Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans: Tale of the tape

The coaches

Dan Quinn couldn’t have asked for a better start to life as a head coach, winning five of his first six games. The Falcons won only six games in all of 2014, and a win this week would match that number after just seven weeks of this campaign.

Ken Whisenhunt has achieved a lot in his young career as a head coach. He led the Arizona Cardinals to the NFC Championship and all the way into Super Bowl XLIII, which they would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Whisenhunt is an accomplished coach, and one who was highly sought after before taking the job in Tennessee in 2014.

Whisenhunt knows a thing or two about his opponent, as he played tight end for the Falcons from 1985-1988. In his time in Atlanta, he caught 56 passes for for 551 yards and five touchdowns.

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Both coaches have won Super Bowls as coordinators. Quinn was the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator during the Super Bowl XLVIII win in 2013, and Whisenhunt was offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Super Bowl XL run.

Whisenhunt has the tough task of rebuilding in Tennessee, but the hope is Marcus Mariota is the key to a successful future. They have added plenty of young players on offense, drafting wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, running back David Cobb (currently injured) and offensive linemen Jeremiah Poutasi and Andy Gallik. All could play major roles in the coming years.

This should be an intriguing battle between two good coaches. Quinn is all about defense, and he’s been able to turn a struggling unit into one currently ranked No. 1 in run defense. Whisenhunt is offensive-minded, and he will hope to pick a way through a rebuilding Falcons pass defense.

Next: The quarterbacks