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Miller, Mariota lead Week 2 Clutch Performers

The Tennessee Titans' Marcus Mariota, Dallas Cowboys' Alfred Morris, Denver Broncos' Von Miller, New York Giants' Victor Cruz and the New York Jets' Matt Forte each had the strength to come through during a key moment and contribute to wins during Week 2.

Thanks to those strong performances, each player is up for Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Week honors. This is a deeper look at the significance of those conquests.

Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

Strong stats to consider:
» Mariota has had a rough go in terms of wins so far in his career, but has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch. While Mariota only has four wins as a starter, three of them are fourth-quarter comebacks.
» The Titans' QB has actually been more efficient on the road in his young career. He's thrown 12 touchdowns with just two interceptions on the road. Compare that to his 11 TDs and 10 INTs in home games.

Power of the moment: The Titans' first lead came with just 1:13 left in the fourth quarter. They're now 1-1 for the fourth consecutive season.

Alfred Morris, Dallas Cowboys

Strong stats to consider:
» Morris may have only had seven yards on five carries, but his lone touchdown capped off an 80-yard drive and was the game-winner.

Power of the moment: Morris was with the Washington Redskins from 2012-2015 and started all 64 games. His role was reduced last season and the Cowboys picked him up as a free agent. He was widely expected to be the starter in Dallas, but that was before Ezekiel Elliott was drafted.

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Strong stats to consider:
» Miller was a beast on Sunday. He totaled three sacks and three hits on Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck, one forced fumble and five tackles.
» Including the playoffs, Miller now has nine sacks in his last four games. Before Sunday, Miller had no sacks against the Colts.

Power of the moment: The Broncos were hanging on to a six-point lead with just 1:51 left in the game. Miller exploded past the Colts' O-line and stripped the ball from Luck, which led to Shane Ray's 15-yard fumble return TD.

Victor Cruz, New York Giants

Strong stats to consider:
» Cruz ended the game with four catches and 91 yards. It's the second solid performance this season from a player many considered finished after tearing his patellar tendon in 2014.

Power of the moment: Cruz had a costly fumble earlier in the game. But he made up for it on a third down with just 1:49 remaining. Cruz went up and battled New Orleans Saints CB Ken Crawley and came down with the catch at the two-yard line. The 35-yard grab set up the Giants' game-winning field goal.

Matt Forte, New York Jets

Strong stats to consider:
» Forte had 30 carries on Thursday night, which set a career high.
» Forte is the first Jets player with at least 100 yards rushing and three TDs in a road game since Curtis Martin in 2000.

Power of the moment: Forte was a workhorse for the Jets all night on Thursday. His three TDs proved too much for the Buffalo Bills defense, including a 12-yard score in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

Follow Daniel Williams on Twitter _@danielwilliams_.

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