It’s not a stretch to say that the 65,589 spectators in attendance at CenturyLink Field on Saturday night were much more familiar with the two quarterbacks atop Tennessee’s depth chart than Seattle’s.
Titans starter Matt Hasselbeck played a decade in Seattle and led the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL in 2005. Backup Jake Locker starred at Ferndale High and the University of Washington.
Both were welcomed back to the Northwest, by the fans, at least.
“The reception I got from the fans in both the pregame and during the game was humbling,” Hasselbeck said.
Hasselbeck was cheered loudly when he was shown on the massive video boards at CenturyLink Field during the coin toss. Moments later, the cheers turned even louder when he threw an interception that Browner returned for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
It didn’t get much better for the 36-year-old.
On Tennessee’s second series, Hasselbeck fired a 10-yard pass to Nate Washington on third-and-4. But the drive ended four plays later with a punt.
The third possession resulted in another interception – this one by Richard Sherman at the Seattle 6.
“I’m disappointed that the stats weren’t better and we weren’t able to score,” said Hasselbeck, “but all in all, it was great to be back.”
Tennessee went three-and-out on its first series with Locker on the field, and he moved the ball into Seattle territory before turning it over on downs in his second series.
Locker was sharp on his third series. At one point he fired five straight completions and four went for first downs. But the drive stalled in the red zone and the Titans settled for a field goal. Locker was 5 of 7 for 59 yards on the drive.
Locker, 24, did not play in the second half. He finished 7 of 13 for 80 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
Seattle players who did not see action include RB Marshawn Lynch, WR Terrell Owens, WR Sidney Rice, CB Walter Thurmond, LB Allen Bradford, LB Jameson Konz, LB Matt McCoy, LB Barrett Ruud, OL John Moffitt, OL James Carpenter, TE Kellen Winslow, WR Ricardo Lockette, WR Doug Baldwin and DT Alan Branch. ... Seattle coach Pete Carroll said that tight end Zach Miller suffered a concussion during the game. Linebacker Malcolm Smith had a hamstring injury, and tight end Cooper Helfet had a groin injury.
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
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