Divisional games often produce varied results in the NFL, but the Indianapolis Colts pulled away in the second half and never looked back against an AFC South rival in the Tennessee Titans. The Colts were triumphant in Nashville in week three, winning 41-20, and were similarly successful in week eight with a 38-14 victory inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
The game remained close through the first two quarters, as Indianapolis nearly allowed Tennessee to cut the lead to one possession heading into the halftime break. Fortunately for the home fans, kicker Joey Slye missed a 58-yard field goal wide right as the final seconds of the half ticked away.
The second half turned out to be the decisive difference in the game, as the Colts scored three touchdowns and extended the lead to 31 points before the Titans could put a single point on the board. A Tyjae Spears run with under three minutes to go interrupted the streak of four Colts touchdowns that had previously gone unanswered.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones completed 21 of 29 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Pittman Jr. was his primary target, hauling in eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Taylor was the star of the show, totaling 12 carries for 153 yards, two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.
After the game, Colts head coach Shane Steichen spoke with the media about his thoughts on the win.
“Obviously huge to get a win at home,” Steichen said, “especially (against) a division opponent.”
Taylor had another outstanding performance in week eight as his spectacular season continues. According to the CBS broadcast, Taylor’s performance marks the first time in league history that a player has scored at least three touchdowns in three consecutive games against the same opponent.
Taylor’s marvelous afternoon was as historic as it was impactful. The Indianapolis offense thrived with a running back that was averaging 12.8 yards per carry running the show, as an imposing run presence opened up the playbook and supported Jones and the passing game.
After the game, Steichen spoke with the media about Taylor’s success through eight games this season.
“It’s hard to put into words to be honest,” Steichen said, “because when you see the way he’s running and the way the guys are blocking for him… it’s special, it really is.”
The league’s highest scoring offense is fueled by a productive collaboration of Taylor’s prowess on the ground and the proficiency of Jones through the air. Both aspects of the offense were humming against Tennessee, and the group accumulated over 30 points for the sixth time this season.
Defensively, the Colts again consistently pressured the opposing quarterback. Cam Ward was sacked four times and hit seven, as the Indianapolis front seven also amassed eight tackles for a loss. The wizardry of Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anaroumo once again puzzled a young opposing quarterback and thwarted the plans of a challenging offense.
That said, many of the Indianapolis defense’s flaws were illuminated in the first half against Tennessee, including multiple instances of the Titans gouging the Colts on explosive plays. A prime example occurred on a third down in the second quarter, where Spears wiggled free and scampered down the field for a 41-yard gain that set up Tennessee's first score.
The Colts also struggled to defend third and long situations, especially when Ward was provided with time to survey his options in the pocket. The injured secondary and linebacking corps struggled to keep up with the Titans on plays that were extended by Ward’s scrambles, allowing him to find open receivers and move the chains throughout the game.
As has been the case in many games since the injuries began to pile up in the secondary, the Colts appeared to be reliant on an effective pass rush to keep the opposing offense off the field. Fortunately for the fans in Lucas Oil Stadium, the defensive line delivered once again.
Ward completed 22 of 38 passes for 259 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Chimere Dike caught seven passes for 93 yards, while Spears rushed for 59 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.
The Titans have lost both games under interim head coach Mitch McCoy after a 1-5 start that resulted in the firing of previous head coach Brian Callahan. The short term outlook for the Titans is bleak, but the development of Ward is a source of long term hope in Tennessee.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, continues to hold the best record in the NFL and is now the first team to reach seven wins this season. While Indianapolis has impressed in the front half of the season so far, the back half of the schedule will likely be a much more difficult test for the Colts.
Out of the seven Colts victories this season, five of them came against opponents that have won less than half of their games. The upcoming schedule is much more threatening, as Indianapolis will be faced with an opponent that currently holds a winning record six times over the course of the rest of the season. Outside of those six games, the Colts will take on an often tricky division rival in the Houston Texans twice and travel to Berlin to challenge the Atlanta Falcons.
The Titans are next in action in a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Colts hit the road for a major AFC clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which also kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Indianapolis completed the regular season sweep of the Titans with another resounding victory inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts now look ahead to a challenging stretch of the schedule that will test their ability to consistently contend with the league’s best.
