Marcus Mariota [Photo by Getty Images]
The Titans beat the Jaguars 9-6 on Sunday on a day when Mariota stepped in, and the defense rose to the occasion.
The Titans took a 9-6 lead with 4:06 left on a 28-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Succop, which capped off a 12-play, 65-yard drive engineered by Mariota.
The defense played huge for the Titans.
Blaine Gabbert once again started at quarterback for the Titans, but Mariota came in to replace him.
Gabbert was knocked out of the game after a hit in the first quarter. Mariota, sidelined since Week One and limited in practices because of an elbow injury, stepped in and finished the contest.
Gabbert headed to the locker room with the team’s medical staff, where he was immediately evaluated for a concussion. Gabbert was injured after being slung down by Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell, when his helmet slammed into the turf. He was eventually downgraded to out, and did not return.
Enter Mariota, wearing a glove with two fingers exposed. Mariota stepped in and finished off a drive that ended with a field goal by Succop that gave the Titans an early 3-0 lead with 4:59 in the first quarter.
The Titans didn’t help out Mariota early, as receivers Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe and Corey Davis all let catchable passes go off their hands.
But the Titans were stingy on defense. The team got a few big stops early, including one on a fake punt by the Jaguars that was sniffed out by a number of Titans.
Later, defensive lineman Austin Johnson and linebacker Wesley Woodyard stepped up for a big stop on 3rd and 1. It was a slugfest in the sunshine, with neither team able to muster up much on offense.
The Titans and Jaguars went to the half tied 3-3 after a missed field goal by Succop at the halftime horn.
The Titans put together a nice drive on their first possession of the second half, and capped it off with a 36-yard field goal by Succop to take a 6-3 lead with 10:01 left in the third quarter. Mariota connected with Davis, Darius Jennings and Taylor on the drive as receivers began to make catches, and plays.
The Titans led 6-3 after three quarters, but the Jaguars tied it 6-6 with 10:48 remaining on a 38-yard field goal by kicker Josh Lambo.
The Titans face the Eagles next Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
