Titans Edge Falcons in Preseason Thriller as Rookie QB Ward Gets Extended Look

Football Nation
Aug 20
3 min read

The Tennessee Titans bounced back from last week’s rough outing with a 23–20 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night in Atlanta. The victory came down to late-game execution, highlighted by a clutch defensive score and valuable playtime for rookie quarterback Cameron Ward.

A Pick-Six Sparks the Titans

Safety Kendell Brooks provided the biggest defensive highlight of the evening when he jumped a route in the second quarter and sprinted 53 yards for a touchdown. That swing helped Tennessee grab momentum early and kept their defense energized throughout the night.

Cameron Ward Shows Flashes, Still Finding Rhythm

All eyes were on top draft pick Cameron Ward, who played three series in his second NFL appearance. His raw stats — 2 completions on 7 attempts for 42 yards — don’t jump off the page, but the tape tells a fuller story. Ward connected on a beautiful 35-yard strike to rookie wideout Elic Ayomanor, and another pinpoint deep ball slipped through the hands of veteran Van Jefferson.

Head coach Brian Callahan praised the young QB’s command, noting that the decision to leave him in for a third series came down to wanting more live reps. Ward himself said the snaps were “invaluable compared to practice.” It’s clear the Titans are intent on letting him grow through experience.

Backups Battle for Spots

Behind Ward, Brandon Allen looked sharp, hitting 11 of 14 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown to Gunnar Helm. Trevor Siemian, signed earlier in the week, came on in the fourth and steered the final scoring drive, capped by Joey Slye’s go-ahead 23-yard field goal.

Atlanta gave extended time to Easton Stick, who’s competing for the No. 3 quarterback job. Stick connected on a 52-yard bomb to Chris Blair, finishing with 173 passing yards, one touchdown, and one costly interception — the pick-six to Brooks. Rookie Emory Jones also saw action but left late after taking a hit on a failed fourth-down scramble.

Ground Game Provides Balance

Both teams leaned on their running backs to stabilize drives. The Titans got contributions from Jermar Jefferson, who punched in a 16-yard touchdown, while the Falcons’ rookie Nathan Carter broke free for a 43-yard score that electrified the home crowd.

Missing in Action

As is common this time of year, plenty of stars stayed in street clothes. The Titans rested Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Lockett, among others. Atlanta also sat quarterback Michael Penix Jr., veteran Kirk Cousins, and weapons Bijan Robinson and Drake London. In their place, young players and hopefuls fought for roster spots.

Rookie pass rusher Jalon Walker also missed the game after tweaking a groin in practice. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said he expects Walker back next week.

The Bigger Picture

For Tennessee, the win capped a long stretch away from home, which included joint practices with both Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Ward and several teammates noted the road trip helped build chemistry, even with adversity mixed in.

Both coaches can take positives: the Titans got their rookie QB much-needed live action, while the Falcons evaluated depth players fighting for bottom-of-roster roles.

What’s Next

Titans: return home to face the Minnesota Vikings in their third preseason contest.
Falcons: head to Dallas for another road test as they continue to fine-tune before the regular season.

Final Score

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee Titans	6	7	7	3	23
Atlanta Falcons	0	3	17	0	20

Tennessee Titans Passing Stats

Player	C/ATT	Yards	Avg	TD	INT	Sacks Taken	Rating
Brandon Allen	11/14	119	8.5	1	1	0	96.1
Cameron Ward	2/7	42	6.0	0	0	0	52.1
Trevor Siemian	4/7	34	4.9	0	0	1	69.9
Team Total	17/28	195	7.0	1	1	1	78.7

Atlanta Falcons Passing Stats

Player	C/ATT	Yards	Avg	TD	INT	Sacks Taken	Rating
Easton Stick	19/32	173	5.4	1	1	2	71.5
Emory Jones	2/5	16	3.2	0	0	0	48.8
Team Total	21/37	174	5.1	1	1	2	60.1