Dolphins Run Over In 30-17 Loss To Titans
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MIAMI GARDENS (The Sports Xchange) -- Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Tennessee Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 30-17 on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Titans improved to 2-4. Miami, playing without seven starters, fell to 1-4.
This was a battle of two of the five lowest-scoring teams in the NFL. Mariota, however, completed 20 of 29 passes for 163 yards with no interceptions. He also ran seven times for 60 yards.
Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray ran 27 times for 121 yards. His backup, rookie Derrick Henry, ran seven times for 54 yards.
Miami, meanwhile, could get very little going offensively. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed just 12 of 18 for 191 yards and no touchdowns. He was intercepted twice and sacked six times.
Tannehill, playing on a six-year, $96 million contract extension he signed in May of 2015, was booed by his home fans, who chanted the name of backup Matt Moore.
Tennessee led 21-14 at the half, dominating the running game by rushing for 166 yards and holding Miami to 39 yards. The Titans also had 14 first downs to Miami's four.
The Titans opened the scoring on a 5-yard first-quarter run by Mariota. That was followed by four more touchdowns in the second quarter.
Miami evened the score 7-7 on rookie Jakeem's 74-yard punt return for his first career touchdown. Tennessee took a 14-7 lead on a five-yard TD pass from Mariota to former University of Miami star Andre Johnson.
The Dolphins tied the score 14-14 on Jay Ajayi's 5-yard run. Then Tennessee went into halftime with a 21-14 lead on a 20-yard pass from Mariota to tight end Delanie Walker.
Tennessee's Ryan Succop and Miami's Andrew Franks traded third-quarter field goals.
The Titans put the game away on a 4-yard TD pass from Mariota to former Dolphins receiver Rishard Matthews with 8:30 left in the game. The extra point was blocked by Jason Jones.
NOTES: Dolphins Pro Bowl C Mike Pouncey (hip) played his first game of the season. ... Rookie starting CB Xavien Howard, who hurt his knee in practice on Tuesday, will need surgery and is out indefinitely. ... Miami also was without six other starters: RB Arian Foster (hamstring), LT Branden Albert (ankle), LG Laremy Tunsil (ankle), TE Jordan Cameron (concussion) and LBs Jelani Jenkins (groin) and Koa Misi (neck). ... Titans starting NT Al Woods (calf) missed his first game this season. ... Titans starting SS Da'Norris Searcy (ankle) missed his second straight game. ... Titans rookie RT Jack Conklin, the first-round pick who has graded out second-best in the NFL at his position this year, started despite a shoulder injury.
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