Game Preview: Titans vs Colts
Photo Credit: Andrew Nelles/Tennessean.com
After earning their first win of the season last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Tennessee Titans travel to Indianapolis to start their AFC South conference play against the Colts.
The Titans never trailed once in their 24-22 win over the Raiders. The game came down to a Raiders two-point conversion to tie the game but the Titans defense came up clutch and managed to stop the Raiders comeback.
Meanwhile, the Colts got their first win of the season last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt Ryan gets his first win as a Colt as he managed to find rookie tight end Jelani Woods in the red zone with 24 seconds left to comeback being down 17-13 for most of the second half and winning 20-17.
Aside from facing each other two times a year, the Titans have won the past three matchups. The Titans and Colts last faced each other in Indianapolis where the Titans won 34-31. It will also be Derrick Henry’s first time being back in Lucas Oil Stadium where he suffered his foot injury last season.
The Colts are currently favored to win with a spread odd of less than 3.5 per DraftKings Sportsbook.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m ET on Sunday, Oct 2. Catch the game live on FOX.
MATCHUPS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Derrick Henry vs Jonathan Taylor
These two teams live and die by their running backs and there is no question that Henry and Taylor are the focal points of their respective offense.
Titans fans and Colts fans argue a lot about whose the better running back and this Sunday will give us another episode of this marquee matchup.
The Colts currently bolster one of the top rush defenses as their defense holds opposing running backs to only 2.6 yards per carry which is best in the league.
However, Henry in his career against the Colts has had the Colts number. In 12 games, he has rushed for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns. He also had four straight 100-yard games before his foot injury.
Taylor might have his way this Sunday as well against a Titans run defense that gives up 145 yards per game so far, the 29th worst in the league.
2. Titans defensive line vs Colts offensive line
The Colts have not done a good job of protecting Matt Ryan so far this season as they have already allowed 12 sacks through three games.
With the likes of Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith and Ryan Kelly, it is surprising to see this offensive line struggle early on.
The Titans defensive line only managed to get one sack on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr last week and their offensive line is much worse compared to the Colts offensive line if we are going off of names.
The Titans will be getting back Bud Dupree this week to pair with Rashad Weaver who was credited with the lone sack in the Raiders game.
