INDIANAPOLIS — The Tennessee Titans (2-2) may not have buried the Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) with their 24-17 win. They did, however, do just enough for the second-straight week to hang on en route to a victory.

Tennessee will need everything it has to keep that momentum going.

If only they could manage to do it in-game, the Titans would make their lives infinitely easier. Easy really is not what they do. The second-half scoring margin increased to 64-7 in favor of Tennessee's opponents. If they can Jekyl-and-Hyde their way through an entire season remains to be seen.

The Titans won't do it with style points, to Indianapolis' detriment, and they're totally fine that way.

Ignore the Titans second-half woes…for the moment

It is a glaring issue that they, thus far, have no answers for..

"I know that 'ideal' is winning," said quarterback Ryan Tannehill of the late-game stagnation. "I don't really care how it comes. Our job is to win. Whether it is 'ugly' or 'pretty,' it doesn't matter. A 'W' is a 'W.'"

Football is a far from perfect game.

Just ask the New Orleans Saints who traveled all the way to London this week to take on the Minnesota Vikings in an international contest, only to drive down the field for a game-tying field goal to double doink itself out of counting. God knows Tennessee has all manner of imperfections, and to allow a team as inept as this year's Colts to even crawl back within one score is the sports equivalent of a mortal sin.

Coach Mike Vrabel certainly did not seem to like the opening line of questions about another Titans tale of two halves. Tough shit, frankly. Tennessee holds themselves to a higher standard. Why should we all not do the same?

A part of that "commitment to quality" is the way they have consistently owned Indianapolis as of late. To that end, they deserve all the credit in the world. 1-0 in the division is a good place to start this season, but Vrabel now holds a head-to-head record of 5-4 against Colts coach Frank Reich.

All five of those victories have come in the two teams' last six games.

Tennessee again leaves a Colts game with scars

Vrabel and his staff had to survive this way all the way through the 2021 season.

It happened here in Indianapolis just a little under a year ago to Derrick Henry. Four weeks in, the Tennessee again looks like the walking wounded. The status of first-round pick Treylon Burks looks bleak for an offense that seems to just be finding it's stride.

The rookie made an eight-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, came up limping, stayed in and suffered a nasty foot injury on the very next play. Burks was seen in the postgame locker room sporting crutches and a boot on his left foot.

Then there's the unreliability of a secondary that looked to be a considerable strength coming into this year.

Last year's top draft choice, corner Caleb Farley, can do no better than splitting snaps with journeyman Terrance Mitchell. Farley got roasted by Colts rookie Alec Pierce in the fourth quarter for the longest gain of the day (44 yards) by either squad. Edge defender Bud Dupree again went MIA with this mysterious hip ailment. Fortunately for Tennessee, his absence was not overwhelmingly missed against an woefully overpaid Indianapolis offensive line.

Will "just enough" ever actually be enough?

Probably not, but 2-2 is very reflective of who Tennessee is right now.

When the Titans needed plays on defense, though, there end Denico Autry and company were to make them. Need a critical 3rd-and-1 conversion to ice the victory after laboring all half on offense? Run a play action pass to rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo and call it a day. Tennessee has the most bizarre ability to look overwhelming, peter out and do just enough to survive.

The team that is allegedly built to get the lead and gas pedal themselves to victory on the literal back of Henry seems predisposed to running that tank out dangerously low to "E."

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.