Atlanta (AP) The Tennessee Titans defeated the Atlanta Falcons 23–20 on Friday night in a preseason game, with rookie quarterback Cameron Ward having mixed success and Kendell Brooks scoring on a 53-yard interception return.
With 9:03 left, Joey Slye made a 23-yard field goal to put Tennessee (1-1) ahead.
With 2:57 left, Emory Jones, the backup quarterback for the Falcons, was stopped on a fourth-down run close to the Tennessee 20. Cornerback Jemari Harris and linebacker Amari Burney both shook Jones up on the hit. With help, Jones walked off the field.
Ward completed two of seven passes for forty-two yards throughout his three series. Ward’s standout play during the Titans’ first series was a 35-yard pass to Elic Ayomanor. Van Jefferson dropped another long pass to Ward, the first overall choice in this year’s NFL draft.
The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter. After a 13-play drive, Jemar Jefferson scored a 16-yard run to put the Titans ahead 20–13. After playing for Atlanta for the first three quarters, Easton Stick tied the score with a 52-yard pass to Chris Blair.
Late in the first half, tight end Gunnar Helm received a 25-yard scoring pass from Brandon Allen, who played behind Ward.
In the third quarter, Nathan Carter ran 43 yards to score the Falcons’ first touchdown. For Atlanta, Younghoe Koo made field goals of 42 and 36 yards (0-2).
RB Tony Pollard, WRs Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, and RG Kevin Zeitler were among the Titans who were held out offensively. As he continues to recover from an Achilles tendon injury, center Lloyd Cushenberry passed his physical on Monday but did not play in the game.
After getting the majority of the snaps in team drills during two joint sessions against the Titans this week, Atlanta’s top two quarterbacks, starting Michael Penix Jr. and backup Kirk Cousins, missed their second consecutive preseason game. WRs Drake London and Ray-Ray McCloud, as well as RB Bijan Robinson, were also in attendance.
Jalon Walker, a rookie edge rusher for the Falcons, was benched following his performance in last week’s 17–10 loss to Detroit.
The Titans had a joint practice at Tampa Bay last week prior to their 29-7 loss to the Buccaneers, and this game concluded a run of nine nights away from home.
After taking over at quarterback for Tennessee in the fourth quarter, Trevor Siemian—who was signed on Monday—led the drive that culminated in Slye’s game-winning FG goal.
Siemian was a member of the Titans practice squad for a large portion of 2024. He took Tim Boyle’s position, who was cut after he only completed four of thirteen throws for twenty-four yards and two interceptions against the Buccaneers.
Stick, vying for the No. 3 quarterback position in Atlanta, completed 15 of 25 throws for 145 yards, one touchdown, and one interception that Brooks returned for a touchdown. Allen had one touchdown, one interception, and 119 yards after completing 11 of 14 attempts.
Titans: Next Friday night, the Titans will host Minnesota after two away games.
Falcons: Their third preseason game is scheduled for next Friday night in Dallas.