LIVE BLOG: Follow the Titans' Game With Falcons in Real Time
NASHVILLE — At long last, the Tennessee Titans are back in Nissan Stadium for a Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. It's just their third home game of the year, and it starts at Noon CT.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated on all the news and views from the game, straight from press row at the stadium. We'll throw in some highlights and opinions as well.
It's going to be a fun day with the Oilers throwback jersey and a big gathering of former Oilers players and coaches.
Here we go! The most recent items are on the top, so just keep refreshing.
3:07 p.m. — On third-and-four, the Titans went play action and nuffed it out. They punt, and the Falcons take over on their own 13-yard with with 2:21 to go. Falcons looked like they had a conversion on fourth-and-2, but Van Jefferson dropped an easy catch. Victory formation for the Titans. TITANS 28, FALCONS 23.
2:51 p.m. — Will Levis throws his fourth touchdown pass of the day, this time to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for 33 yards. Back to a two-score game now. First time in 25 games a Titans QB has thrown four TD passes.
2:30 p.m. — Some more bad tackling there, too, and Bijon Robinson scores from 13 yards out for the Falcons. There's 14:17 left in the game. TITANS 21, FALCONS 16.
2:25 p.m. — We've reached the end of the third quarter and the Falcons are driving again. Taylor Heinicke, who came in at quarterback for Desmond Ridder (concussion) has been very good. He's 6-for-10 passing for 115 yards. Titans defense needs to buckle up. Tackling got a little sloppy in that quarter.
2:20 p.m. — It's another touchdown for DeAndre Hopkins. He breaks free down the right side and Will Levis hits him right in stride for a 61-yard touchdown. PAT is good. TITANS 21, FALCONS 9.
1:55 p.m. — Titans right tackle Chris Hubbard is out with a concussion. Andre Dillard stays in at left tackle, and Nicholas Petit-Frere jumps over the the right side.
1:47 p.m. — The third quarter has begun, and the Falcons get the ball first. They're in hurry-up, and move down the field quickly. They have to settle for a 49-yard field goal, though. TITANS 14, FALCONS 6.
1:30 p.m. — The Titans get to the Atlanta 40, and Will Levis takes a shot deep for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but it's a little long. Titans punt, and Falcons take a knee to end the half. Titans lead 14-3 at the break.
1:22 p.m .— Right tackle Chris Hubbard has to come out, so Andre Dillard comes in. He goes to left tackle, and Nicholas Petit-Frere — who started at LT and has played well — moves to the right side. Titans can't convert on third down and are forced to punt.
1:17 p.m. — The Titans get a first down at their own 32, but let the clock run down to the 2-minute warning. Would have liked to see a little more urgency there. Want to see Levis in the 2-minute drill.
1:06 p.m. — The Titans get great field position after an Atlanta fumble and march downfield quickly. Will Levis hits DeAndre Hopkins in stride for another touchdown, this time from 16 yards out. Hopkins has two touchdowns today, he had none in the first six games.
12:53 p.m. — Will Levis takes a couple of shots downfield, but comes up short. He targeted DeAndre Hopkins deep, but he got tangled up with an Atlanta defender, and no pass interference was called. They he found Treylon Burks down the left sideline, but his ball was just a bit outside of his range inbounds, and he couldn't keep his feet in. Another great Ryan Stonehouse punt, and he buries the Falcons deep again, this time at the 7.
12:39 p.m. — End of first quarter. As we get going to start the second quarter, the Falcons are punting. The Titans take over at the 13. Levis makes a couple of nice throws, one to tight end Chig Okonkwo and another to Kyle Phillips, but they are forced to punt again on fourth-and-1.
12:30 p.m. — Well, the Will Levis era has begun!!! He hits DeAndre Hopkins deep down the left sideline for a 47-yard score. It's his first career NFL touchdown pass. Nick Folk makes the kick. With 2:28 to go, it's TITANS 7, FALCONS 3.
12:23 p.m. — Big sack by Jeffery Simmons on second down, pushing the Falcons all the way back to the 11. Desmond Ridder throws deep on third down, but no one is home. Falcons punt. Titans take over with 4:20 to go in first at their own 39-yard line.
12:16 p.m. — Will Levis throws all three times on the next possession, but they only gain nine yards. Punt team comes in, but the Titans fake it and get the first down. Amani Hooker on the carry. Come up short from there, though, and are forced to punt.
12:11 p.m. — The Titans defense rises up and holds Atlanta to a field goal. Big sack by Harold Landry on third down. Younghoe Koo kicks a 29-yard field goal. FALCONS 3, TITANS 0.
12:08 p.m. — Levis is replaced by Malik Willis, and the question is WHY????? The first play, he fumbles a high snap in shotgun formation and the Falcons recover. So stupid. Just let Levis play. The boos rain down from every corner of Nissan Stadium.
12:03 p.m. — Will Levis hands off to Derrick Henry in first and second down, and then Levis does a quarterback sneak and gains three yards for a first down to the 37.
11:50 a.m. — The Falcons have won the toss and deferred. The Titans will get the ball first, with rookie quarterback Will Levis making his first career NFL start.
11:35 a.m. — The Falcons have a great running threat in rooke Bijon Robinson, and we know the Titans are good against the run. Defensive tackle Teair Tart is back today, and he's been a difference maker this season. Opponents averaging just 2.9 yards per carry in the four games he's played.
11:25 a.m. — It's a nice day for football in late October. It's 74 degrees with overcast skies prior to kickoff and it's supposed to stay cloudy throughout the day. Temps up to about 78 later.
11:15 a.m. — Inactives for the Titans today are quarterback Ryan Tannehill, wide receiver Colton Dowell, cornerback Roger McCreary, linebackers Caleb Murphy and Rashad Weaver, tight end Josh Whyle and offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan.
11:05 a.m. — The Titans are 2-4 on the season, but they are unbeaten at home with wins over the Chargers and Bengals. They were underdogs in both of those games, but won anyway. They are 2.5-point underdogs on Sunday, too. Here's the full story on what both teams have done against the point spread all season. CLICK HERE
10:45 a.m. — It's kind of fun to see all the Oilers signage everywhere at Nissan Stadium. I know the Houston people all hate it, but do we really care?
View of Nissan Stadium with throwback Houston Oilers signage before the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
10:40 a.m. — The end zones are all painted up Oilers too.
View of Nissan Stadium with throwback Houston Oilers field paint before the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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