By Jordan Long
On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans dropped their second consecutive game, this time to the Denver Broncos 16-0. This is the first time they failed to score any points since week 6 of last year when the Ravens beat them 21-0. The Titans started Marcus Mariota but switched to Ryan Tannehill with 4:56 left in the 3rd quarter hoping to create a spark on offense. It failed to do so. The Titans have a quarterback controversy.
Marcus Mariota has been the Tennessee Titans quarterback since he was drafted #2 overall in the 2015 NFL draft. In his career Mariota passed for 13,183 yards and 76 touchdowns. He is careful with the football and doesn’t force the ball downfield with 44 interceptions.
Mariota is a running quarterback and can use his legs to gain first downs. He totaled 1,399 rushing yards to this point with 11 touchdowns. With him as quarterback, the Titans are 29-32.
On Sunday, Mariota and the offense couldn’t get anything going. Denver kept blitzing Mariota and he didn’t have time to run or throw the ball downfield. The offensive line wasn’t able to block and there was usually a defender in his face. Mariota ended the game 7 of 18 for 63 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown and was sacked 3 times. Mariota turned the ball over twice on interceptions.
The Titans went with veteran backup quarterback Tannehill in the 3rd quarter to generate some offense. He was better than Mariota, finishing the game 13 of 16 for 144 yards. The offense looked better with Tannehill since they moved the football but Tannehill tossed 1 interception and was sacked 4 times.
According to oregonlive.com, Mariota said, “I don’t feel great. For me as a competitor, I would love to be out there with my guys. Coach made a decision and … I respect it.”
The Titans are going to start to prepare for the L.A. Chargers who they face on Sunday. It is up in the air who should be under center. Head Coach Mike Vrabel will go with the quarterback who he believes will give the Titans the best chance to win. That should be Tannehill. He looked better than Mariota on Sunday. Then again, if Tannehill struggles against the Chargers, the Titans could always go back to Mariota.
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