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Fans call for Titans to bench Marcus Mariota after brutal first half

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Matt Johnson | Last updated 9/19/19

The Tennessee Titans tried everything to help make quarterback Marcus Mariota into the player they dreamed of when they drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015. Now, after another brutal first half, football fans have had enough.

Mariota took the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars on "Thursday Night Football." Despite facing a defense that is allowing over 260 passing yards per game this season, Mariota could barely crack 60 in the first half.

As each throw was off the mark and the fifth-year quarterback made one poor read after another, the calls for him to be benched grew louder. By the time the second quarter ended, Mariota needed 16 pass attempts to reach 62 yards, and the calls for Ryan Tannehill began.

I wonder how frustrating it is for Tannehill sitting behind a QB that’s demonstrably worse than he is.
— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) September 20, 2019

I never in all my days as a football fan thought I would be petitioning for Ryan Tannehill but I am Marcus Mariota is doo doo #TENvsJAC
— J Jones (@j3_thebarber) September 20, 2019

It's astonishing how bad Marcus Mariota is.
— Brad Evans (@YahooNoise) September 20, 2019

Can’t believe I’m gonna say this… Gotta bring in Tannehill.

(I have titans -1 1/2)
— Marc Hochman (@MarcHochman) September 20, 2019

It’s time… Tannehill should start the second half. #Titans
— Chase McCabe (@ChaseOnGame) September 20, 2019

The Titans ended the first half with only 108 *total* yards…

Marcus Mariota only has 62 passing yards for the entire 1st half.@Titans, it’s time to BENCH Mariota.
— Baylor Cook (@j_baylorcook) September 20, 2019

When the referees are racking up more yards on flags thrown than your quarterback is getting through the air, that’s a sign it might be time for a change.

In the first half:

Mariota threw 16 passes for 62 yards.

Refs threw 15 flags for 95 yards.
— Ben Schragger Fantasy (@BenSchragg) September 20, 2019

The Titans sacrificed draft picks to acquire Tannehill. While he might not be the long-term answer at quarterback, it seems time for Tennessee to try something else and give up on its former top pick.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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