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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota has thrown himself into the company of the NFLs best quarterbacks, both past and present, just 24 games into his career.If he keeps playing this way, the Tennessee Titans believe their second-year quarterback just might lead them to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.Hes doing what we all thought he was going to do this year, center Ben Jones said. Great composure, guy you trust with the ball at all times, and hes making plays.He sure is.Mariota is a big reason why the Titans (6-6) sit only a half-game out of first in the AFC South at their bye, winners of five of their past eight.The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 2 pick overall in 2015 out of Oregon struggled during a 1/3 start with four fumbles and five interceptions -- five returned for touchdowns.Since then, Mariota has thrown 21 TD passes with only three interceptions while also running for two more touchdowns. The Titans have gone three straight games without a single turnover.The skys the limit with Marcus, tight end Delanie Walker said.Left tackle Taylor Lewan: Hes a quarterback Ill play for as long as theyll allow me to.Mariotas production has been impressive so far:- Second in the AFC and fifth overall with a 101.9 passer rating this season.- His 25 TD passes trail only New Orleans Drew Brees (30), Green Bays Aaron Rodgers (27) and Atlantas Matt Ryan (26) this season. In franchise history, only George Blanda and Warren Moon have thrown more TD passes in a season.- Ranks fourth in the NFL for most passes of at least 20 yards or longer with 46.- Perfect inside an opponents 20-yard line for his career with 32 TD passes and no interceptions.- Posted a 100 passer rating or better with multiple TD passes in 10 games in his career, something only Dan Marino (14), Russell Wilson (12) and Kurt Warner (11) did during their first two NFL seasons.- On a streak with eight straight games with two or more TD passes, only the second quarterback to have such a streak in his first or second NFL season. Marino had 10 in 1984 in Miami. Mariotas eight-game streak is the NFLs longest since Tom Brady did it in nine consecutive games to start the 2015 season for New England.Mariota heard of that last streak after the Titans held onto a 27-21 win at Chicago last week. He said as a kid he grew up wishing he might be mentioned with some of those quarterbacks.As an athlete, I think you have to have the confidence and belief in yourself, Mariota said. To say I had envisioned joining some of these names would be tough to say.But I really believe in myself, and I hold myself to a high standard. The expectation for me is to be able to consistently be the best player that my team needs me to be. Going forward, Ill continue to do that.Better than Mariotas play may be the confidence he has given his teammates. This franchise won five games combined the past two seasons, and their only winning record since 2008 was 2011 when the Titans missed the playoffs at 9-7 on a tiebreaker.I think guys are starting to understand that we could be in the playoffs, Walker said.Coach Mike Mularkey, given the full-time job in January, and first-year general manager Jon Robinson gave Mariota help. Mularkey simplified both the language and his playbook.Robinson brought in 23 new players to start the season and cut starting cornerback Perrish Cox on Monday to help a defense ranked 25th against the pass.With Jones one of two new starters on the offensive line, Tennessee ranks seventh, allowing only 18 sacks after giving up an NFL-worst 54 in 2015.DeMarco Murray, picked up by Robinson from Philadelphia in a March trade, has made a strong case for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Murray has run for 1,043 yards, second-best in the NFL, and also has 45 catches for 309 yards and three more scores.Along with Mariota and rookie Derrick Henry, the Titans rank third in averaging 141.5 yards rushing per game. Thats their best since 2009 when Chris Johnson ran for 2,006 yards to salvage a 0-6 start.Coordinator Dick LeBeaus defense ranks fifth with 30 sacks and eighth against the run.The Titans go into their bye a half-game out of first in the AFC South, though 1/3 in the division. They host Denver (7-4) with road trips at Kansas City (8-3) and Jacksonville (2-9) before Houston visits Jan. 1 with the division title possibly on the line.Were right where we want to be, Jones said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Wholesale Air Jordan .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Clearance Air Jordan Store . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. https://www.jordanchina.us/ .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Cheap Jordan From China . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Air Jordan China . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. PHOENIX -- Washington manager Dusty Baker said he always admired the way Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice went about his business, and he wants the Nationals to apply that style as they enter the final two months of the season.The best mentality to have is thinking about crossing the finish line before anyone else does and carrying it toward the playoffs, Baker said after the Nationals 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a three-game series at Chase Field on Monday.But its crossing the finish line first. Its like stacking dollars, stacking pennies. More victories, more victories, more victories. Our goal is to win getaway days, win series and try to sweep some teams along the way. And look at the finish line.I watched Jerry Rice for years, and I never saw Jerry Rice look back. When he got open, he didnt look back. He looked straight to the finish line. To the goal line. They said Jerry Rice was too slow, but I never saw him get caught.The Nationals (62-44) increased their lead in the National League East to five games over the Miami Marlins and 7 1/2 over the defending NL champion New York Mets when Stephen Strasburg earned his major-league-leading 15th win Monday.Washington right-hander Tanner Roark will start the second game of the series against Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray, who was selected by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2010 draft before being traded to Detroit and then Arizona prior to the 2015 season.Roark (10-6, 2.966 ERA) is one of three 10-game winners on the Nationals, and Arizona will see a third when former D-backs right-hander Max Scherzer starts the final game of the series Wednesday.ddddddddddddRay (5-10, 4.70 ERA) set career highs in strikeouts in each of his past two outings, getting 10 at Cincinnati on July 23 and 11 at Milwaukee on Thursday.He has that kind of fastball, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. He can throw 10 fastballs in a row and probably not get hit. Its the ability to maybe spin the ball in there that has made the difference with him.Ray will be facing the Nationals for the first time in his career. Roark, meanwhile, will be looking to extend his dominance against the Diamondbacks. In five games (two starts) covering 18 1/3 innings vs. Arizona, Roark has yet to allow an earned run.Washington collected a season-high 19 hits Monday when the D-backs gave up 14 runs for the second game in a row.Arizona (43-63) has lost 15 of 20 games and is 17-36 at home. Washington has 31 road victories, tied with St. Louis for the most in the majors.The Nationals broke a two-game losing streak Monday after losing the final two games of a series at NL West-leading San Francisco, and Baker sees good things ahead.The Giants, they had a 20-game run, said Baker, who saw the Giants go 15-5 in June. In my heart, I know there is a 20-gamer in there for us. ' ' '