5 Keys to a Colts Victory Over Titans, This is how the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Tennessee Titans once more. The Tennessee Titans were defended at home by the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, which they won 23–16. But some things will be different from the first meeting when the 6-5 Colts and the 4-7 Titans square off again this week in Nashville.
Gardner Minshew must start every quarter, Will Levis, the rookie quarterback for the Titans, will start, and Grover Stewart, a crucial defensive tackle for the Colts, will not be present. To qualify for the playoffs, Shane Steichen and the Colts essentially need to win every game. Now, let’s examine the Colts’ five strategies for beating the Titans on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.
1. Include Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins.
When defending against the Titans, two extremely talented playmakers at various positions are crucial. The seasoned receiver Hopkins and the hard-hitting running back Henry.
While it’s true that these players aren’t performing exceptionally well this season, Mike Vrabel’s presence as head coach means they should never be taken lightly. The noteworthy statistics for Tennessee’s two best offensive weapons are listed below.
- Hopkins: 11 games; 45 rec (83 targets); 699 receiving yards (15.5 per catch); 4 TDs.
- Henry: 11 games; 176 carries; 739 rushing yards (4.2 avg); 6 TDs; 38 First Downs.
Although Levis, the rookie quarterback, is still getting used to his rookie season, and the Titans offensive line has not been very impressive, these two are Tennessee’s best chances to overcome a defense.
With a limited pool of pass-catchers to throw to, Levis will be forced to shoulder more of the load if Gus Bradley’s defense can hold strong against this seasoned pair. Encouraging Levis to aim at targets other than Hopkins might benefit Indianapolis’ defense.
2. Zack Moss Needs 20 Touches
Given that running back Jonathan Taylor is expected to miss two to three weeks due to thumb surgery, Moss will assume the role of the team’s main backfield weapon. Moss is still ranked No. 11 in the NFL in terms of total rushing yards (672) despite playing a smaller role in recent weeks. This demonstrates Moss’ dominance in the first few games of the 2023 season, when Taylor was sidelined due to an injury and contract negotiations.
Moss will now have another opportunity to display his abilities. With Taylor playing a minimal role in his 2023 debut, Moss had what was probably his best game of his career in the most recent game against the Titans. Moss would end up with two rushing touchdowns and 165 rushing yards (7.2 avg) on 23 carries.
It’s unlikely that Moss will produce that much again, especially now that Tennessee has Teair Tart back in the interior line of defense. However, expect Moss to get another 20–25 touches in this game since Taylor isn’t involved in the action.
3. DT Depth Must Shine (minus Grover Stewart)
Isaiah Land, Eric Johnson II, Taven Bryan, or another player must fill the glaring void left by Grover Stewart prior to his six-game suspension for the Colts.
The Colts are a vulnerable team, as demonstrated by last week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a bottom-dwelling rushing attack going into their game in Week 12. Rachaad White then had his best game of the year, scoring multiple runs through the middle alongside DeForest Buckner.
Before the game, White’s average of 3.3 yards per carry was appalling. However, on 15 carries, he would gain 100 rushing yards (6.7 avg). The Titans have a bull in Henry who can cover an open gap instead of a pass-catching specialist like White.
The most important player on the defense may be the replacement for Stewart. If properly cared for, it may force Levis to lead the team. If not, Henry would have been able to rush for over 100 yards with greater impact than White.
4. Gardner Minshew: No Turnovers.
In lieu of Anthony Richardson, Minshew has managed the Colts’ offense thus far this season. Still, Minshew has thrown seven interceptions and kept doing so against the subpar Buccaneers pass defense in the most recent game.
Despite the fact that the Titans lack star safety Kevin Byard (who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles), Minshew has shown a problem with turnovers, regardless of the strength of the defense he is facing.
As Indianapolis pursues their third AFC South title, watch for Minshew to handle the ball more carefully because Mike Vrabel doesn’t need any more chances.
5. Pressure the Rookie.
A tried-and-true NFL tactic is to consistently pressure rookie quarterbacks in the hopes of positive outcomes. Levis, the rookie quarterback leading Tennessee’s offense, is similarly affected.
Although Levis had a spectacular four-touchdown performance in his debut against the Atlanta Falcons, the Titans have lost their last four games despite Levis’ two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Colts’ defense has recorded the fifth-most sacks (tied-36) and the Titans’ defense has allowed the fifth-most sacks (36) this season, so Indy’s defensive line will have the upper hand.
This emphasizes how crucial it is to stop Tennessee’s ground game and make Levis throw more dropbacks. This will provide Indianapolis more opportunities to pressure an aging offensive line like the Titans and force sacks.
But Levis is tough as nails, accurate when given enough time, and strong enough in the arms to punish any secondary, so this defense cannot undervalue him. Expect the Indianapolis defensive line to continue its strong play from last week, when they recorded six team sacks against the Buccaneers, who had a strong line of defense around quarterback Baker Mayfield.