Huge, YUGE game coming up on Sunday. The Tennessee Titans upset the Ravens in Baltimore last week, improving to 7-3 after a gritty physical contest. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts held serve, coming back to beat the Packers in overtime to get to 7-3. That sets up a rematch between these two from a couple of weeks ago that certainly feels like it’s for all the marbles in the AFC South.
I know there’s plenty of football left, and both of these teams still have some tough games on down the schedule. But, if the Titans were to win this game, they would have to lose to both the Texans and the Jags, and the Colts would have to win all three of their remaining AFC South games in order to finish with a better divisional record than the Titans. That would firmly put the Titans in the driver’s seat of the division.
So, again – while it’s not technically for all the marbles, it sure as hell feels like whoever wins this game is your likely 2020 AFC South Champion. It’s that big. Get hyped, folks.
The Colts are currently favored by 3.5 points, with a point total set at 51. I actually like the Titans in this spot. They played inspired football against the Ravens, and knowing how big this game is, paired with how shitty they performed in that first game between these two teams, I feel like they’re going to show up ready to play, and ready to win. They tend to do well in spots such as this one, with their backs against the wall.
Titans Keys to Victory @ Colts
Eliminate space for the Colts offense
Nyheim Hines gashed the Titans defense. Michael Pittman, Jr. averaged 14.4 yards per catch, producing 101 yards on the night. The first time these two teams faced off, the Titans gave the Colts a lot of space to work with on offense and Philip Rivers and Frank Reich absolutely ate it up. The Titans absolutely have to play this team differently on defense in order to keep the Colts from methodically chewing them apart again.
Doing so might also make Reich less aggressive on 4th down. Converting those successfully was another back-breaker for the Titans in Round 1. At the very least, maybe it’ll make his decision to go for it on 4th a little harder.
No more special teams blunders
A whiff in punt coverage that lead to a blocked punt for a Colts touchdown, a 17-yard punt from Trevor Daniel, a missed Stephen Gostkowski field goal – that all happened pretty much in succession. The Colts were up 17 points like it was nothing. That sequence in the second half of the game was absolutely cataclysmic for the Titans, and if that doesn’t happen, maybe we’re talking about a different outcome in that game. Cleaner special teams in Round 2 will help keep this game from getting out of hand again.
Do what you do
The playmakers showed back up in Baltimore. In a game like this, you want to lean on ’em. I hate to be so cliché, but this really is the type of game that you need your best players playing their best ball. AJ Brown dropped what would’ve been a sure touchdown in the first contest. He got right in Baltimore. Now, he has a chance to make up for that crucial drop in the first game. Derrick Henry closed the Ravens out – it damn sure looked like the Titans running back wanted it more than anyone on the field in overtime. Keep him fed – all big explosive plays come out of his success, whether it’s the long run or the play action that leads to the long touchdown pass. Run the ball and throw a few creative plays at the Colts.
Clean things up on special teams and defense…get your best players making plays on offense….and this is going to be a much more competitive contest than the one we saw two weeks ago. It’s Titans-Colts week, Round 2, y’all!! LFG!
Don’t forget to check out our friends at MANSCAPED this holiday season! Use promo code ‘SOBROSTITANS’ for 20% off your entire order and free shipping. Owen Reed and I took a victory lap after Titans-Ravens, and then I chat with Jake Arthur of the Bleave in Colts Podcast on the latest episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast. You can check this week’s show out here:
Listen to “Ep. 46: It’s Titans-Colts Week, Pt. 2 with Jake Arthur” on Spreaker.Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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