NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> The Tennessee Titans earned $20,000 for charity by auctioning off the right to “call” the team’s first two offensive plays Saturday.
But it was quarterback Marcus Mariota who looked like money in the bank executing them in guiding the Titans to a 10-0 lead in his only two series of work en route to a 34-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Mariota completed six of eight passes for 61 yards and a touchdown and ran once for 9 yards before giving way to Matt Cassel, the second of three quarterbacks employed by the Titans.
He was in for only 18 first-quarter plays, but it was the first two of the game, a 20-yard pass to Taywan Taylor and Mariota’s 9-yard bootleg around right end, that set an energized early tone for a first unit that had been scoreless in a 7-3 loss to the New York Jets last week.
“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.”
Mariota said, “I loved the (play) calls … it was an awesome fundraiser and it is awesome to be able to do that and raise the money. I thought they (the coaches and donors) were very creative with that.”
Tight end Delanie Walker, who caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mariota, said, “You know what? We didn’t play our best in Week 1, the first preseason game against the Jets. We vowed to each other that we were going to come out here and play better, protect our quarterbacks and put points on the board. We did that.”
Coach Mike Mularkey said, “He (Mariota) makes good decisions. I mean, that touchdown throw, the touch on that pass to let Delanie get underneath, it was what he does well. Delanie wasn’t even looking for the ball, but he put enough air under it. Anybody thought there was no way he was going to catch that, and he (Mariota) just dropped it right in his lap. I mean, he (Mariota) is getting back to where he wants to be. It was good to see him be effective in the red zone.”
Offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said, “The guy (Mariota) is poised. That guy is ready to be at the top of his game. I think he is definitely capable of being the best quarterback in this league. That’s up to him. He is one of the hardest workers on this team.
Mariota said, “We’ve just got to continue to build this momentum, build the foundation and get ready for the (regular) season.”
He moved the Titans without benefit of several front-line playmakers, Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray (ankle injury) and receivers Corey Davis (hamstring), Eric Decker (sprained ankle) and Rishard Matthews (personal situation), who did not play.
But with his first pass of the game Mariota began what is likely to be a significant chapter with Taylor, a rookie receiver. Taylor, a third-round draft pick, was brought in to give Mariota an additional weapon.
Of the two incompletions, one, intended for Walker, was broken up by a cornerback, and the second was a throw-away under pressure after a miscommunication.
Quarterback Cam Newton, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery, did not see action for the Panthers.
