The Tennessee Titans won their first playoff game since 2003 with a wild card triumph over the the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs. It also marked the first playoff game of quarterback Marcus Mariota's brief NFL career. With that in mind, the 24-year-old did something that is rarely done in sports, as he miraculously threw a touchdown… to himself.
Marcus Mariota just caught his own pass for a @Titans TD!!
Not a typo.#TitanUp #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/bDBVukfZuY
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2018
As a result, Mariota is the first player in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass to himself in a playoff game (he's also the first player to have both a passing and a receiving touchdown in a playoff game; yes, it counted as both). The only other player to pull off the first feat above is Brad Johnson back in 1997.
The play occurred in the third quarter on third-and-goal from Kansas City's 6-yard line as Mariota threw a pass to the end zone. It was batted up in the air by veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis, but the third-year quarterback was able to collect the tipped ball and stumble into the end zone for the Titans' first touchdown of the night.
It not only marked Mariota's first passing touchdown in the postseason, but also his first receiving touchdown. Mariota was able to make the play due to the fact that once a defender deflects the ball, any offensive player on the field is an eligible receiver to haul it in.
The Oregon product just so happened to have the ball hit towards him as his momentum from making the throw pushed him forward toward the batted football. It was an impressive play that displayed Mariota's athletic ability as he made the catch while showing a keen awareness of what he needed to do after bringing it in.
This play began a comeback that saw the Titans erase an 18-point first half deficit against the Chiefs. Now, the Titans have a date with the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
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