The Titans handed the Falcons another preseason loss, but some still stood out as roster building beckons.
August 16, 2025
After a week’s practice punctuated by well-publicized and dissected friction between the Falcons and the visiting Tennessee Titans at joint practices in Flowery Branch, you would have thought that the Falcons would have come out gate with fire and energy, but it took the Dirty Birds half a game to get in gear.
Had the Falcons been sharper in the first two quarters, they would have probably eked out a close win rather than a 23-20 loss to the Titans. Alas, it was a game that, although you didn’t get the win, you got some indications of how good some players can be, and what (or who) needs more work moving to the regular season.
That’s what these preseason games are all about. After the third outing, it will be time to chop this current class into a 53-man roster. Some new guys currently in the squad will make that roster. Others will have played their last game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, at least as a Falcon.
The Falcons’ offense wasn’t as sharp as they should have been, and their defense, which was supposed to be the team’s biggest improvement, also fell short. In fact, Sports Illustrated had four defensive players with the lowest grades on the PFF player value scale, from CB Lamar Jackson (42.3) to the lowest of the team, Mike Ford (33.6). That performance won’t help you make the team.
Nate Carter (71.9) and James Pearce Jr. (68.7) continued to make the case to make the final 53 (as if it was ever in doubt). QB Easton Stick didn’t do anything bad enough to endanger his chances of joining the main team. Even with that ill-fated pass in the first half that led to an interception that gave the Titans a touchdown. He went 19 of 32 for 173 yards and a TD. Not bad.
The Falcons as a team came alive in the third quarter, scoring 17 points (10 of which during an on-camera interview with team owner Arthur Blank. Don’t embarrass the boss with poor play during a live interview.) The Falcons kept the game competitive, but they were never able to seize the lead from the Titans. In the final moments of the game, the Falcons tried for a go-ahead TD rather than a field goal that would have tied the game. (BTW, Younghoe Koo went 3 of 3 with his kicks) They got stuffed on downs. Game over. Titans win.
The new young guns have one more shot to make the 53-man roster when the Falcons play the Cowboys in Dallas next Friday night.
