NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It was another quick night for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and the first team offense, but once again the group did enough to impress.
Mariota played two series against the Buccaneers in the team's second preseason game.
Mariota guided the team on a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off with a 47-yard touchdown pass to speedy receiver Taywan Taylor to give the Titans a 7-3 drive at the end of the first quarter.
Mariota finished the night 4-of-7 for 80 yards, and the touchdown, with a passer rating of 136.9.
In the team's preseason opener at Green Bay last week, Mariota completed 2-of-3 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in one series of action, finishing with a passer rating of 149.3.
On the team's first series on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium, a drive stalled quickly after one first down, which came on a run from Derrick Henry.
When the team got the ball back, the Titans didn't waste a lot of time before getting into the end zone.
"The first drive didn't really go the way we wanted, but to be able to get a touchdown on the second drive was huge," Mariota said. "And I thought Taywan made a huge play for that."
Running back Dion Lewis provided the early spark on the drive, with a pair of catches and nice gains after darting in and out of would-be tacklers.
Then, on a second-and-one from the Tampa Bay 47, Mariota threw a screen pass to Taylor, and he headed straight to the end zone. Taylor outran Buccaneers safety Justin Evans and everyone else to give the Titans their second touchdown of the preseason under offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.
"We had a plan for him with what we were looking to do and what we were looking to get out of the night," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Mariota, and the first team offense. "We'd like to run the ball a little better with that first group. But, what we did in the second series - it was good to see. We felt like that was the plan coming in."
Back-up quarterback Blaine Gabbert replaced Mariota on the team's third offensive series, with the team leading 7-3. Gabbert completed 10-of-16 passes for 116 yards in the contest, while Luke Falk completed 8-of-12 passes for 64 yards.
The Tennessee Titans prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the the second preseason game for both teams Saturday night at Nissan Stadium. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) takes the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
A Tennessee Titans fan watches as players warm up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, center, greets teammates before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chandler Catanzaro warms up as Bryan Anger (9) holds before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (90) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk walks on the field as players warm up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel watches as players warm up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, center, watches as players warm up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans fan Jennifer McCurry watches as the pieces of a giant Jenga game fall outside Nissan Stadium before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans rookie punter Austin Barnard warms up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy kneels on the field before a preseason NFL football game between the Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Bryan Anger warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Jerita Richardson wears lipstick to match the Tennessee Titans colors before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans offensive guard Josh Kline takes the field before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Michael Serwinowski, 9, plays outside Nissan Stadium before a preseason NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans payers, including Jayon Brown (55) and Jurrell Casey (99) stand for the national anthem before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel watches from the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Dennis Kelly (71) takes the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) takes the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) takes the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans players stand for the national anthem before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Darius Jennings warms up before a preseason NFL football game between the Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry takes the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans defensive back Demontre Hurst (20) and linebacker Sharif Finch (56) take the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel stands between Rico Gafford (40) and Jayon Brown (55) during the national anthem before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left, and the Tennessee Titans, right, wait for referee Clay Martin to toss the coin before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talks with field judge Dave Meslow (118)in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) waits to take the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left, and Tennessee Titans, right, shake hands before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski))
