Mariota, Carr both sharp in Titans' 27-14 win over Raiders
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Marcus Mariota and Derek Carr look ready for the season to start after a successful preseason dress rehearsal.
Mariota led Tennessee to scores on all four drives he played and Carr threw two touchdown passes for Oakland and the Titans beat the Raiders 27-14 on Saturday night.
With the starters getting their most playing time in the third week of the preseason, the offenses looked in midseason form while both first-team defenses struggled mightily.
Mariota had the Raiders scrambling all night, faking out DJ Hayden on an option run and beating Oakland's top cornerback Sean Smith on a couple of plays.
Smith nearly intercepted a pass to Tajae Sharpe on the opening drive and safety Nate Allen jumped in apparent celebration. But Sharpe caught the ball and got by the unsuspecting Allen for a 60-yard gain that set up DeMarco Murray's 1-yard run.
After settling for field goals on Tennessee's next two drives, Mariota led one more TD drive late in the half before calling it a night. He finished 9 for 16 for 170 yards and ran for 20 more.
Carr was just as sharp, completing 10 of 15 passes for 146 yards. He was able to hit a couple of deep passes, including a 41-yarder to Michael Crabtree on the opening drive and a perfectly placed 29-yarder to Amari Cooper in the end zone for his second TD pass.
Carr capped the opening drive with a 6-yard TD pass to rookie DeAndre Washington and nearly had a third TD, but he missed an open Clive Walford in the end zone in the closing minute of the first half.
ROOKIE WATCH
Titans: Second-round pick Derrick Henry used his size to overpower Raiders defenders at times and rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries with a 3-yard TD run.
Raiders: Rookies Washington and Jalen Richard provided sparks as they make a case to become the primary backup running back to Latavius Murray. Washington ran for 55 yards on eight carries to go with his TD catch and Richard had 35 yards on seven runs. Washington did lose a fumble when he was drilled by Sean Spence after catching a short pass from Matt McGloin. David Bass returned it 47 yards for a score.
INJURY UPDATE
Titans: TE Delanie Walker left in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury.
Raiders: S Reggie Nelson and LB Neiron Ball sat out with undisclosed injuries.
POSITION BATTLES
Titans: Quinton Spain, competing with Sebastian Tretola for the starting left guard spot, played the entire first half and helped Tennessee run for 106 yards and kept pressure off Mariota.
Raiders: Menelik Watson and Austin Howard split time at right tackle with the first-team line as Oakland still has not settled on a starter there two weeks before the start of the season.
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