The Sports Xchange
Oct 27, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota passed for 270 yards and DeMarco Murray rushed for 123, leading the Tennessee Titans to a 36-22 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
Tennessee (4-4) led 3-0 before erupting for 24 unanswered points in the second quarter.
Mariota completed 18 of 22 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Titans outgained the Jaguars 494 yards to 370.
Tennessee moved a half-game behind the Houston Texans (4-3) in the AFC South.
The loss puts more pressure on Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who fell to 14-41 in his fourth season. Jacksonville (2-5) began the season with high expectations due to an improved roster.
It was a rare home win for Mariota, who improved to 3-8 at Nissan Stadium.
Murray rushed for one touchdown on 21 carries.
Jacksonville's Blake Bortles completed 33 of 54 passes for 337 yards and three TDs.
Jacksonville finally got on the scoreboard when Bortles threw a 10-yard TD pass to Julius Thomas on the opening possession of the second half.
Bortles ran in the two-point conversion, narrowing the deficit to 27-8, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
Tennessee answered with a 75-yard drive of its own on the ensuing possession. Mariota threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Rishard Matthews, giving the Titans a 33-8 lead with 6:53 left in the third quarter.
Ryan Succop's third field goal, this one from 36 yards out, increased the Titans' lead to 36-8 early in the fourth quarter.
Bortles threw a 5-yard TD strike to Allen Hurns and then a 7-yard scoring pass to Bryan Walters in the final minutes.
Succop kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:31 left in the first quarter, giving the Titans a 3-0 lead.
Tennessee erupted for 24 unanswered points in the second quarter on three touchdowns and a field goal.
Kendall Wright increased Tennessee's lead to 10-0 when he got behind Tashaun Gipson on a post pattern for a 36-yard touchdown reception from Mariota seven seconds into the second quarter.
Derrick Henry broke to the right side of the line on third-and-1 for a 6-yard touchdown run, building the Titans' advantage to 17-0 with 10:36 left in the first half to cap an eight-play, 69-yard drive.
Phillip Supernaw nearly scored on a 44-yard pass from Mariota in the second quarter, but a television-replay review showed that he stepped out of bounds at the Jaguars' 14-yard line.
Murray scored on the next play on a 14-yard run, increasing Tennessee's lead to 24-0 with 7:09 left in the first half.
Stopped initially up the middle, Murray reversed direction to the left and raced into the end zone.
Succop added a 22-yard field goal, increasing the Titans' lead to 27-0 as time expired in the first half.
NOTES: Tennessee RB DeMarco Murray sustained a foot injury during a 19-yard run in the second quarter, but he later returned to action. ... Jaguars rookie CB Jalen Ramsey, a former star at nearby Brentwood Academy, played his first NFL game in Nashville. ... Titans CB Brice McCain started in place of Perrish Cox. FS Daimion Stafford replaced Rashad Johnson in the starting lineup. Brian Schwenke took Quinton Spain's spot at guard. ... Jaguars DT Roy Miller III was placed on injured reserve. His roster spot was taken by Richard Ash. Arby Jones replaced Miller in the starting lineup. DE Tyson Alualu took Jared Odrick's starting position. ... Jacksonville came out in a mustard-colored uniform in the nationally televised game.