Titans give (toasty) fans what they came to see in win over Panthers

Joe Rexrode
The Tennessean
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) greets Greg Matthews of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and his daughter Elin Matthews, 5, after the preseason NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017.

The Tennessee Titans were so good when it mattered Saturday, even the Titans fans who won the right to call the first two offensive plays of the game in an auction nailed it both times.

Now, I’m not sure Marcus Mariota’s coaches would have started a preseason game with a long-developing play-action pass followed by a Mariota keeper on the read option — both of which put him in harm’s way against the Carolina Panthers — but hey, they worked. And he lived.

It was 20 yards from Mariota to slippery rookie Taywan Taylor, with the Panthers bringing six rushers, possibly only because Jalston Fowler blocked his guy and Derrick Henry got just enough of his to keep Mariota clean. Then it was Mariota for 9 fast yards and a beautiful slide.

It was the start of many things Titans fans wanted to see, such as touchdowns and defensive plays and a non-embarrassing result. The 40,000 or so willing to fry in their seats at Nissan Stadium saw a 17-0 start for the regulars. And although the 15,000 or so masochists who stayed throughout had to watch the Panthers’ reserves charge back in an eventual 34-27 Titans win, they all should feel better about their team today.

“When you’re playing at the level we were playing at today, that’s what makes football so much fun,” left tackle Taylor Lewan said. “This showed we’re capable of continuing the trend we started last year. That’s what it showed.”

► More:Titans vs. Panthers: 5 quick observations

Last week’s 7-3 loss at the New York Jets didn’t exactly sound the alarms on a 4-12 season to come, but it did come with a large helping of ugly — in the areas of pass protection, pass defense and overall assertiveness. Those things were addressed Saturday in what Mike Mularkey called “a good win for a lot of reasons.”

And Mariota, whose brief debut a week ago was the most meaningful development as it relates to football that actually counts, took another step. He was 6-for-8 for 61 yards, with a 4-yard fade to Delanie Walker for a third-and-goal touchdown.

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of the preseason NFL game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017.

He got the Titans 10 quick points before sitting down, and he did it without mainstays-to-be DeMarco Murray (hamstring), Corey Davis (hamstring), Rishard Matthews (personal reasons) and Eric Decker (ankle). Carolina was missing star linebacker Luke Kuechly, so you have to take that into account, but the pre-preseason belief that the Titans offense can be special has new evidence in support.

“I think it says a lot about the depth we have,” Mariota said, and depth is important considering the hazy timetable on Davis' return.

► More:Marcus Mariota praises depth after key Titans miss win

Taylor and rookie tight end Jonnu Smith increasingly look like weapons. The protection, which broke down too often a week earlier, was back in form. The power game, which got Henry into the end zone twice but only helped him carve out 36 yards on 16 carries, is still getting there.

The defense responded with a bounce-back and a confirmation of what we’ve been seeing in practice. A week after giving up a 53-yard bomb to Jets receiver Robby Anderson, Titans cornerback Logan Ryan stripped Devin Funchess after a short reception on the Panthers' first offensive play of the game. Kevin Byard picked it up in another brief-but-impressive stint for him.

And then rookie Jayon Brown did exactly what he was brought here to do and has been doing in practice. He got excellent depth on a coverage drop and got up to tip a Derek Anderson pass into the arms of teammate Justin Staples for a pick. The Titans talk turnovers all the time and just forced three, the last on an Aaron Wallace sack to set up the game-winning David Fluellen touchdown. The Panthers may be without Cam Newton right now but, my goodness, they’re not the Jets.

► More:Titans' Derrick Henry scores first two touchdowns of 2017 NFL preseason

“I mean, you want to win, regardless of who’s playing, veteran or rookie, we’re busting our butts,” Ryan said. “And trust me, in this business, it’s a better week when you win. We worked too hard and practiced too well against them, and we felt like we won a lot of those practices. So this showed us hard work pays off when we execute.”

Oh, and special teams? Adoree’ Jackson’s defensive role remains a question mark, but his dazzling punt return for a touchdown was a preview of things to come in games that count. Yes, it was called back because of a Ryan block in the back.

► More:Titans' Logan Ryan redeems himself from poor preseason debut

And yes, the Titans had too many penalties overall, and Tre McBride dropped a touchdown on a perfect pass from Matt Cassel, and Cassel charged into an open-field hit for no good reason, and Ryan Succop missed a chip shot, and the defensive reserves let the Panthers’ offensive reserves back into the game. But most of the stuff that mattered was good.

The family that won the auction to call those plays shouldn’t be praised just for their tactical brilliance, by the way — they’ve done it two years in a row and have donated $38,000 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That’s worth a dip into danger for Mariota on a stifling August afternoon.

Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.