Defense, Mariota overcome Carolina
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and his offensive teammates finally got going in the preseason, thanks to some help from the Carolina Panthers.
Mariota threw a touchdown pass as the Titans edged the Panthers 34-27 Saturday.
Held to just three points last week against the New York Jets, the Titans (1-1) scored on their first three possessions against Carolina (1-1), using one long drive and two turnovers by the Panthers to build a 17-0 lead.
Mariota, who finished 6-of8 passing for 61 yards and one touchdown, completed a 20-yard pass to rookie receiver Taywan Taylor and added a 9-yard run for the first two plays of the game. The Titans had auctioned the first two play calls to a fan for charity.
That drive ended with Ryan Succop’s 34-yard field goal, but it was just the beginning of the scoring for the Titans in the first quarter.
On the first play from scrimmage for the Panthers, quarterback Derek Anderson — playing for injured starter Cam Newton (shoulder) for the second straight week — completed a pass to Devin Funchess, who had the ball knocked loose by cornerback Logan Ryan. Kevin Byard recovered and returned the ball to the Carolina 13, where the Titans scored on Mariota’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker.
“It was a lot better (than last week),” Mariota said. “I thought we came out fast, made a couple of big plays, were able to go down and score. The defense
got a huge, huge turnover.”
That was the end of the day for Mariota, but not the Titans.
Tennessee’s defense took the ball away again on Carolina’s next possession. Justin Staples intercepted a pass intended for tight end Greg Olsen that rookie linebacker Jayon Brown tipped into the air. Derrick Henry then took a handoff on the next play and went 17 yards for a touchdown with 2:02 left in the first quarter.
“It’s a great sign. That’s what we have to have,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “That’s our intent. When you’ve got a lot of guys around the ball where they’re supposed to be, good things happen, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera lamented his team’s mistakes.
“I think the tone was pretty much set by both turnovers,” Rivera said. “Credit the Titans. They came out and took the ball away twice early on, put themselves in scoring position and capitalized.”
The Panthers got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter as first-round draft pick Christian McCaffrey had a 17-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7. The Titans answered with another scoring drive, with Henry getting his second touchdown, a 1-yard run that capped a
14-play, 75-yard drive.
In the end, the Titans needed another turnover — a sack and forced fumble by Aaron Wallace that Jimmy Staten recovered at the 3-yard line — to set up David Fluellen’s touchdown run and pull out the win.
“That’s a huge part of the game, getting the ball back for your offense,” Wallace said. “We were able to give them some opportunities, and it was a key one at the end.”
Newton wasn’t the only star player missing from the lineup. Titans running back DeMarco Murray was in uniform but did not play. He has been battling a hamstring injury, though he worked during both days of joint practices against the Panthers this past week. The Titans also held out wide receiver Rishard Matthews, defensive end Karl Klug and safety Curtis Riley.
In addition to his touchdown run, McCaffrey showed his skills in the first half when he caught a screen pass and turned it into a 38-yard gain. The rookie finished the day with 33 yards on three carries and 39 yards on two receptions.
“You always hold your breath when he’s got the football, especially when he’s got space,” Rivera said. “That’s one of the things we have to do. We’ve got to make sure we’re putting him in a position to have that kind of success.”