His team came up two points shy of a victory, but on Saturday night at Quest Field in Seattle, Marc Mariani left the playing surface all smiles.

Mariani made his NFL debut in front of more than 65,000 fans Saturday night as the Seattle Seahawks edged the Tennessee Titans 20-18 in the preseason opener for both teams.

Never-the-less, the preseason is more about getting ready for the rigors of an NFL campaign, and in rookies' like Mariani's case, getting their feet wet in a live game, and even more so, making plays in those games as they fight for roster sports over the next four weeks.

And in front of so many friends and family Saturday night, Mariani made those plays all over the field, and was more than content with how his first night in the NFL went.

"I thought it all went really well," Mariani said.  "Before the game, our coaches really hit on playing fast, giving 100 percent, going 100 miles per hour the entire game.  We knew there would be some mistakes, but as long as we played hard and gave it our all, that's what they were looking for and that's what I tried to do the whole game.

"Fortunately, when I got my chances, I found ways to make plays," he added.

"I know I made a few mistakes, but I think it went really well, and finally getting that live-game experience will be so beneficial for me as training camp goes on."

And it didn't take long for Mariani to get his chances to make some plays.

He returned almost every kickoff and punt for the Titans, racking up 93 return yards on the night.  His best return came late in the fourth quarter when Tennessee needed good field position in order to start a game-winning drive down by two points.  Mariani turned the punt up field, made two defenders miss and set the Titans up well, just like he was supposed to do.

Although he didn't see action as a wide receiver until the fourth quarter, he also made some crucial plays as the Titans clawed their way back into the game down 20-10.

Mariani caught three passes on the night, tying the team lead.  But no reception was bigger than his last one of the night as slant route turned into a successful two-point conversion just after fellow rookie Lagarret Blount scored from one yard away.

"I was happy with the those plays," Mariani said.  "I have to admit, going into the game I was a little nervous, just wasn't sure what to expect.  I was ready for the speed of the game, I knew things would move faster than I've ever seen it before, and they did, even practice in the NFL isn't as fast as things happen in the games, but I was ready for that.

"I guess what stood out for me the most was the physicality of it all," he added.  "You don't just get to press off a guy and run free, everybody is just so physical.  There were some big guys running around, so the fact I was able to adjust to it and make some plays at the end of the game, I was pleased with that.  All-in-all, the biggest thing is now I know what it's like.  All that training for the last eight months, I was just so excited to get out there, strap it up and find out what a real game was like.  And now I know, so that game was just so beneficial for me in so many ways and I took a lot away from it."

Mariani was indeed all over the field on Saturday night.

Just like when he was a freshman at the University of Montana, on Saturday night he was not only returning kicks and catching balls from third-string quarterback Rusty Smith, but he was covering kickoffs and punts as well, and he made several important and solid special team's plays.  After the game, he said the entire night was a great learning experience and one he can use as he continues his quest to make the Titans' 53-man roster.

The night was also a coronation of sorts.

Playing his first NFL game in Seattle meant family, friends and plenty of supporters from Havre and Missoula were on hand to witness one of the biggest night's in his life.

"The whole experience was incredible, it was a dream come true," Mariani said.  "To be able to play my first NFL game in front of so many people who have supported me, my family, my friends, it was just amazing.  Then to actually be able to go out there and perform, to prove to myself I could go out there and make the plays when I got my chances, it was just an incredible night and a dream come true.  It was truly special and a night I'll remember for the rest of my life."