Marcus Mariota named AFC Offensive Player of the Week
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota waves to the fans as he leaves the field after the Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 42-14 during an NFL football game.
Marcus Mariota was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his record-setting NFL debut, the league announced today.
The rookie quarterback from the University of Oregon completed 13 of 16 passes, 81.3 percent, for 209 yards and a four touchdowns in the Tennessee Titans’ 42-14 victory over Tampa Bay Sunday.
With no interceptions, Mariota reached a quarterback rating of 158.3, the maximum attainable.
Mariota and the Titans play at Cleveland Sunday.
The only other rookie to pass for four touchdowns in his NFL debut was Fran Tarkenton of Minnesota in 1961. Tarkenton required both halves to reach four TDs while Mariota did it exclusively in the first half.
Tennessee’s 28-point victory was the largest in a season opener by a team starting a rookie quarterback since 1948, when the Chicago Bears and Johnny Lujack won by 38 points, the NFL said. Both Mariota (2014) and Lujack (1947) were Heisman Trophy winners.
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The last rookie to win an Offensive Player of the Week award in the opening weekend was Robert Griffin III of Washington in 2012.
Mariota is the first rookie from the Titans to win the award on the opening of the regular season and the first player, rookie or veteran, from Tennessee to win it since running back Chris Johnson in 2012.
Denver cornerback Aquib Talib and Miami punt returner Jarvis Landry were named the AFC defensive and special teams award winners, respectively.
