Marcus Mariota: “I’m Optimistic”

Tennessee Titans are facing the Indianapolis Colts in the ultimate game of the season for both sides. Whoever wins this one is going to the playoffs, but not only that. Many combinations are possible here, some of them even open the opportunity of reaching the No.2 seed in the AFC, but those outcomes are only possible in theory.

We are definitely sure that the teams would gladly settle for the sixth place and that there wouldn’t be any objections about that.

Over the last few weeks, both Titans and Colts were playing good, recording straight victories during the most important part of the season.

Hosts have one big problem entering this contest, and that is the status of their starting quarterback, Marcus Mariota.

He’s been dealing with a neck and a foot injury, which is why he still doesn’t know is he going to play or not.

“Just trying to get back man. Finding every way I can to be available.” Mariota stated.

Later during the press conference, the Titans QB told the reporters that he feels optimistic about the upcoming game and his recovery.

Marcus Mariota, who was a limited participant at yesterday’s practice after missing Wednesday, was back on the practice field today. All signs point to him getting the start Sunday. We’ll get the final injury report in a bit.

A final glimpse of MM8 before #Titans–#Colts on SNF: pic.twitter.com/dzEJ0jhbo8

— Erik Bacharach (@ErikBacharach) December 28, 2018

“I’m optimistic, I mean this is what is all about, you are playing for everything, so I’m doing everything I can, you know, day and night, trying to make sure that I can be ready.”

The Titans have the advantage of the home court. LP Field is going to burn tonight, and the additional factor which will only increase the intensity and the tension is the divisional rivalry.

The Colts won the first match back in mid-November, 30-18. Over the last nine events, Andrew Luck and his boys won eight times, bouncing back after an awful start, smashing their way up to the top of the division.

Mariota was also commenting their performances, not only his injury status, and in one of them, he praised the tough defense of the Colts, which has been a decisive factor during their winning run.

“I think they are playing fast, I mean across the board, whether it’s up front, where they spilling it off to their linebackers, who are leading the league in tackles. They are aggressive, attacking the football.”

That match in November will not be remembered by the Titans fans as some good memory. Not only did they lose, but Mariota went out, after receiving one huge hit in the late second quarter.

The defensive coordinator Dean Pees had to go to the nearby hospital because of some health issues during the opening quarter. In general, it was one nasty road trip to Indiana.

All that could be erased if they win tonight. Tennessee would enter the playoffs, and the big rivals would be eliminated, which makes the revenge complete.

The Titans have four straight wins, in which they dominated through the defense. They kept Redskins to 16 points, shut down Giants and held them scoreless, and allowed only 9 points to the Jaguars.

Tennessee is the second-best defense in the league when looking the average number of allowed points. With 18 per game, the only one better than them are the Ravens.

Meanwhile, their offense is not that bright, as they score only 19.5 points. Mariota’s trouble injuries have influenced on that a lot, and there is no doubt that the Titans’ scoring would be much higher with him 100% healthy.

If he plays tonight, the hosts have much higher chances of winning than without him, with all due respect towards Blaine Gabbert.

The former Heisman Trophy winner is, after all, the brain of this team.