Nov 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Tennessee won 27-21. Photo Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Rishard Matthews has a message for the rest of the NFL.
If you think Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is good right now, just wait.
“I don’t think he’s played his best game yet,” said Matthews, the Titans’ leading wide receiver with seven touchdowns. “It’s dangerous. He’s only in his second year. Hopefully, he will continue to grow and get better. It’s going to be dangerous when he is killing the numbers he’s doing now.”
Mariota, 23, took his latest step forward in a 27-21 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. He completed 15 of 23 passes for two touchdowns and zero interceptions to post a 126.4 passer rating. He also scrambled three times for 47 yards as the Titans improved to 6-6.
The performance marked the eighth consecutive game in which Mariota has thrown multiple touchdown passes, extending his franchise record. The previous record holder was Hall of Famer Warren Moon, who threw for multiple touchdowns in six straight games in 1987.
Mariota became the third signal-caller in franchise history to throw for at least 25 touchdowns in a season. He joined Moon (1990) and Georga Blanda (1961, 1962).
Not bad for a player who has started only 24 NFL games since the Titans made him the No. 2 overall draft pick out of Oregon in 2015.
“He has been very consistent with his play,” Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey said. “You watched him today, I thought he threw a lot away that weren’t there, not trying to force any errors or make mistakes. He’s playing smart football, taking what the defense is giving him.”
The rest of the offense has followed suit. The Titans played their third consecutive game without committing a turnover on offense, which marks their best streak since 2013.
When Mariota sees an opening he likes, he rarely misses. Against the Bears, he lobbed a pinpoint 29-yard touchdown pass to Matthews in the back of the end zone. He also fired a strike across the middle of the field for a 4-yard touchdown to tight end Delanie Walker.
Mariota has completed 64.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,998 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is on the cusp of becoming the Tennessee’s first 3,000-yard passer since Matt Hasselbeck in 2011.
“He’s patient,” Walker said. “He’s not really looking to make things happen until it comes open. If he has to run, he’ll run, but he’ll sit back there as long as he can to find the open guy.”
