Marcus Mariota lucky and good in New Orleans

Nov 8, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Titans defeated the Saints 34-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota returned to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Former head coach Ken Whisenhunt was doing a good job of bringing him along. He mixed in some Spread Offense concepts to keep Mariota comfortable and didn’t ask him to do too much.

And in the first couple of games, the results were pretty good as Maritoa went 1-1 and threw six TDs to 0 INTs. In the next three games, it seemed like the NFL caught up to what the Titans were doing with Mariota. He threw a total of three touchdowns and five interceptions in 3-straight losses.

But things got much worse for the Titans when Mariota missed a couple of games with sprained MCL. The Titans would then fire Whisenhunt over the bye-week and Mariota has to come back to Mike Mularkey being his head coach. Mariota’s first assignment of his comeback from injury would be Drew Brees and a hot New Orleans team at the Superdome.

And after struggling early in the first quarter, going down 14-3, he would get lucky with a 61-yard TD pass. Mariota threw his worst pass of the day, a floater, heading right into the arms of a Saints defender. But another Saints defender came in to make a play on the ball and it bounced up in the air into the hands of tight end Delanie Walker, who caught it and took it the rest of the way.

But that was just one play because from there, he was just plain good, playing his best game as a pro. He was 28-39 for 371 yards, four touchdown passes and he didn’t throw an interception. He threw at least two passes to seven different receivers—three of those receivers had more than 70 yards.

Mariota showed improved pocket-awareness and with his anticipation and timing on his throws. He also showed that he had ice in his veins, finishing the day with a 80-yard game-winning drive and TD pass. He’s always made good decisions with the football and now all he needs to improve is his accuracy down the field.

The Titans are only two games back with a 2-6 record and four division games left to play in the woeful AFC South.

So you can’t write Mariota and the Titans off from the playoffs just yet.