As far as NFL debuts for a starting quarterback go, the Titans couldn’t have asked for much more than what they got from Marcus Mariota.
The second overall pick in the draft showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the transition to the NFL ranks while leading his team to a 42-14 rout over the Buccaneers, who didn’t get anything close to as good an outing from first overall pick Jameis Winston in his own debut. Mariota threw four touchdown passes in the first half of the game and went 13-of-16 for 209 yards before sitting out the final quarter.
That made him the first rookie quarterback since Fran Tarkenton to throw for four touchdowns in a season opener and it also made him the NFL’s choice for the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He’s the first Titan to be named as the top offensive performer of the week since running back Chris Johnson in 2012.
Rougher sledding surely awaits Mariota as the Buccaneers looked thoroughly unprepared for the task at hand in Week One, but that won’t make his debut performance any less impressive nor should it do much to temper the optimism provided by the first look at a player the Titans hope will run their offense for years to come.
