The Tennessee Titans (3-3) are back in the AFC South Race!In a close divisional duel, the Titans beat the Indianapolis Colt (2-4)36:22 thanks to late touchdowns, continuing the familiar problems for Indy.Above all, however, the victory marks the end of a horror series for Tennessee.
The Titans received quarterback Marcus Mariota as a result of his thigh injury, but Mariota (23/32,306 YDS, TD, INT; 2 ATT, 0 YDS) was definitely not fit.This made Tennessee’s offense more one-dimensional, the Titans put more emphasis on a simpler run game.Indianapolis was able to control this so that the first half was almost entirely field goals-except for an 8-yard touchdown by Jacoby Brissett (21/37,2122 YDS, TD; 5 ATT, 15 YDS) on Jake Doyle.
This changed quickly in the second half of the year.A pick-six by John Simon – Mariota had apparently overlooked the linebacker on the Line of Scrimmage and practically threw him into his arms while Simon jumped up – seemed to make the game tip towards the Colts.
But Tennessee has now struck back: Two short Field Goal drives were followed by a 15-play drive, which DeMarco Murray completed with three yards.The Colts were able to equalize again with a 52-yard-field-goal, but the Secondary made mistakes.A Rookie-Safety Malik Hooker’s cover bust against Taywan Taylor allowed Mariota to pass a 53-yard touchdown, so Indy had to come back late.
This almost worked – but with a critical fourth-down stop in their own Red Zone, the Titans prevented the possible equalization.Derrick Henry then made sure that the final result was a late 72-yard touchdown run.
It was the first victory over the Colts for Tennessee in nearly six (!) years: The Titans had last fought their division rivals on 30 September.October 2011.Meanwhile, Indianapolis continues to face well-known problems for the Colts: Indianapolis is now in the second half of the season with a score of 44:126.
Tennessee Titans (3-3) – Indianapolis Colts (2-4)36:22 (6:3,3:10,6:6,21:3) BOXSCORE
Tennessee’s Secondary and Pass-Defense in general may have had their best game of the season, Logan Ryan only allowed one catch on four targets and Adoree’ Jackson is now over the last two games and ten targets on four catches for 40 yards.The linebackers – especially Jayon Brown – also had a good match in coverage.
Football is often referred to as “Game of Inches” – this was more than evident in the decisive scene: After Tennessee had taken the lead 29:22h five and a half minutes before the end, Brissett started an impressive drive.After a short pass, the Colts 2:26 were at the end of Tennessee’s 13-yard line, fourth down and a yard to the new ridge.Brissett kept the ball at a bootleg and missed the first down by a maximum of half a yard.Then Tennessee played down the clock thanks to Henry, before he finally put the lid on it with his long touchdown.
The 72-yard touchdown at the end of the game puts Henry’s performance on top of course and makes his stats (19 ATT, 131 YDS, TD) look much better.But his role was much bigger: As both Mariota and DeMarco Murray were still noticeably shaken, the Titans had to make their run game simpler – less option, less misdirection, less trick plays.As a hammer through the middle it was Henry, who kept alive with 119 yards after contact and three Forced Missed Tackles drives and finally prevented the Colts from coming back again.
The shiny T. Y.Hilton against one of the most vulnerable pass defenses in the NFL seemed to be the big mismatch in favor of the Colts.Instead: A catch for 19 yards for Hilton, although the 53 snaps lead the Colts receivers in this category.Hilton made himself much harder than he thought, so the colts missed the downfield element.