ATLANTA -- Tennessee rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota quickly learned NFL games are different from practice.
Mariota's first two series ended with an interception and a fumble before he recovered to lead a touchdown drive in the Titans' 31-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in a preseason opener Friday night.
One play after he was sacked early in his first drive, Mariota's short pass was intercepted by linebacker Justin Durant, whose 20-yard return set up a field goal. On Tennessee's next drive, the ball slipped out of Mariota's hand as he was preparing to pass. Linebacker Paul Worrilow scooped up the loose ball and raced 14 yards for a touchdown.
"I just kind of shrugged it off," Mariota said. "I figured we needed a good drive, and we finished with a good one."
Mariota regrouped on his third possession. He had two 17-yard completions to former Falcons receiver Harry Douglas and a 26-yard pass to running back Antonio Andrews to set up Dexter McCluster's 6-yard scoring run.
"We obviously had a tough start," Titans Coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We can't turn the ball over. ... It was disappointing, but I like the way they responded."
Mariota, the No. 2 overall draft pick, completed 7 of 8 passes for 94 yards.
The Falcons led 17-0 before the Titans pulled even at 24. Michael Ford's 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter broke the tie.
Atlanta's Matt Ryan completed all six passes for 86 yards on his only possession, including a 13-yard touchdown to Julio Jones. Jones had four catches for 61 yards -- all in the opening drive.
"He's a beast, and I'm lucky to call him a teammate," Ryan said of Jones.
Ford, who had 11 carries for 20 yards, was one of a group of running backs who had a chance to impress Quinn as Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman were held out with hamstring injuries. Jerome Smith had seven carries for 25 yards. Terron Ward gained 6 yards on three carries.
PANTHERS 25, BILLS 24
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Joe Webb's short pass to running back Brandon Wegher led to a 42-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left and rallied the Carolina Panthers to a victory over the Buffalo Bills in each team's preseason opener.
The Panthers' third-string quarterback then hit Paul Browning for a two-point conversion to seal the victory, as Coach Ron Rivera went for the victory rather than have the game decided in overtime.
The loss spoiled Bills Coach Rex Ryan's first game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Fired by the New York Jets at the end of last season, he was hired by Buffalo to replace Doug Marrone, who stepped down abruptly Dec. 31.
The Bills were in a position to win after EJ Manuel put them ahead 24-17 by hitting receiver Deonte Thompson in stride for a 51-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
The game was decided with Webb facing second and 2 at the Bills 42. Faking a pass to his right, he caught Buffalo's defense leaning the wrong way. He then dumped a short pass off to Wegher, who had a clear path to the end zone up the left sideline.
Panthers starter Cam Newton completed 5 of 10 passes for 83 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin to cap the starting offense's third and final series. Carolina backup Derek Anderson hit Brenton Bersin for a 12-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone on the first drive of the second half.
BENGALS 23, GIANTS 10
CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton and the rest of the Bengals' offense were so good that they got the night off after less than 3 minutes.
Dalton completed all of his three passes, and the Bengals' starting offense was impressive in its only drive during Cincinnati's preseason victory over the New York Giants.
Dalton completed 3 for 3 passes for 31 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu. Coach Marvin Lewis decided that was enough, resting his starting offense after only 2 minutes, 55 seconds on the field. Dalton had completions of 12, 16 and 3 yards, and Jeremy Hill ran twice for 15 yards.
It was much different for the Giants' starters. Eli Manning and the rest of the offense stayed on the field until early in the second quarter, managing only one first down and 38 yards in four series. Manning was 4 of 8 for 22 yards.
JAGUARS 23, STEELERS 21
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Big Ben needed just six plays to look ready for the regular season.
Ben Roethlisberger threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant on the opening drive, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were much more proficient in their second preseason game, a loss at Jacksonville.
The Jaguars (1-0) were the real losers, though. Tight end Julius Thomas likely will miss the rest of the preseason with a broken left hand.
Roethlisberger, running back Le'Veon Bell, receiver Antonio Brown and several other starters sat out Pittsburgh's preseason opener. The three came up big in just six plays of work against the Jaguars.
Roethlisberger completed all three passes for 59 yards, including a perfectly lobbed deep ball to Bryant on third down. He also completed a pass on a two-point conversion. Bell carried twice for 18 yards. Brown caught the only ball throw in his direction.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles played nearly the entire first half, completing 11 of 15 passes for 118 yards. Third-stringer Stephen Morris provided the winning score, a 1-yard plunge to cap a 92-yard drive with 2:54 remaining.
Sports on 08/15/2015