NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marcus Mariota showed what the Tennessee Titans believed when they drafted him: The quarterback can be special when given a little time to throw.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marcus Mariota showed what the Tennessee Titans believed when they drafted him: The quarterback can be special when given a little time to throw.
The challenge now for the Titans is keeping the rookie upright.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk wanted her franchise’s investment in the Heisman Trophy winner protected when she fired Ken Whisenhunt last week, and interim coach Mike Mularkey followed up with a couple lineup changes and tweaks their offensive scheme. The result was a 34-28 overtime win in New Orleans where Mariota wasn’t sacked even once and hit only twice.
“No matter what the score, no matter what the time is in the game, we have a chance with this guy,” Mularkey said Monday.
With the protection, Mariota turned in his best game yet after missing two games with an injured left knee, and he also surprised the Titans being able to move around better than they expected. The No. 2 draft pick overall threw for a career-high 371 yards, the most by a Titans quarterback in nearly two years.
Mariota joined Tom Brady as the NFL’s only quarterbacks with four touchdown passes and no interceptions in two games this season. He also became the first rookie in NFL history to throw four TD passes with no interceptions in two games.
Mariota already has more TD passes (13) than either Jake Locker or Vince Young ever managed in a season with this team. Against the Saints in overtime, Mariota was simply perfect: 6 of 6 for 62 yards capped by the game-winning TD pass to Anthony Fasano.
“He’s a real tough kid,” Fasano said after the game. “We respect him. As one of the younger guys he’s still one of the leaders. We’re glad to have him back.”
The Titans (2-6) snapped a six-game skid with the win. They return home where Mariota will play against his third Heisman Trophy winner this season when Cam Newton and Carolina (8-0) visit Sunday.