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Tennessee Titans: 3 reasons for optimism vs. Atlanta Falcons

By Michael Moraitis

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Nate Davis #64 of the Charlotte 49ers pass blocks Defensive lineman Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Charlotte 49ers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 14-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Nate Davis #64 of the Charlotte 49ers pass blocks Defensive lineman Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Charlotte 49ers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 14-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Falcons DE, Vic Beasley Jr.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 15: Vic Beasley #44 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts against the New York Jets during the second half of a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Falcons’ lack of sacks

Before the Tennessee Titans can even hope to sniff scoring the amount of points the Falcons are letting up on average this season, they have to protect quarterback Marcus Mariota. That has been a struggle, with the Titans allowing 17 sacks, the most one quarterback has taken through three games since 2002.

Nine of those sacks came last week against the Jags, and it’s the biggest reason why this Tennessee Titans offense was as abysmal as it was. This has got to change. Fortunately for Tennessee, that might happen by default in Week 4.

The Falcons’ pass-rush has totaled just five sacks in three games, and have book-ended a strong Week 2 showing that saw Atlanta’s defense total three sacks and 10 QB hits against the Philadelphia Eagles with just two sacks in its other two games.

Of course, this offensive line might be so bad that it makes the Falcons’ pass-rush look elite, and it must prevent linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett  from turning in performances similar to Calais Campbell and Josh Allen’s from last Thursday night.

Still, you’d have to assume at the worst that the Titans get back to playing at the level we saw in the first two weeks, which at least allowed Mariota to have some time to throw. We could see even better results than that if Davis is any kind of improvement over Douglas in pass-blocking.

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