NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans players will return to work on Monday morning with eyes toward improvement and leaving behind first-half inconsistency and struggles. The same could be said for QB Marcus Mariota, who, like the Titans, had an up-and-down start to his 2017 season.

What would be considered a successful second half of the season for Mariota? Here's my five-step take:

1. Take the Titans to the playoffs for the first time since 2008

2. Get through the rest of the season without missing game action due to injury

3. Set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown-to-interception ratio

4. Fix the red zone woes

5. Get more comfortable in the system

First, let's make this clear: Mariota didn't have a bad first two months. He ranks in the top 12 in total QBR (59.8), passing yards per attempt (7.39), points added above average quarterback play (7.7) and starting QB win percentage (.667). But his first six games left more to be desired because of a hamstring injury, inconsistency and how the Titans looked offensively in their last game before the bye, scoring 12 points in an overtime win at Cleveland.

Here's a breakdown of those steps that could turn Mariota's OK start into a good (getting three or four) or great (getting all five) season:

1. If Mariota remains on pace (.667) and wins six of the Titans' final nine games, 10-6 should be enough for the playoffs. The Titans (4-3) are tied for first place in the AFC South, with a 2-1 division record. They have an easy schedule down the stretch, so 6-3 is definitely achievable.

2. Mariota won't be able to play 16 games for the first time in his NFL career, but playing 15 would help quiet the injury-prone concerns. The Titans have done a good job in pass protection, allowing him to take the second-fewest sacks among QBs who have started at least half the season. Mariota has limited his high-risk running situations. All Mariota can do here is hydrate a little better (hamstring) and hope for the best.

3. Here are Mariota's career highs: 62.2 completion percentage, 3,426 passing yards and 2.89-1 TD-to-INT. Mariota's 62.5 completion percentage through six games puts him on pace to break that mark. His 1,301 passing yards so far mean he would need to average 237 yards per game over the Titans last nine games to beat that mark. Mariota's TD-INT mark is currently 4-4, making that the hardest mark to beat, but if he puts up 22 passing touchdowns to five interceptions over the last nine games, he could match his career best.

4. Mariota is 7-of-18 for 52 yards, no passing touchdowns and no interceptions for a 47 passer rating in the red zone through his six games. That's a drastic drop-off from his remarkable 2016 numbers: 34-of-54 for 251 yards, 18 touchdowns and no interceptions for a 113.5 passer rating. Regression to the mean was expected, but Mariota missed some easy reads and throws. Settling his feet down a bit and getting more help from playmakers could turn the tide.

5. System comfort is more where play-calling and the coaching staff come in. Many complaints about the Titans' offense come because it doesn't jive with the NFL's growing number of fantasy football offenses. The Titans are who they are. But where this team can adjust is integrating more of Mariota's favorite and best types of plays: play-action, throws between the hashes and situational up-tempo drives.

• 2017 play-action: 30-of-43, 494 yards, 11.49 yards per attempt, four touchdowns, one interception, no sacks, 129.4 passer rating

• 2017 traditional passing: 80-of-133, 807 yards, 6.07 yards per attempt, zero touchdowns, three interceptions, five sacks, 68.1 passer rating

Now, let's buckle up and see how Mariota's season ends.