MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Against a struggling opponent that scratched seven injured starters, the Tennessee Titans got what they needed -- and more -- from Marcus Mariota.
The second-year quarterback made two significant strides Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium: He cut out the mistakes that have been stalling the Tennessee offense and he created four touchdowns.
In a 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins that lifted the Titans to 2-3 on the season, Mariota hit on 20 of 29 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 60 yards, including a short TD dash.
His numbers through the air produced a 117.5 passer rating, Mariota's best this season by nearly 15 points.
"For me, it's important to get one of those under your belt, where you're not turning the ball over, you're not putting the defense in bad situations," Mariota said. "For me, it was important. All in all, I felt the guys did a great job taking care of the football."
After four games during which he looked uncertain and threw five interceptions and four touchdown passes while losing two fumbles, Mariota found his footing Sunday.
Some of his throws seemed to be flat-footed changeups, but never mind that for now.
He got all three touchdown passes where they needed to be: a 5-yarder to wide receiver Andre Johnson in the middle of the end zone, a 20-yarder between two defenders to tight end Delanie Walker and a 4-yard lofted pass that former Dolphins receiver Rishard Matthews ran under to grab in the right side of the end zone.
Those touchdown passes followed a first-quarter, 5-yard scoring run against a defense expecting a handoff to DeMarco Murray. Mariota kept it and scooted easily ahead of the pursuit inside the right pylon to open the scoring.
His teammates, coaches and team management weren’t doubting Mariota during a bad first quarter of the season. But the fan base had to be relieved the mild-mannered quarterback, who’d preached staying the course, produced some results.
Said Johnson: "That was the biggest thing we preached after every game: Let's put a game together where we're not making mistakes, where we are going out, doing the right things not having the mental errors and not having the penalties. We did that today."
Also a relief: Former Titan and current Dolphin Jason Jones’ fourth-quarter dive at the back of Mariota’s legs that earned a roughing-the-passer penalty didn’t injure the QB. A year ago, an illegal hit by Miami’s Olivier Vernon knocked Mariota out of a Week 6 game and cost him two more games.
"I thought [we] played better, I thought we played more complimentary football," coach Mike Mularkey said. "We gave up too many big plays, those hurt us, it kept them in the game. But for the most part, guys stuck together and really executed the schemes. I'm really proud of them."
The Titans have three consecutive home games up next against three beatable teams: the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.