With the regular season set to kick off next Thursday, it's no surprise to see teams hold out their starters in their final preseason games.  While Minnesota elected to rest their starting unit, Tennessee decided to send out the majority of it's first team, including rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.

  It was unknown if Tennessee would play Mariota and the first team as Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt declined to make an official announcement prior to the game.  While some of the Titans starters mixed in with the second team throughout the first half, Mariota played just one series.  On the first play of the game he connected with Delanie Walker for a 15 yard pass before hitting Harry Douglas three plays later for a 59 yard touchdown pass.  Mariota finished the game 2-3 for 74 yards and a touchdown.  He finished the preseason going 21-30 passing, for 327 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT and a 102.9 QB rating.

  After getting off to a slow start a week ago in Kansas City, the Titans defense got off to a good start.  On the Vikings first posession of the game, Titans cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson knocked the ball out of rookie wideout Stefon Digg's hands after making a 4 yard catch.  Michael Griffen would recover the fumble for Tennessee, giving way to Zach Mettenburger and the second team offense who drove for a quick score to go up 14-0. 

  While the majority of the starters were removed from play following the drive, one notable player who remained on the field for Tennessee was inside linebacker Zach Brown.  He remained in the game through the first half after a poor tackling performance in Kansas City.  Brown flashed his play making ability with the extra time on the field, but left the game following an undisclosed injury in which a teammate landed awkwardly on him while chasing down the ball carrier.

  Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Vikings  starters got the night off in Tennessee.  Instead the Vikings offense was led by rookie quarterback Taylor Heinicke.  Heinicke played the entire game for the Vikings.  He went 27-41 passing, for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He showed a knack for moving the chains through the air and even made some plays with his feet.  Fellow rookie  Stefon Diggs was Heinicke's favorite target.  The wide receiver hauled in 8 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, leaving a positive impression in his final opportunity to showcase his skills prior to final roster cuts on Saturday.

  While the Vikings trailed the entire game, they had an opportunity to tie it up late in the fourth quarter.  Starting from their own 20, down seven points with two minutes remaining, Heinicke engineered a drive all the way down to the Titans 30 yard line.  After an offensive pass interference penalty on 4th and 1 pushed them back, Tennessee's Angelo Blackson penetrated the line and sacked the Vikings quarterback to solidify the Titan's 24-17 victory.

   

     

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About the author
Eric Sampson
Lifelong fan and supporter of the Tennessee Titans. Sports enthusiast. #12thTitan #TitanUp