Tennessee Titans Edge Atlanta Falcons 23-20 in Preseason Thriller
ATLANTA, August 15, 2025 – In a tightly contested preseason matchup at Mercedes Benz Stadium, the Tennessee Titans secured a narrow 23-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night.
The game featured a standout defensive play by the Titans’ Kendell Brooks, who returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown, a pivotal moment that energized Tennessee’s squad. The Titans’ rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, had a mixed showing but showed flashes of promise throughout his time on the field.
Key Moments and Stats
Joey Slye’s 23-yard field goal with just over nine minutes remaining gave the Titans a 23-20 lead, which they held onto until the final whistle. The Falcons’ backup quarterback, Emory Jones, faced a crucial stop on a fourth-down run near Tennessee’s 20-yard line late in the game. Jones was shaken up on the play but managed to walk off the field with assistance.
Cameron Ward played three series, completing 2 of 7 passes for 42 yards. His highlight was a 35-yard completion to Elic Ayomanor on the opening series. Ward also threw an impressive long pass that was unfortunately dropped by Van Jefferson. Titans head coach Brian Callahan expressed optimism about Ward’s development, stating, “That ball that was dropped was an incredible throw. He’s shown all the things we need to see from an operations standpoint.”
Game Flow and Player Performances
The Titans struck first in the opening quarter, leading 6-0, before the Falcons cut the deficit to 6-3 with a field goal in the second quarter. Tennessee then extended their lead to 13-3 heading into halftime. The third quarter saw a surge from Atlanta, scoring 17 points to briefly take the lead. However, Tennessee responded in the final quarter with a field goal to reclaim the advantage and ultimately win the game.
Notable individual performances included Falcons quarterback E. Stick, who completed 19 of 32 passes for 173 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. The Titans’ B. Allen was efficient with 11 completions on 14 attempts for 119 yards, including one touchdown and one interception.
Looking Ahead
The win improves the Titans’ preseason record to 1-1, providing hopeful signs ahead of the regular season. Ward’s expanded playing time beyond the initially planned two series indicated the coaching staff’s interest in accelerating his readiness despite a shaky start. The Falcons will look to regroup after their second straight preseason loss.
With preseason games serving as critical evaluations for team depth and player development, this contest offered valuable insights for both franchises as they finalize their rosters.