The Tennessee Titans (7-5) are a very different team than when they last faced the Indianapolis Colts (6-6) and fell 19-17 in Nissan Stadium.
That showed when they hit the Colts’ turf on Sunday and recorded a 31-17 victory in Lucas Oil Stadium. With the victory, the Titans now sit on a three-game winning streak.
Here are a few quick observations we made throughout the contest.
– The Titans got the ball first, allowing quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the offense to go to work.
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– Feeding Derrick Henry has been key, and the Titans gave him the ball first. Henry fumbled the ball after a big run.
– Indianapolis had the Tennessee secondary on its toes, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett took advantage of the confusion it deliver a touchdown pass to tight end Jack Doyle to send the Colts up, 7-0 early on.
– Tannehill looked accurate and efficient on the following drive, connecting with A.J. Brown and later with wideout Adam Humphries to tie the game at 7-7.
– The Titans used Ryan Succop for an extra-point attempt and Ryan Santoso on the following kickoff. Santoso’s kickoff resulted in a touchback.
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– Adam Vinatieri missed a 55-yard field goal and the game stayed tied.
– Tannehill tried to escape pressure as the Titans got the ball back, but fumbled instead to commit the second turnover of the game.
– Cornerback Adoree Jackson was shaken up and missed a few plays, but came up with a tackle for loss when he made his return.
– Vinatieri tried another long field goal, but the attempt was blocked by Austin Johnson. It was a strong series for Johnson, who had a tackle for loss on the previous loss.
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– Tannehill was sacked on the following drive before the Titans were left punting.
– The colts really got rolling on their following drive, but the Titans defense managed to hold them to a field goal. Vinatieri was good from 38 yards out to give the Colts a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.
– The Titans saw much more of the same on the following drive, which ended in a sack on Tannehill and had the team punting again.
– Tannehill was sacked five times in the first half, including two times on the team’s last drive of the second quarter.
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– The Colts were on the move early in the third quarter, and started the half strong with a touchdown. Nyheim Himes took it in on the one-yarder. It was 17-7, Indianapolis as Tennessee started to fall behind.
– The Titans answered back on what was a huge drive for Henry, as the former Alabama rusher took it in for a score. The Titans trailed just 17-14.
– Complementary football is something the Titans stress, and the defense matched the efforts of the offense when Brissett got back to the field and was intercepted by safety Kevin Byard.
– A 31-yard field goal by Ryan Succop tied the game, and the defense forced a three-and-out on the Colts’ next possession.
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– Safety Dane Cruikshank blocked a Colts field goal attempt, and cornerback Tye Smith ran it in for a touchdown to make it 24-17, Titans.
– The Titans continued to turn the tide, with cornerback Logan Ryan picking up an interception. Tannehill connected with wideout Kalif Raymond with just over three minutes left to play.
– Smith forced a fumble, and the Titans got the ball back at the bottom of the fourth quarter to finish out the contest.
– Tannehill was sacked a total of six times on the win.