The Tennessee Titans are two games into the toughest part of their schedule and they’re 2-0…just like we all thought they’d be…with victories over the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re tied atop the AFC with a 5-2 record, but the Cincinnati Bengals and the Las Vegas Raiders own the tiebreakers, making the Titans the current #3 seed in the AFC playoff race. Asking them to beat a third solid opponent in a row feels like a tall order for a team that hasn’t proven yet that it can get over its propensity for dropping a game or two it shouldn’t. But, there’s a lot on the line this one against the improved Indianapolis Colts, and if you heard Kevin Byard talk about it in press conferences this week, you’d hope the Titans avoid that sort of letdown and take this for the opportunity it is – essentially putting away the AFC South on Halloween.
At the time of this writing, ESPN’s match-up predictor gives the Colts a 53.6% chance to win, and the Colts are favored by 2.5 – this absolutely feels like some Jedi mind trick fuckery. Like, everyone’s going to see that, bet the Titans, and then the Colts are going to win by 10 and the public bathes in their own blood. I like the way the Colts are playing ball right now, but the Titans are red hot. The point total is set at over/under 51, so Vegas is expecting points….or should I say…Vegas is expecting us to be expecting points. So, what do the Titans have to do to get to 6-2 with a three-game lead in the AFC South? Read on for this degenerate sports writer’s opinion.
Titans Keys to Victory: @ Colts, 10/31/21
*Push that Colts secondary – The Colts are solid up front, but they are struggling in the defensive backfield right now. You almost have to stack the box to even have a chance against Derrick Henry, so the Titans can exploit the Colts thinness in the secondary by getting those 1:1 match-ups on the outside with extra guys around the line of scrimmage. They’re going to have opportunities for some big plays in this one, and they would do well to cash in on them and get up early.
*Bottle up Jonathan Taylor – If you listened to this week’s episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, you heard Josh Carney talk about how the Colts would need Taylor to have a monstrous game in order to win this one. He’s been integral to the Colts offensive success in recent weeks, so the Titans defense should be keying in on him, and forcing Carson Wentz to beat ’em. Of course, the caveat being that Wentz has seemed to put together a few strong performances and without two sprained ankles, that might be a little more difficult than it was in Week 3. And, by the way, if you haven’t listened to this week’s episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, it’s embedded below.
*If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – Honestly, I just don’t think you get too fancy or overthink things in this one. Keep rushing the passer, make Wentz uncomfortable, and run your offense. The formula’s working, so don’t fuck with it. This is a division rival that knows, for the most part, what you’re going to throw at them, so don’t get too cute with it. You’ve got the horses to win this race – let ’em run.
Check out the latest episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, on which I get Owen’s thoughts on this game before bringing in Josh Carney of Horseshoe Huddle to break down the Colts in this important game in the AFC South race:
Listen to “Ep. 82: Previewing the Indianapolis Colts with Josh Carney” on Spreaker.If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcast, and be on the lookout for my game reaction podcast on Monday – win, lose, or draw.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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