The Indianapolis Colts would give their franchise a much-needed boost in last night’s win in Nissan Stadium in Nashville. They would take the top spot in the AFC South, handing over a disappointing loss to the current leaders, the Tennessee Titans.
The Colts would come into the game with a chip on their back after losing last week at home against the talented Baltimore Ravens.
Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus would hope to slow down the Titans explosive run game. Lucky for him, he had the right defense to do it.
The Titans began the half with the ball.
After a series of first downs, the Titans would find themselves needing to convert on third down. They would do just that as Tannehill found wide receiver Corey Davis on the right side to pick up 20.
This was no easy game for Davis as his 27-year-old brother Titus had died just the day before after battling cancer. Davis began the game, not only offering a solid tribute to his brother but his team as well. He had just put them in a much-needed position that would set up the first touchdown of the game.
Being so close to the goal line, running back D’Onta Foreman would simply walk into the end zone! The extra kick from Stephen Gostkowski was good.
There would be no more scoring until about five minutes left of play in the first quarter.
Despite an 11-play drive, Colts would have to settle for three. Rodrigo Blankenship would kick from the 24-yard line, and it was good.
After defensive pressure on back to back plays, running back Derrick Henry would shoot out from the right, his big body holding off the defender en route to pick up 20. This, however, wouldn’t be enough as the Titans would have to settle for their own field goal. Gostkowski, despite being 6/12 in field goal attempts under 50 yards, would be forced to kick from the 50. The kick was good, adding another three to the Titans score at the start of the 2ndquarter.
Wanting more than a field goal, Colts would kick into gear.
Not only would quarterback Philip Rivers convert on third down, but he would also find wide receiver Michael Pittman with a deep corner route to gain 30 yards and the first down!
Colts 2020 leading receiver, running back Nyheim Hines, would finish off the drive picking up 13 yards to the end zone!
This would make the most touchdown receptions for a running back in the NFL to start for week 10! Hines’ engine had been ignited and wasn’t letting up any time soon.
Tennessee’s next drive would prove effective. After a series of runs by Henry, a deep left pass to Davis, and roughing the passer penalty on Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis, Titans would find themselves in the red zone. Tight end Jonnu Smith would be the target. With only one yard to gain, Smith would cut to the left and hop into the end zone for the touchdown. The Titans would regain the lead, 17-10.
Colts would have the ball for the remaining three minutes of the half. It would be Southern Miss running back turned Colts wide receiver, Desmond Harris, to keep scoring hope alive for Indianapolis as he made a crucial 21-yard catch.
Despite the efforts in yardage and two timeout calls, Colts would ultimately have to settle for three. Rivers would quickly spike the ball with one second on the clock to put his team into field goal position. Blankenship would be good from the 43-yard line narrowing the lead to 17-13 going into intermission.
Colts would have possession to begin the half. They would produce the longest drive of the game with 15 plays over seven minutes of the third quarter. Their opening drive would also produce two successful fourth down conversions. Once in the red zone, Rivers would make a 4-yard pass to Pascal down the middle for the touchdown. Or so he thought…
Pascal’s celebratory dance with his teammates surrounding & hyping him up came a little too early. After careful review, Pascal was declared just short of the goal line. The touchdown was reversed.
The Titans were not only relieved but also determined not to allow another touchdown opportunity… at least on this drive. This time, the Colts 4thdown attempt would have no success.
However, this would be the last break the Titans would catch.
Their next drive provided no gain as the Colts defense continued to offer no mercy to Derrick Henry, as they hadn’t all game.
Trevor Daniel was enlisted to punt the ball. Daniel, who had just a week prior been working for FedEx, might have been a little out of practice, to say the least. His 17-yard punt would offer incredible field position for his opponents and mutually place him in the dog house with his team.
By the look of stone-faced Daniel on the sideline, regret would be an understatement.
After Pittman’s catch for a 21-yard gain, it would only take a simple two-yard rush from Hines to add another touchdown for his team. The Colts would take the lead for the first time in the game, with the score now 20-17!
The Titans would take another blow as their failed drive would allow a unique opportunity for the Colts with just under two minutes left of play.
On 4thdown, Colts linebacker E.J. Speed would make a blocked punt, and cornerback T.J. Carrie would finish off the job returning the ball 6 yards for the easy touchdown.
Indianapolis had now scored back to back in under a minute!
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich was now on the sidelines jumping in the air while his quarterback Philip Rivers was eagerly high fiving his teammates as they returned to the sidelines.
A comeback at this point for Tennessee would be nearly impossible.
However, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. He would continue to feed his favorite target, Derrick Henry, and would even take contact from Colts linebacker Darius Leonard.
Tannehill’s 12 play drive would come down to a field goal from the 44, and Gostkowski was not able to complete it.
Colts, still on a high, would produce a very different result on their next drive. Rivers would connect to Pittman for 40 yards into the red zone. This would mark Pittman’s longest catch since being in the NFL!
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett would bring in the touchdown with the 2 yard-rush, his first touchdown of the season! At this point, the Colts were just sharing the wealth.
Tannehill ultimately would have no answer for the Colts defense, and the game would be sealed at 34-17.
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