Mariota gives Titans reason to believe

Quarterback’s ability to deliver in pressure moments should create concern in New England this week

NASHVILLE – If there were any doubt about the way Marcus Mariota’s teammates feel about him — and there wasn’t for anyone who spends any time around this team — the world got a glimpse Saturday night after his second tough-guy play in two weeks to seal a victory.

Mariota gave it to Derrick Henry on an option play going left, then got a big piece of Chiefs linebacker Frank Zombo with his right shoulder, a block that freed Henry to rumble 22 yards on a clinching third-and-10. Just as he did a week earlier after his stiff arm and scamper did in Jacksonville, Mariota looked toward his sideline with a little “How Ya Like Me Now?” vibe, and his teammates mobbed him with such exuberance, you thought they might put him on their shoulders and walk out of Arrowhead Stadium right then.

First it was three Mariota knees to conclude a 22-21 comeback win and a brilliant playoff debut for him. And then it was Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan in the locker room, letting loose on the constant discussion of Mariota’s merits as a franchise quarterback.

“Dude, I mean, how about you guys talk about the way he plays?” Lewan said when asked about Mariota’s per- formance. “I talk about the way he plays all the time. It’s time for you guys to start backing him up a little bit. You know, this media, I don’t know if it’s just Nashville or if it’s all over the place, but you guys can really crucify us sometimes. And I think … it’s just really important that No. 8 gets the recognition he deserves. I think he’s an amazing quarterback, and I think it’s really important that you guys also acknowledge that. I think it’s something this whole town can get around on, and you guys are a huge part of that with the voices you have, with these cameras every single day. You guys can bury people or you can raise people up. And I think 8 has put himself in position for you guys to raise him up.”

First of all, let’s get this out of the way: The entire spirit of Lewan’s sentiment there is so ridiculous, he should be fined and sentenced to a year of being covered by New York media. You’re not sure if it’s just Nashville, Taylor? You think in other markets they’re not as mean to the poor little NFL players and coaches? Good God, man, if it were any softer around here we’d be holding our recorders with “Titan Up!” foam fingers. Get a clue.

Second of all, Lewan is right about Mariota. He is extraordinary. His talent, his athleticism, his courage in pressure moments — that’s five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime for him, even in this season of “regression” — and his personality. It’s why they mobbed Mariota after those plays and why Lewan felt compelled to speak up for him.

This is the guy whose background came up so clean before the 2015 draft, some saw that as a red flag. This is a guy who drives his teammates around in the offseason so they can drink beer but says he’s never had a sip of it. A guy who often takes the blame for a mistake made by someone else, even when we all know he’s lying.

And now he’s a dangerous guy to the New England Patriots, even if the media in Boston scoff at that idea (by the way, Taylor Lewan, I’d like to introduce you to the Boston media). Mariota, as he existed in the second half against the Chiefs, is why the No. 5 seed Titans have more of a chance against the No. 1 seed Patriots on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium than most of the NFL will consider.

Relative newbies will point to his 13 touchdowns, 15 picks and 79.3 rating this season and say “Really?” But this entire offense has been a mess, and Mariota is coming off a broken leg and has endured other dings, including a hamstring injury that robbed him of one game and limited him in others. Everything worked as well as it has all season in the second half against the Chiefs.

Before Mariota’s block earned the victory formation Saturday, he led three touchdown drives on three possessions to pull off the second-largest road playoff comeback in NFL history. He ran and passed like we thought he would this season. And yes, he threw a touchdown pass to himself to start the turnaround, but that was just a weird and lucky play — a likely Marcus Peters interception if Darrelle Revis doesn’t bat it back into Mariota’s arms.

More impressive was the game-winning touchdown pass, a 22-yard dart in the seam to Eric Decker just before the safety could arrive. And a 17-yard sprint from the pocket on third-and-8 to keep that drive alive. And a third-and-10 strike over the middle to Delanie Walker to keep the second touchdown drive alive. And a 12-yard escape on thirdand-9 to keep the first touchdown drive alive.

And the Titans coaches trusting Mariota on third-and-2 from the Chiefs’ 32 on the decisive possession. Third-and-2 has preyed on their conservative, predictable tendencies too many times, but this time they let Mariota make a play. He made it, a quick flip to Jonnu Smith to convert.

Then he missed a wide-open Corey Davis, because he isn’t perfect, and he’s missed enough plays this season that it has been fair to question what’s going on and where he’s heading as a quarterback. The next play was the laser to Decker.

That and several other moments in the past couple of weeks have answered on behalf of Mariota, just as Lewan did. He might never be an elite quarterback in the Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers mold, but he is every bit a franchise quarterback. And a threat to ruin Brady’s Saturday night.