NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marcus Mariota and the rest of the Titans offense finally got going in the preseason.
With some help from the Panthers.
Mariota threw a touchdown pass and the Titans edged the Panthers 34-27 on Saturday.
The Titans (1-1), who were held to just three points last week against the New York Jets, scored on their first three possessions against Carolina, as they used one long drive and two Panthers turnovers to build a 17-0 lead.
Mariota, who finished 6 of 8 for 61 yards and one touchdown, completed a 20-yard pass to rookie receiver Taywan Taylor and then added a 9-yard run on 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 was just the beginning of the scoring for the Titans in the first quarter.
On the first play from scrimmage for the Panthers (1-1), Derek Anderson, playing for an injured Cam Newton 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 for the Titans.
Tennessee’s defense took the ball away again on Carolina’s next possession, as Justin Staples intercepted a pass intended for tight end Greg Olsen that rookie linebacker Jayon Brown tipped into the air.
Derrick Henry then took the handoff on the first play from scrimmage and went 17 yards for a touchdown, as Tennessee built a 17-0 lead 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.”