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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans
TAMPA, Fla. » Marcus Mariota watched the fourth quarter of his first NFL game triumphantly from the sideline after passing for an NFL record four first-half touchdown passes Sunday.
Mariota did not come out for the fourth quarter after leading the Tennessee Titans to a 42-7 lead over Tampa Bay through three quarters in the regular season opener for both teams.
By that time Raymond James Stadium was rendered half empty by fleeing Buccaneers fans.
Mariota completed 13-of-16 passes for 209 yards and sustained no interceptions during his stint. The Saint Louis School and University of Oregon graduate achieved a “perfect” quarterback rating of 158.3.
The four TD passes, on throws of 52, 12, 4 and 1 yard, in the first half tied the NFL record for a debuting rookie set by Fran Tarkenton of Minnesota in 1961. However, Tarkenton’s performance against Chicago (17 of 23, 250 yards) required a second half.
Mariota guided the Titans to touchdowns in five of their first six possessions. Tennessee was up 21-0 in the first quarter and Tampa did not score until the second quarter.
Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, was the second overall pick of the April NFL Draft and bested No. 1 pick, Jameis Winston, in their much-anticipated showdown. on national TV.
Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, struggled throwing two interceptions, the first of which was returned 26 yards for a touchdown by the Titans’ Coty Sensabaugh on Winston’s first pass of the game.
Zach Mettenberger, who finished the 2014 season as the Titans’ starter, came on at quarterback in the fourth quarter for Tennessee as Mariota donned a cap on the sideline.
