TNF PREVIEW: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

BY ADAM GREENE

You have to hand it to the Thursday Night Football schedulers over the last few weeks. They’ve really given an effort to delivering good match ups, but have seen injury and inept misfortunes ruin them. That’s not the case for Week 10 as the Indianapolis Colts travel to Music City USA to take on the Tennessee Titans in a battle for AFC South supremacy.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (-1, O/U: 48.5)

Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.

Kickoff: Nov. 12, 8:20 p.m. EST

Broadcast: FOX/NFL Network

THE HISTORY

While the two teams had met up periodically since the NFL and AFL officially merged in 1970, this rivalry really didn’t get going until the league re-aligned in 2002, putting the Colts and Titans both in the AFC South. Of course that also happens to coincide with Peyton Manning’s tenure with Indianapolis so the all-time series record is a tad lopsided. Indy leads 34-17.

After Manning there was Andrew Luck and it didn’t go much better for the Titans. Since 2003, Tennessee has won a total of seven games over the Colts. Yes, that means Indianapolis has beaten the Titans 27 times in that span. It’s been ugly.

Last year, though, the teams split their games with Tennessee taking the second match up 31-17 on Dec. 1, 2019, a victory that propelled them to the playoffs. Titans QB Ryan Tannehill was 17 of 22 for 182 yards and two touchdowns with no picks. Running back Derrick Henry trucked his way to 149 yards and a touchdown.

For the Colts, Jacoby Brissett was 25 of 40 for 319 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Zach Pascal caught seven passes for 109 yards.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-3)

The Colts have been OK, better than last year and if the playoffs started today, they’d be in it. But to pretend the one-year Philip Rivers era hasn’t been a disappointment would be a lie. His arm, accuracy and decision making seem to come and go depending on the game. He’s thrown 10 touchdowns this season, but also seven picks and the Los Angeles Chargers have to be feeling better all the time about moving on.

Last week, in spite of holding the Ravens to just 266 total yards, Rivers couldn’t muster much offense of his own, finishing 25 of 43 for 227 yards and a pick.

TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2)

Tennessee rolls into this one off a solid victory over a decent Chicago Bears team, 24-17. That stopped a two-game skid where they lost 31-20 to the Cincinnati Bengals and 27-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before.

Against the Bears defense, Tennessee did just enough with Tannehill passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns and Henry rushing for 68 yards.

THE PICK

While Tennessee has hardly looked like the world beaters they opened the season as, they’re still in better shape than Indianapolis heading into this one. Tannehill has been on fire since putting the star sword on his helmet and while Indy’s defense is for real, I think Tennessee will do enough to take it home. Titans 27, Colts 23

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