Who saw this coming?
This past week, one of the hot story lines headed into the NFL season was the matchup between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, the first two quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft this past season. It was actually the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks faced each other after being drafted No. 1 and No. 2.
As experts predicted, Winston was supposed to have a better game because he was more NFL ready and had a better team around him. Boy they couldn’t be any more wrong. The opposite happened and Mariota came out on fire, silencing every hater that didn’t think he would hold up in the NFL.
Marcus finished the game with 13-of-16 passing, 209 yards and four touchdowns, all which came in the first half. He because the first player since Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to throw four touchdowns in their NFL debut. His passer rating was a ridiculous 158.3 on the day. The Tennesee Titans even decided to take him out of the game in the 4th quarter after the team led 42-7.
The irony of it all is this is Winston’s second loss since he graduated high school, both at the hands of Mariota (once at Florida State against Oregon and today). He threw two interceptions on the day, with his first throw in the NFL ending up a pick 6 and had three sacks on the day. No Mike Evans, no defense and no offensive line for the No. 1 pick.
FINAL: TEN 42 | TB 14