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QB Marcus Mariota: Titans Can Do Better

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. –** Marcus Mariota got his most extensive playing time of the preseason on Sunday against the Bears, and ended it on a positive note.

But that doesn't mean the Titans quarterback was satisfied.

"It was all right," Mariota said after the team's 19-7 loss to the Bears. "Not to the level that I expect myself to play. There's things, especially on third down, in terms of getting guys to go in the right direction, communicating, I can definitely do a better job of that."

Mariota finished the contest 12-of-21 for 193 yards and a touchdown, and he was sacked twice. Mariota's biggest plays – a 48-yard completion to rookie receiver Taywan Taylor, a 27-yard completion to tight end Delanie Walker, a 26-yard flip pass to Derrick Henry and a pair of 20-plus yard completions to receiver Rishard Matthews – stood out on a day when the team had trouble extending drives.

Mariota did guide the Titans on an 11-play, 90-yard drive on a possession that ended with a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to Henry, which cut Chicago's lead to 12-7 at the time.

"It was a good way to finish," Mariota said. "Obviously, it wasn't the way we wanted to play, but it was good that we were able to find a rhythm, go down and score, finish on a good note. With that being said, we have a lot of work to do. We'll find ways to improve."

Mariota was relieved by back-up Matt Cassel in the fourth quarter.

Through three preseason games, Mariota has completed 20-of-32 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. His completion percentage is 62.5 percent, his passer rating 110.0.

In two series of action against the Panthers last week, Mariota completed 6-of-8 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown – a four-yard completion to Walker.

Mariota also played in two possessions in the team's preseason opener against the Jets, his first game back after suffered a fractured fibula in Week 16 last season. He completed 2-of-3 passes for 15 yards and also ran once for a six-yard gain in that contest.

The Titans wrap up the preseason on Thursday at Kansas City.

Mariota said he's not concerned with the team's inconsistencies during the preseason.

"You can't get over concerned," he said. "It's a process. You can't weigh too much, you've just got to focus on getting better as a group, getting better as a team. I feel like throughout my young career in preseasons you go through these ups and downs, you find what you have with your team. We obviously have to get better. That's the main thing, that's the thing we can take from this. When it comes down to it, we'll learn from the film and we'll be ready to go."

The Tennessee Titans take on the Chicago Bears in Week 3 of the preseason on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 at Nissan Stadium. (Photos: Donn Jones Photography, AP)

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