can finish drives without yielding quick scores when the game situation turns into a true regular-season-style test.

Why It Matters

Preseason often functions as an evaluation window, and early touchdowns can reveal problems in assignments and execution that coaches can address before the regular season.
Long scoring plays on back-to-back possessions can shift how staffs plan next-game reps, particularly for defensive communication and coverage/run-fit structure.
If the Titans’ early-drive defense remains susceptible, it could become an emphasis point in subsequent practice cycles rather than a one-off.
The Seahawks converting quickly with backup personnel underscores the competition for depth roles, which can influence how hard both teams play their units in remaining exhibition games.

Sources

Key Facts

The Titans’ starting defense allowed a 36-yard touchdown pass on the first possession.
On the second possession, Tennessee allowed a 69-yard touchdown run.
Tennessee played its starters in the Sunday night preseason game.
The report says the Titans allowed two first-quarter touchdowns to Seattle’s backups.
Robert Saleh took a half-full approach, emphasizing preseason value in exposing problems.