Game Notes: Titans at Bears

Nov 27, 2016 at 09:48 AM

MARIOTA'S 10TH GAME WITH 100 RATING, TWO TDs: Marcus Mariota completed 15 of 23 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception versus the Bears. His passer rating for the game was 126.4, giving him 10 career games with two or more touchdown passes and a passer rating of at least 100. Mariota became the fourth NFL player to record 10 games with multiple touchdown passes and a 100 passer rating in his first two NFL seasons, joining Dan Marino (14), Russell Wilson (12) and Kurt Warner (11). In Titans/Oilers history, only four previous quarterbacks had 10 such games in their entire careers: Steve McNair (29), Warren Moon (26), George Blanda (17) and Dan Pastorini (10). * *

MARIOTA'S EIGHT-GAME STREAK:**Marcus Mariota completed touchdown passes of four yards to Delanie Walker and 29 yards to Rishard Matthews, both in the second quarter. It gave him 44 career touchdown passes, including 25 in 2016. His scoring toss to Walker was his 32nd career touchdown pass in the red zone without throwing an interception. He extended his streak to eight consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes, which improved upon his franchise record (previously six by Warren Moon in 1987). Mariota became the second NFL quarterback in his first or second year to record a streak of eight or more games in a season with two or more touchdown passes. The only previous player to accomplish the feat was Dan Marino (10) in 1984. Among all NFL players, Mariota's current streak of games with multiple touchdown passes is the longest such streak since a nine-game run by Tom Brady to start the 2015 campaign.

MARIOTA'S SEASON TOTAL AMONG BEST IN TEAM HISTORY: On his second touchdown pass of the game, Marcus Mariota became the third quarterback in franchise history to throw at least 25 touchdown passes in a season. George Blanda accomplished the feat twice (36 in 1961 and 27 in 1962), and Warren Moon reached the mark once (33 in 1990) with the club.

TITANS FIND SUCCESS WITH THE LONG BALL: Marcus Mariota completed passes of 38 yards to Delanie Walker, 35 yards and 25 yards to Harry Douglas, and 29 yards (touchdown) and 24 yards to Rishard Matthews, bringing his season total to 46 passes of at least 20 yards. He entered the week tied for third in the NFL in the category, trailing only Matt Ryan (46) and Drew Brees (42).

MARIOTA CONTRIBUTES GROUND YARDS: Marcus Mariota added four rushing attempts for 46 yards, including a 29-yard run in the third quarter. His rushing yardage total ranked fifth over his two-year career.

WALKER REACHES 30 CAREER TD RECEPTIONS:With a four-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, tight endDelanie Walker** reached 30 career touchdown receptions. He also tied his career high with six touchdown receptions in a season, originally set in 2013 and matched in 2015. Walker totaled 50 yards on three catches at Chicago.

MATTHEWS SETS CAREER HIGH: Wide receiver Rishard Matthews caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. On an 11-yard catch in the third quarter, he set a new career high for receiving yards a season, passing his previous high of 662 yards as a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Matthews' 2016 totals now include 48 receptions (also a career high) for a team-high 669 yards.

MATTHEWS CONTINUES TO SCORE:With a diving catch in the end zone of a 29-yard pass byMarcus Mariota, wide receiverRishard Matthewsrecorded his seventh touchdown reception in an eight-week span. Since that period began on Oct. 9 at Miami, Matthews has recorded 36 catches for 489 yards. Matthews became the first Titans player to record at least seven touchdown catches in a season sinceKenny Britt** in 2010 (nine).

OFFENSE SCORES IN FINAL TWO MINUTES OF FIRST HALF FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT GAME: With a 29-yard touchdown reception by Rishard Matthews with 1:15 remaining in the second quarter, the Titans extended their streak to six consecutive games with a score in the final two minutes of the first half. The streak began with their game against the Colts on Oct. 23 (DeMarco Murray touchdown run), followed by successes against Jacksonville (Ryan Succop field goal), at San Diego (Rishard Matthews reception), against Green Bay (Kendall Wright reception) and at Indianapolis (Murray reception). In 2016, the Titans have scored seven touchdowns and kicked one field goal in the final two minutes of the first half for a total of 52 points. They entered the week ranked second in the NFL (Arizona Cardinals) in both points scored and touchdowns inside the final two minutes of the first half.

HENRY FINDS THE END ZONE:In the first quarter, rookie running backDerrick Henryscored his second career touchdown on an 11-yard run. The second-round draft pick finished the game with eight carries for a team-high 60 yards, which also tied his career high for rushing yards in a game (60 vs. Jacksonville on Oct. 27). **

SUCCOP EXTENDS STREAK: With field goals of 19 yards in the third quarter and 31 yards in the fourth quarter, kicker Ryan Succop extended his franchise-best streak to 32 successful field goals from inside 50 yards, dating back to 2014. He previously broke Al Del Greco's franchise record of 24 consecutive made field goals from inside 50 yards, set from 1995–1996.

WOODYARD NOTCHES INTERCEPTION:In the second quarter, inside linebackerWesley Woodyardnotched his eighth interception and his first interception of 2016. He picked off a pass byMatt Barkleythat was intended for tight endBen Braunecker** at the Tennessee 12-yard line and returned the ball 21 yards.

RED ZONE DEFENSE: The Titans defense allowed the Bears six trips inside the 20 but on three occasions turned them away with no points. Two of Chicago's red zone trips ended with interceptions (Wesley Woodyard and Da'Norris Searcy). Then, in the final minute of the game, the Bears offense had a first-and-goal at the seven-yard line, trailing by six points, but were stopped on fourth down by the Titans defense.

SEARCY RECORDS INTERCEPTION IN END ZONE:Early in the third quarter, safetyDa'Norris Searcyrecorded his seventh career interception and his first of 2016, picking off aMatt Barkleypass in the end zone that was intended for wide receiverCameron Meredith**. It was the team's 11th interception of the season.

TITANS WIN TURNOVER BATTLE: The Titans won the turnover battle for the third consecutive week, collecting a pair of interceptions—one each by safety Da'Norris Searcy and inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard. They were plus-three against Green Bay on Nov. 13 and plus-one at Indianapolis on Nov. 20. The Titans are even in turnover margin (13 takeaways and 13 turnovers) for the first time since the 2016 season started. The Titans have a three-game streak of no turnovers for the first time since 2013, when they didn't commit a turnover in the first four games of the season.

NO SACKS, NO TURNOVERS ALLOWED: For the third time in 2016, the Titans offense did not allow a sack and did not commit a turnover. The unit previously accomplished the feat Oct. 9 at Miami and Oct. 27 vs. Jacksonville. * *

TEAM RUSHING TOTAL:** The Titans totaled 29 carries for 149 yards versus the Bears. It was their fifth game of the season with at least 149 rushing yards as a team. They entered the week ranked third in rushing offense and are now averaging 141.5 rushing yards per game. The last season in which they averaged 140 or more rushing yards per game was 2009 (162.0).

INACTIVES: The seven inactive Titans were wide receiver Tre McBride, safety Daimion Stafford, running back David Fluellen, guard Sebastian Tretola, tight end Phillip Supernaw, outside linebacker Kevin Dodd and defensive lineman Angelo Blackson. Stafford (hamstring) and Supernaw (concussion) were on the injury report leading up to the game.