Three Reasons Why: the Colts beat the Titans, again
The Titans had their minds set to snap the 9-game losing streak to the Colts, but it didn't happen. Indianapolis won 34-26 to beat Tennessee for the 10 straight time. It was a back and forth game, between the two AFC South rivals, with three lead changes in the fourth quarter. Andrew Luck led his team […]
The Titans had their minds set to snap the 9-game losing streak to the Colts, but it didn't happen. Indianapolis won 34-26 to beat Tennessee for the 10 straight time.
It was a back and forth game, between the two AFC South rivals, with three lead changes in the fourth quarter. Andrew Luck led his team on a 12 play, 70 yard touchdown drive to regain the lead with 1:55 remaining. Marcus Mariota and the Titan offense fumbled on the first play of a potential game-winning drive. Robert Mathis ran it into the end zone to put the game on ice for the Colts.
Here are three reasons why the Colts beat the Titans, again.
No pressure on Andrew Luck
The Titans knew they had to get after the quarterback and they have been, with 12 sacks the last two weeks. However, Andrew Luck had all day to sit back and pick apart the Titans' pass defense. Tennessee only sacked Luck twice on a day when Luck dropped back to pass over 40 times. The Colts had given up the most sacks in the NFL, entering Sunday. Indy made sure Brian Orakpo, Jurrell Casey and others didn't punish its quarterback and held in "max protection" with only a couple receivers running routes each play.
Luck was able to find open receivers all day long. T.Y. Hilton torched the Titans with seven catches, 133 yards and a touchdown. Hilton had another score wiped off, because of a penalty. Tight end Jack Doyle was a thorn in Tennessee's side. The former Titans training camp player had a game high nine catches for 78 yards and the game-winning TD.
The Titans' secondary is nowhere near good enough to allow any QB to have this kind of time in the pocket. Last week, Cody Kessler nearly led a comeback for the Browns. Andrew Luck can't be allowed these opportunities.
Luck has never lost to the Titans. He's always found a way to win. The Titans preached this stat leading up to the game: 40-percent of Luck's career wins came in fourth quarter comebacks. And, his last two wins over the Titans have been fourth quarter comebacks.
Mariota struggles
It all started good for Marcus Mariota. On the opening drive, he was a perfect 5-5 passing for 47 yards and a TD pass to Taylor Lewan. Yes, Taylor Lewan.
After that, Mariota missed on his next six passes. He seemed off all day. He hesitated and lost discipline on his footwork and missed open receivers. I thought the game plan was solid. Mariota never seemed comfortable to me. But, he didn't give up and led this team back to take a fourth quarter lead. He had a chance to go down and create his own fourth quarter comeback against Luck, but he fumbled it away.
Mariota has to be more consistent, and he knows it. He owned up to his mistakes like he always does. But, that can't continue to happen. Bad turnovers at awful times have cost this team. Even on the go-ahead TD drive he had extreme ups and downs.
Special teams kills
The Titans scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game for the second straight week. It looked like this team was on its way to a great offensive day. But, then… the extra point was botched. The goofy play ended with Brett Kern throwing a pass to Ryan Succop for a loss had the Titans leading 6-0. You just knew that extra point would come back to burn the Titans.
It did. The Colts retook the lead, 27-23 with 1:55 left in the game. If the Titans had that extra point, a field goal is all that would be needed to force overtime.
Indy also capitalized on an onside kick in the second quarter after Hilton caught a 37-yard TD to make the score 14-6, Colts. Indy recovered the onside attempt, after it bounced off of Titans tight end Phillip Supernaw. The drive ended in a 28-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal making the score 17-6.
Special teams cost the Titans four points. Remember that 27-23 Colts lead with 1:55 remaining?
Every week, it seems, the Titans have some special teams gaff that hurts them. Whether its a penalty that allows the opponent to kick a field goal, instead of punt, or a momentum killing punt return for a touchdown, the Titans keep allowing it to happen.
Firing special teams coach Bobby April three weeks ago hasn't fixed anything.
