Titans Feast on Saints Defense in OT 34-28

Marcus Mariota threw four touchdown passes, the last to Anthony Fasano in overtime, as the Tennessee Titans, playing their first game under interim coach Mike Mularkey, defeated the New Orleans Saints 34-28 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Sunday.  The Saints offense never saw the ball in overtime as Tennessee won the toss and drove for the winning score.

Mariota completed 28 of 39 passes for 371 yards.  Two of the scores went to tight end Delanie Walker.  Mariota was not sacked in the game.

Drew Brees, meanwhile, was 28-39 for 389 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.  He was sacked four times.

Both teams missed field goals in the final minutes.  Tennessee (2-6) drove from its 11 to the New Orleans 37, but Ryan Succop hit the crossbar on a 55 yard attempt after the two minute warning.  The Saints (4-5) then drove to the Titans' 28, but Kyle Forbath's potential game winner from 46 yards was partially blocked with :59 left.

Brees led the Saints to a touchdown on their first possession, highlighted by a 25 yard completion to Brandin Cooks and a 30 yard strike to Brandon Coleman. Brees then found Josh Hill for a ten yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Tennessee got a break when Marcus Murphy muffed a punt at the Saints' 42 yard line.  The Saints held on third down and Ryan Succop nailed a 51 yard field goal to get the Titans on the board with 7:03 left in the first quarter.

The Saints came right back with an 80 yard drive for another score.  A 16 yard pass from Brees to Marques Colston set up a 38 yard pass to Cooks for the score to make it 14-3.

Tennessee got a gift touchdown on the next possession with Keenan Lewis and Jarius Byrd collided on what should have been an easy interception and Delanie Walker caught the carom and completed a 58 yard touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to slice the lead to 14-10.

The Saints got a break when a Brees interception was nullified by a roughing the passer call and New Orleans took advantage.  A 33 yard pass to Willie Sneed got the Saints into the red zone and Brees capped the 79 yard drive with a one yard run to increase the lead to 21-10.

An Antonio Andrews reception for 23 yards was followed by an Andrews run for 38 yards to set up the Titans on the next possession and Mariota found Walker again for a two yard score to bring the Titans back to within 21-17 with 8:08 left until halftime.  The Titans threatened again before halftime before the Saints recovered a fumble at the New Orleans 13 yard line.

Tennessee cut the lead to one point after driving to the New Orleans 11 yard line on their first drive of the third quarter as Succop hit a 28 yard field goal to make the score 21-20.

After failing to move the football on three straight possessions, the Saints drove to the Tennessee 19.  But Brees was sacked and was then intercepted by P. W. Webb in the end zone to end the threat.

But the next time the Saints had the football, they scored on a one yard pass from Brees to Michael Hoomanawanui, capping a 13 play, 62 yard drive to give the Saints a 28-20 lead.  The third roughing the passer call of the day on Tennessee negated a sack which helped the Saints on the drive.

Tennessee came right back with a 57 yard drive as Mariota threw his third touchdown pass of the day. this one to Jeremy Hunter and then completed the two point play to Walker to tie the score at 28 with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter.  A personal foul on the kickoff by Michael Mauti gave the Titans good field position and Tennessee also benefited from a roughing the passer call which moved the football from the 19 to the nine yard line.

Antonio Andrews gained 88 yards on 19 carries, while Mark Ingram led the Saints in rushing with 52 yards on 21 carries.  Tennessee outgained the Saints 483-415.