Falcons vs. Titans: A brief look at the series history

The 1-2 Falcons will take on the 1-2 Titans tomorrow. In many ways, it’s a race to the bottom. At 1-3, the team that loses tomorrow’s game is highly unlikely to make the playoffs, at least if NFL history is any indicator.

The Falcons and the Titans haven’t faced off during the regular season since 2015. The Falcons have won the last two match ups but the Titans won the preceding 3 match ups. (But keep in mind, those 5 games span the last two decades.) Matt Ryan has only faced the Titans twice during the regular season since the Falcons drafted him in 2008.

If you need a reason to watch tomorrow’s game, I have one: this series is all tied up at 7-7. That’s right, the winner of tomorrow’s game will be a .500 football team and take the series lead. If that doesn’t motive you to tune in, then nothing will! For what it’s worth, during home games in this series, the Falcons are 5-2. Put differently, the Titans have historically struggled to beat the Falcons in Atlanta.

During their last match up in 2015, Matt Ryan went 22/38 with 1 touchdown pass and 2 interceptions. Devonta Freeman rushed for 116 yards. Zach Mettenberger started at quarterback for the Titans, nearly replicating Ryan’s line (22/35 passing with 1 touchdown pass and 2 interceptions). This will be Marcus Mariota’s first time facing the Falcons during the regular season. The Titans had a 7-3 lead going into halftime but a third quarter touchdown pass to Julio Jones put the Falcons ahead 10-7. The Falcons maintained that lead and came away victorious. If you recall, the Falcons went to 6-1 after that win. They’d then go on to rattle off 6 consecutive losses on their way to an 8-8 season and a second place finish in the NFC South. Ah, the memories.

Are you hyped for Falcons-Titans, Falcoholics?