Sunny Debut

The Marcus Mariota era started off with a bang.

Well, several of them. First, from the cannons on the famous pirate ship beyond the north end zone. Then, with a long touchdown pass. Then another score. Then another. Then another.

Mariota, the second overall pick in the draft, threw four touchdowns in a 42-14 victory against the Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium to set an Oilers/Titans franchise record and tie Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton’s 1961 mark for most in NFL history by a rookie quarterback making his pro debut. And that was just in the first half.

Did he exceed his expectations?

“You know…” he said. “Yes.”

Mariota completed 13 of 16 pass attempts for 209 yards, the four scores and a perfect 158.3 passer rating, and with the Titans leading 42-7, was replaced by Zach Mettenberger to begin the fourth quarter.

The Titans led 21-0 after the first quarter, the first time they’d scored so much so quickly since a 31-17 victory against the Texans on Dec. 19, 2010. They led 35-7 at halftime, and hadn’t scored that much in an entire game since a 38-13 victory against the Jets on Sept. 29, 2013.

Tennessee, which ended last season with a 2-14 record and on a 10-game losing streak, won its first game since Oct. 12, 2014, against the Jaguars. The Titans won their season opener last year, too.

“I already said something (to the players) about it,” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Team owners cheered as he emerged from the locker room.

The records began falling with the opening kickoff. Much national hype surrounded the NFL debuts of Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston and the Titans’ Mariota, both Heisman Trophy winners and the first quarterbacks selected first and second overall to face each other in their initial game.

Left tackle Taylor Lewan said Mariota took the field, looked up and declared, “It’s a great day to play football.”

The Titans struck quickly. On the opening drive, after admittedly pushing through pregame butterflies in his stomach, and with his parents having traveled from Hawaii to be in attendance, Mariota faked a handoff to Dexter McCluster and hit Kendall Wright for a 52-yard score. The Titans had zipped 89 yards in five plays and one minute, 50 seconds.

“A long time ago, one of my coaches and my dad reiterated that you’ve got to act like you’ve been there before,” Mariota said. “That’s kind of how I’ve always been and will continue to be.”