This is how the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Tennessee Titans once more.
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Tennessee Titans 23–16 in Week 5 by defending their home field. But certain things will be different from the first encounter 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
It all boils down to two enormous playmakers at separate spots when facing the Titans defensively: Henry, the bruiser running back, and Hopkins, the seasoned receiver.
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 receptions (83 targets); 699 yards (15.5 yards per reception); 4 touchdowns.
11 games, 176 carries, 739 running yards (4.2 average), 6 touchdowns, and 38 first downs for Henry.
Although Levis, the rookie quarterback, is still getting used to his first season, and the Titans offensive line has not been very impressive, these two represent Tennessee’s best chances to overcome a defense.
With a limited pool of pass-catchers to throw to, Levis will be forced to bear 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 may benefit Indianapolis’ defense.
2. Zack Moss Requires 20 Contacts
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 overall rushing yards (672) despite playing a less 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 disputes.
Moss will now have another opportunity to display his abilities. With Taylor playing a minor role in his 2023 debut, Moss played what was probably his best game of his career in the most recent game versus the Titans. Moss would end up with two rushing scores and 165 running yards (7.2 average) on 23 carries.
It’s unlikely that Moss will produce that much again, especially now that Tennessee has Teair Tart back in the inner line of defense. However, expect Moss to have another 20–25 touches in this game as Taylor isn’t involved in the action.
3. DT Depth (without Grover Stewart) Must Shine
Isaiah Land, Eric Johnson II, Taven Bryan, or another player must fill the glaring void left by Grover Stewart prior to his six-game ban for the Colts.
The Colts are a vulnerable team, as demonstrated by last week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a bottom-dwelling rushing attack going into their matchup in Week 12. Rachaad White then had his greatest game of the year, scoring multiple runs through the middle alongside DeForest Buckner.
White, who had averaged a dismal 3.3 yards per run heading into the game, would end up scoring 100 rushing yards on 15 carries (6.7 avg). Instead of having a pass-catching expert like White, the Titans have a bull in Henry, who can cover an open gap.
Whoever steps in for Stewart might be the defense’s most important player. Should it be well managed, Levis might be forced to lead the team. If not, Henry could have been as effective as White and had over 100 rushing yards.
Fourth, Gardner Minshew: No Mistakes
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.
Even though great safety Kevin Byard was moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving the Titans somewhat shorthanded in the secondary, Minshew has consistently struggled 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. Put some pressure on the novice
A tried-and-true NFL tactic is to continuously push rookie quarterbacks in the hopes of positive outcomes. Levis, the rookie quarterback leading Tennessee’s offense, is similarly affected.
Although Levis had an incredible four-touchdown performance in his first game 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, thus Indy’s defensive line will have the upper hand.
This emphasizes how crucial it is to stop Tennessee’s ground game and have 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 had six team sacks against the Buccaneers, who had a strong line of defense around quarterback Baker Mayfield.
