Titans Grab First Preseason Win but Leave Plenty to Clean Up
The Tennessee Titans finally broke through on Friday night, notching their first win of the 2025 preseason with a 23-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Sure, the win counts on the scoreboard, but preseason isn’t really about the final score—it’s about seeing who’s ready, who still needs work, and where the holes remain. And let’s be honest: there’s still a lot to sort out.
Instead of just celebrating the narrow win, let’s dive into how each unit performed. Think of this as a preseason “report card” for Mike Vrabel’s crew. Spoiler: not everybody’s walking out with straight A’s.
Offense: Still Finding Its Groove
Let’s start with the side of the ball fans always keep their eyes on—the offense. To put it bluntly, it was a slow burn. The Titans started the night sputtering, struggling to establish rhythm. Rookie QB Cam Ward got the nod to open, and while he flashed some mobility and poise, the consistency just wasn’t there. He played three series and looked uneven—some of it his fault, some of it his receivers’. Dropped passes and missed opportunities definitely didn’t make his job easier.
Once Brandon Allen stepped in, things improved slightly. Yes, he tossed a bad interception early, but to his credit, he shook it off and played steadier football the rest of the way. He wasn’t spectacular—nobody’s writing headlines about him today—but he was serviceable. For a backup role, that’s something, but the Titans may still have a question mark looming behind their starting quarterback.
The real shift came after halftime. Tennessee’s running game finally woke up, pounding Atlanta’s defense and chewing clock. It was old-school Titans football: methodical, ground-heavy, and effective. Still, keep in mind this was against mostly reserves, so the coaching staff can’t just rest easy yet.
Notably missing from action were several key playmakers: Kevin Zeitler, Lloyd Cushenberry, Tyler Lockett, Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and Tyjae Spears. With that many offensive starters on the sideline, maybe the inconsistency isn’t so surprising.
📌 Offense Grade: C
The unit showed flashes but too many sluggish stretches. Once the starters return, we’ll get a clearer picture of what this offense can really be.
Defense: Better, But Not Perfect
Now, the defense. Playing without most of their starting defensive line, you’d think Atlanta might have run wild. Instead, the Titans’ defense held its own—better than they did in their first preseason outing. That’s a step in the right direction.
Linebacker Cedric Gray deserves a big shoutout here. He was everywhere—flying to the football, filling lanes, and making plays that kept the Falcons in check. That’s exactly what you want from a young defender fighting for a bigger role.
The secondary also looked sharper early in the game. Coverage was tighter, communication seemed smoother, and Atlanta had to work harder for completions. That being said, the reserves still surrendered some costly big plays, including a couple of touchdowns that kept the Falcons within striking distance. Against a better-prepared starting unit, those breakdowns could have been brutal.
And just like on offense, some heavy hitters didn’t suit up: Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat, Quandre Diggs, Kevin Winston Jr., L’Jarius Sneed, and Sebastian Joseph-Day all sat this one out. Without that much firepower up front, it’s tough to be too harsh on the guys who filled in.
📌 Defense Grade: B-
Progress from Week 1 is obvious, but depth is still a concern. Big plays can’t become a weekly issue.
Special Teams: The Achilles’ Heel
If there’s one area that should keep Titans fans up at night, it’s special teams. And no, that’s not an overstatement. For the second straight week, this unit was flat-out sloppy.
Here’s the checklist of mistakes:
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Return game? Ineffective.
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Penalties? Way too many.
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Ball security? Lost a turnover.
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Kicking? Joey Slye missed an extra point.
That’s a nightmare for any coach, and coordinator John Fassel can’t be pleased with what he saw. Special teams often decide tight regular-season games, and right now, Tennessee looks nowhere near ready in that department. The phrase “back to the drawing board” doesn’t even cover it—they need a full-on reset.
📌 Special Teams Grade: D
If Tennessee wants to be a playoff team in 2025, this unit has to wake up. Quickly.
Key Takeaways from Friday’s Win
So, what should fans take from this 23-20 victory? Wins are nice, but preseason is about progress, and here’s the big picture:
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Offense still has questions – especially at backup quarterback. Ward is raw, Allen is steady but unspectacular, and the run game only clicked late.
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Defense is trending upward – Cedric Gray stood out, and the secondary showed promise, but depth issues remain.
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Special teams must be fixed – penalties, turnovers, and missed kicks will sink this team if left unchecked.
The Titans came out on top, but they didn’t exactly dominate. If this were a midseason showdown against a contender, fans wouldn’t be nearly as optimistic. Still, the fact they improved from Week 1 matters—and with so many starters watching from the sidelines, it’s fair to expect better things once the roster is at full strength.
Looking Ahead
The preseason is a testing ground, and this test showed where Tennessee needs to cram before the real exam in September. The next couple of weeks will be crucial for sorting out depth, sharpening execution, and making sure special teams isn’t a liability.
For now, Titans fans can celebrate the win, but don’t get too comfortable. The regular season is coming fast, and sloppy starts or undisciplined play won’t fly when the games start to count.
At the end of the day, this was a preseason game—a 23-20 win that highlighted promise but screamed for polish. Vrabel and his staff have plenty of film to dissect, plenty of lessons to hammer home, and plenty of work to do.
Because if Tennessee wants to make noise in 2025, this team will have to be sharper, cleaner, and tougher in all three phases.
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