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Titans vs Falcons: Week 1 NFL preseason preview

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The Tennessee Titans will visit the Atlanta Falcons for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL preseason in a matchup between two franchises that have plenty of recent shared history. Continue reading for our preview of this exhibition showdown that features plenty of compelling storylines.

Titans vs Falcons: What you need to know

Find out where the Titans and Falcons check in as part of our latest NFL power rankings

Rest vs reps for Julio Jones

You can almost guarantee that Jones wants to get back after it on the gridiron against his former Falcons teammates. Jones was traded away to the Titans this offseason in one of the biggest deals in recent memory.

This would be a bigger deal if it were the regular season. Jones is entering his age-32 season, and while it’d be valuable to get some live game reps with his new team, Tennessee might err on the side of caution and hold him out. Nevertheless, his return to Atlanta is highly anticipated.

  • Injuries Piling Up: Jones has built a career on toughing it out through various ailments and still producing at an elite level, but in 2020, he missed seven games after missing only three contests over the prior six seasons. He’s missed multiple training camp practices as well.
  • Something Still in The Tank: Still, when Jones was healthy enough to play last year, he hauled in 51 receptions for 771 yards (15.1 per catch), so his explosive playmaking ability is still intact. Any rest he gets should serve Jones well in the long run.

Advantage: Atlanta Falcons

Arthur Smith vs Mike Vrabel

Titans vs Falcons: Week 1 NFL preseason preview

We’re probably not going to see much in the way of what the Falcons have up their sleeves offensively, but their new head coach, Arthur Smith, made his name as an ascending assistant and eventual offensive coordinator in Tennessee.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel knows what it’s like to transform a culture and thrive as a younger leader of an NFL program. Even in an exhibition atmosphere, you can bet Smith will want to get some points on the board against his counterpart and former boss.

  • Swift Success: Hopefully, Smith learned a lot working under Vrabel, who’s yet to post a losing record in three seasons at the helm in Tennessee. That’s a high standard for Smith to aspire up to as he seeks to spark a Falcons turnaround.
  • Ground and Pound: Both coaches hold a shared belief in establishing the run through sheer force of will at the line of scrimmage. It’ll be interesting to see which team bears that identity more prominently this early in the preseason.

Advantage: Tennessee Titans

Can the Titans take the next step to a championship without Arthur Smith? Check out their Super Bowl odds here

Dillon Radunz vs Adetokunbo Ogundeji

They may not be household names, but these are two prominent first-year players worth keeping an eye on, as they’re liable to go heads-up on multiple reps throughout Friday’s game.

Radunz was a second-round pick out of North Dakota State, but has struggled during camp. Meanwhile, Ogundeji had to wait until the fifth round to hear his name called on draft day. No matter, because the Notre Dame product is working in with Atlanta’s first-team defense at practice.

  • Radunz Redemption: The Titans attempted to fill the void left by Jack Conklin at right tackle by selecting Isaiah Wilson in the first round during the 2020 draft. That turned out to be a huge whiff, so this is a great chance for Radunz to redeem himself from some rookie growing pains.
  • Flailing Falcons: Atlanta is desperate to improve a pass rush that didn’t get home enough in 2020, leading to a league-worst pass defense. Ogundeji’s early flashes are encouraging. He had six sacks in 10 games for the Fighting Irish last season.

Advantage: Atlanta Falcons

Titans young secondary vs Falcons’ weapons

Again, it’s hard to know who’s playing and who’s not at this point. Given that Tennessee will be counting on rookie defensive backs Caleb Farley and Elijah Molden in 2021, though, it’d behoove the Titans to get them in on the action.

Calvin Ridley probably won’t suit up for Atlanta. Still, some quality reps can be had for Farley and Molden against the likes of first-year Falcons wideout Frank Darby and No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts, who can split out wide and hold his own despite being a tight end by trade.

  • Pitts’ Promise: Because Pitts was so universally acclaimed, Atlanta passed on the chance to draft Matt Ryan‘s successor at quarterback. Time will tell if that was the right decision. The Falcons may never hear the end of it if Georgia native Justin Fields is a superstar for the Chicago Bears.
  • Farley in the Future: The freakish physical tools Farley brings to the cornerback position could make him one of the absolute steals of the 2021 NFL Draft. Medical red flags dropped him to 22nd overall. It’d be great to see Farley suit up and clear a big hurdle to his eventual spot in the starting lineup.

The bottom line: Projecting who’ll win this game is a considerable challenge, but generally, it’s best to go with the team who has an established culture, a deeper overall roster and the more experienced coach. Despite being on the road, the Titans have the edge in all those key areas.

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