Titans rediscover Week 1 form, whip Atlanta -- the who, what, why and how

Say this for the 2019 Tennessee Titans: When they’re good, they’re good.

Tennessee cruised to a 24-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in a performance reminiscent of their Week 1 victory at Cleveland. All three phases contributed and there was zero drama in the closing minutes.

The difference this time was that the offense got going early. The Titans (2-2) had all the points they needed – and ultimately scored – before halftime. From there they were content to keep the clock running for most of the final two quarters.

The performance did not wipe away the losses of the last two weeks but it did serve notice that the dominant performance in the opener was not a one-off performance.

HOW IT HAPPENED

For the first time this season the Titans scored first and from there showed that they are quite capable when playing with the lead. The defense allowed a game-tying touchdown on the ensuing possession but Tennessee never trailed and made plays that needed to be made when they needed to be made.

Coach Mike Vrabel allowed things to get unnecessarily interesting when he elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Atlanta 10 early in the fourth quarter. At the time a field goal would have made it a three-score game. Derrick Henry was stuffed for a two-yard loss and – for a moment or two – the Falcons had real hope.

That was the exception, though. Much more often than not the Titans were in control of things. They created the only turnover, a fumble that Jurrell Casey forced and recovered, got a much-needed big game from wide receiver Corey Davis, had a 5-0 edge in quarterback sacks and led by at least two touchdowns throughout the entire second half.

WHY IT HAPPENED

The offensive line protected quarterback Marcus Mariota and for the first time this season did not allow a sack. That’s not say Mariota was comfortable in the pocket all day. He was hit 11 times on 27 attempts but did his part and routinely threw the ball away when he was pressured. When all was said and done the quarterback completed two-thirds of his throws (18 of 27) for 227 yards with three touchdowns.

A few good bounces helped. Tennessee fumbled three times (Mariota, Henry and Delanie Walker once each) but did not lose any of them. Plus, Atlanta missed a field goal when Matt Bryant’s 32-yard attempt hit the upright in the final minute of the first half, a key development given that the Falcons got the ball to start the second half.

The defense allowed 422 yards and 24 first downs (both season-highs) but made plays when it counts. The Falcons went for it in fourth down four times and in three of those cases (once each in the second, third and fourth quarters) the Titans held.

WHO MADE IT HAPPEN

Rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown injected some much-needed life into the offense with a 55-yard catch-and-run for the game’s first touchdown. That was the start of a stretch in which that unit produced three touchdowns and a field goal over five possessions. That scoring surge included another Brown touchdown catch, this one from 11 yards that put the Titans head to stay. He finished with three receptions for 94 yards.

The first offensive play of the contest was a 14-yard completion from Mariota to Davis and it was the start of the third-year wide receiver’s best game of the season. His 16-yard catch-and-run on third-and-15 got the offense moving on the drive that ended with Brown’s second score. Davis added a 23-yard touchdown reception late in the second half, the first time eight games he got to the end zone. He finished with a team-high five catches for 91 yards.

Casey’s sack and forced fumble, which he recovered, created a momentum swing 1:32 into the second quarter that lasted pretty much until the end of the game. The Falcons had driven to the Tennessee 34 and had designs on a game-tying touchdown for the second consecutive possession.

Outside linebacker Harold Landry had the first multi-sack game of his career. The two occurred in a span of four plays, first down and fourth down, in the third quarter.

Rookie offensive lineman Nate Davis made his NFL debut and rotated throughout the contest with Jamil Douglas at right guard. It was a curious approach given the offensive line’s struggles through the first three weeks, but the Titans averaged 4.1 yards per rush and – as previously mentioned – did not allow a sack.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Tennessee plays its first home game in three weeks when it hosts the Buffalo Bills.

This is one the Titans have anticipated for some time because it marks the return of left tackle Taylor Lewan from suspension, which should give a boost to the offensive line.

It also shapes up as a big matchup because the Bills are 3-1 following their first loss Sunday (16-10 against New England). The way it looks right now this a game that could provide an important tiebreaker boost to whichever team wins.