The Sports Xchange

TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota threw four touchdown passes in the first half, looking like a pro in his NFL debut as the Tennessee Titans had an easy opener, throttling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jameis Winston 42-14 at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

“We worked hard all week and to be able to be successful and execute was good for us,” Mariota said after the game. “The entire offense played well. I’m very fortunate to be a part of the group that I am.”

The game was eagerly anticipated as the first-ever meeting of quarterbacks drafted first and second overall making their NFL debuts, but it wasn’t ever a close contest. Mariota got most of the fourth quarter off, pulled for backup Zach Mettenberger.

The Titans led 14-0 in the first four minutes, with Mariota throwing a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kendall Wright. Then Winston, on his first career throw, was intercepted by Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and it was returned 26 yards for a touchdown.

Mariota marched the Titans 63 yards on their next drive, hitting running back Bishop Sankey for a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 21-0 lead, just 8:11 into the game.

Mariota finished 13-for-16 for 209 yards and four touchdowns with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 for the day.

The Bucs put together a touchdown drive, with Winston scrambling to convert a fourth-and-1 and hitting tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins for a 5-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter, the first of two touchdowns between the two.

Winston finished 16-for-33 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

What we learned about the Buccaneers:

1. Head coach Lovie Smith may be calling the defensive plays, but it doesn’t mean the Bucs won’t leave big openings for opposing quarterbacks to exploit. It was clear from the first drive, when Titans rookie QB Marcus Mariota found a streaking Kendall Wright wide open for a 52-yard touchdown. The Bucs continue to struggle to get off the field on third down.

2. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins can be a major part of the Bucs’ offense. He finished with 110 yards and two touchdowns — as many scores as he totaled in his rookie season. With wide receiver Mike Evans out, he stepped up as a big target for Winston, and the two already have a connection that should continue throughout the season.

3. The Bucs still don’t have enough pressure at the line of scrimmage — three total tackles for loss in 50 plays Sunday. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and defensive end Jacquies Smith each had sacks, but Mariota was consistently given enough time to make quick reads and find open receivers.

Etc.

–Rookie QB Jameis Winston struggled from the start, throwing a pick-six in his first NFL pass attempt, with another similar interception later as well. He passed for two touchdowns to TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but the big difference between him and Marcus Mariota was that he made two costly mistakes when Mariota made none.

–DT Gerald McCoy had a sack against Marcus Mariota in a play that looked like it would turn into a safety, but the play was ruled dead before Mariota fumbled into his own end zone. McCoy needs sacks and splash plays to continue to play at a high level and return to the Pro Bowl.

–TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins had his best game as a pro, with 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He had only two scores in his entire rookie season, so it’s a big step toward his emergence in Year Two.