Tennessee Titans (5-4) at Atlanta Falcons (5-4) Preview

Entering Sunday, the Falcons are coming off a tough overtime defeat to the New Orleans Saints and will look to get back on track against a tough AFC South opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta is sitting in a must-win situation at home due to the intense NFC playoff race that is shaping up late in November because the Falcons are now(1-2) in the NFC South after last week's loss and trails the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions in the wild-card race and every win is critical to Atlanta's postseason resume for the 2011 NFL season. Tennessee is coming in after beating the Carolina Panthers with an opportunity to gain ground on the Houston Texans in the AFC Playoff race and every win can help their chances of returning to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2008. Historically, the Falcons have not beaten this franchise since this team was the Houston Oilers in September 1990 and never beat the Titans and a win on Sunday will be their first regular season victory in franchise history. Now, I will give my keys to victory, key-matchups and my final prediction on Sunday's game.

Keys to Victory Over The Tennessee Titans:

1.Atlanta's offense must be balanced against the Titans defense:

Last week, against the New Orleans Saints, despite having a close loss, the Falcons offense failed to establish a balanced attack against one of the worst secondaries in the league this season and a shaky Saints defense. Matt Ryan threw (52) passes, which is a career and a season high for the Falcons. Atlanta's offense is one of the best balanced teams in the league and Ryan should not throw more than 35 passes each game, and the Falcons still get their attack going through All-Pro running back Michael Turner, who accounted for (22) carries and (96) rushing yards. Atlanta has a lot of talent in the running game and can even compliment Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers in their offensive attack but the team must use all of their weapons to help Matt Ryan and the passing game. On Sunday, the Falcons will face a Titans defense, which is vulnerable to opposing running backs as Tennessee enters Week 10 ranked (22nd) in the NFL in rushing and allow an average of (125.2) yards per game and allowed backs such as Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Jonathan Dwyer to run for more than (100) yards and they are 0-3 this season when they allow over 100 yards, which Michael Turner could use to his advantage. Turner will need to get back on track against this Titans defense in order to open the Falcons offense up on Sunday. 

2. The Falcons defense must contain Chris Johnson from establishing any impact on Sunday:

Atlanta's rushing defense is turning into one of the best around the NFL. Heading into Week 11, the Falcons are ranked (3rd) in rushing, allows (3.9) yards per rushing attempt and (90.3) yards rushing each game and have yet to surrender (100) yards rushing to an opposing running back in the 2011 season. On Sunday, the Falcons face one of the best running backs in the league in Chris Johnson. Johnson, who is not having the best season of his career is still a very explosive player and a game-changer for the Titans and put together his best campaign of the season in Carolina as Johnson rushed for (130) yards and a touchdown and showed flashes of the player that ran for over 2,000 yards in 2009. On Sunday, the Falcons must prevent Johnson from giving the Titans any type of boost on offense because this player is explosive and can cause nightmares for opposing defenses. The task will be tough for Chris Johnson as he takes on a Falcons defense that held Lesean Mccoy, Legarrette Blount, and Darren Sproles from establishing any impact for their team. Chris Johnson looked healthier than ever in that game and on Sunday, Atlanta must contain his momentum from leading the Titans to a rare win in the Georgia Dome.

3. The Falcons must limit penalties that halts offensive drives or prevent points:

Last season, the Falcons were the least penalized team in the NFL only committing (58) total penalties, which was a key part of why Atlanta was so successful on offense in the 2010 season; however, a year later the Falcons can't stay away from making offensive penalties. Atlanta has committed (58) penalties through nine games, which already match their total from the previous year and ranked (19th) in the NFL for most penalties. The Falcons as a team must establish some leadership and discipline that will limit them from making costly penalties that could cause the team from scoring points or winning crucial games. Last week, Roddy White was penalized twice on two offensive drives that resulted in the Falcons settling for field goals and cost Atlanta from scoring touchdowns that could have helped them win against New Orleans. On Sunday, the Falcons must show some discipline and stop being the victim of offensive penalties because that helps the opponent end offensive drives quicker and limit Atlanta from scoring points. 




4. Special teams must give the Falcons a boost against Tennessee:

The Falcons special teams must contain second year returner, Marc Mariani from giving the Titans a boost in the return game on Sunday. Mariani, who is coming off returning a punt for a touchdown against Carolina last week, is an explosive returner who can give Tennessee some momentum at any portion of the game. He also ranks (7th) in the NFL in yards per punt return with (11.6) and Atlanta will need to prevent Mariani from placing the Titans in excellent field position that could lift the Titans to quick scoring drives against the Falcons defense. On the opposing side, the Falcons offense could use a boost from last year Pro Bowl returner, Eric Weems. Weems, in his 3rd year as returner for the Falcons, has to make better decisions especially on punt returns, so far, he only had two runs over (20) yards this season and he must give the Falcons better field position and this could result in more scoring drives for the Falcons offense. 






5. The Falcons defense must rush Matt Hasselback and prevent him from having a big game:

On Sunday, Atlanta's defensive line will face the Titans offensive line that is doing a great job protecting the quarterback and giving Hasselback the time to make plays for the Titans passing game. Tennessee enters the game as the (4th) best team in the NFL in allowed quarterback sacks with (13) and allowed the fewest amount of hits on Matt Hasselback with (31) on the season. This would be a perfect game for the Falcons defense to finally shine after having a tough outing against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, which they ended their streak of forcing a turnover in each game and also did not record one sack. Entering Week 11, the Falcons defense ranks (27th) in the NFL in sacks with only (15) to this point and the Falcons front four must start getting after opposing quarterbacks in order to create more opportunities for  their defense to cause havoc in the backfield and force their opponents to have short offensive possessions but it will take for John Abraham and Ray Edwards to get after Hasselback in order to win this game. 




KEY MATCH-UPS:


1.Alterraun Verner vs Harry Douglas:

After having a breakout performance against the Saints, you can expect Harry Douglas to see a  lot of passes thrown his direction on Sunday. If Julio Jones is starting, then Verner will be faced with Douglas in this game and will have to defend Atlanta's explosive slot receiver. In the past 4 weeks, Douglas have averaged (4) catches and (63) receiving yards per game and have caught receptions that he turned into 30+ yard passes in 3 of the 4 games, which was critical to the Falcons. On the opposing side, Verner is having a good season at nickel back and already has one interception. This match-up could play a huge factor in Sunday's game because both Douglas and Verner are having good seasons for their team.


2. Jared Cook vs Dunta Robinson/ Thomas Decoud:

This week, the Falcons will face another tight end that has capabilities of a wide receiver in Cook this weekend. Matt Hasselback will try to expose the Robinson/ Decoud portion of the field on Sunday especially after the Saints were successful last week with Jimmy Graham. Cook is unlike most tight ends in the NFL as he possess breakaway speed, tremendous athleticism, and   is like a tall wide receiver in many ways. If Dunta Robinson or Thomas Decoud find themselves being matched against him, they will need to support each other and limit Cook from making any impact this game. Cook scored an 80-yard touchdown against the Cleveland Browns a few weeks ago so he have the ability to become a game-changing tight end and Atlanta must overcome their struggles and shut him down on Sunday. 






3.Lavelle Hawkins vs Kelvin Hayden:

Matt Hasselback will use his weapon at slot receiver against the Falcons defense and he will use his slot receiver and situational receiver in Hawkins on Sunday against veteran Kelvin Hayden. Hayden is having a decent season at nickel corner for the Falcons and it will be tough for Matt Hasselback to attack the middle with Hayden having a great season in the middle of the secondary and many opposing quarterbacks are struggling to have any impact against receivers. Hawkins is (3rd) on the team in receiving and have accounted for (23) receptions and (217) receiving yards and the Falcons will need to shut him out from making any key third down receptions or allowing him to make any impact in the middle of them.


4. Cortland Finnegan vs Roddy White:

This match-up will be intriguing on Sunday as Roddy White is still looking for that breakout performance of the 2011 season and he will attempt it against one of the best corner backs in the AFC in Cortland Finnegan. Another key to this match-up is that Roddy White control his temper against Finnegan because he has the reputation of being a dirty corner back and this week, he will face a receiver who is struggling to stay away from personal foul penalties so this will be an emotionally charged football game. White needs to have a big game against the Titans defense because he is having a major decline from his 2010 campaign and he needs a game to get back on track as one of the top receivers in the NFL.


PREDICTION:
Michael Turner should post over 100 yards rushing against the Titans and the Falcons offense will return back on track in this must-win situation as Atlanta make a statement and earn a win at home. Until next time, FALCONS RISE UP!


FALCONS WIN 35-17.