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By Ben Arthur
FOX Sports activities AFC South Author
INDIANAPOLIS — Beating the Tennessee Titans has consumed Indianapolis Colts proprietor Jim Irsay.
After a late September loss to the Titans final season put the Colts at 0-3, he held a gathering for your complete teaching workers and entrance workplace, difficult coach Frank Reich and basic supervisor Chris Ballard.
Throughout joint practices with the Detroit Lions in August, Irsay mentioned it was “all about Tennessee” when speaking in regards to the significance of profitable the AFC South. And within the days main as much as Sunday’s matchup, he tweeted repeatedly how he wanted Colts followers to be loud at Lucas Oil Stadium.
All that? Not sufficient.
The Titans nonetheless dominate this division rivalry.
Regardless of second-half struggles and permitting 14 unanswered factors to finish the sport, Tennessee (2-2) held on for a 24-17 victory Sunday over Indianapolis (1-2-1). Boos rained down at Lucas Oil Stadium as the sport ended.
Derrick Henry carries Titans
Derrick Henry rushed for 114 yards and one landing in Tennessee’s win at Indianapolis.
It marked the Titans’ fourth straight victory over the Colts and their fourth consecutive win in Indianapolis.
The Titans have not misplaced to the Colts since Week 10 of the 2020 season.
“Division opponent, nice soccer ambiance, robust place to play,” mentioned quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who accomplished 17 of 21 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. “To return play staff right here a number of years in a row and get wins, it is a good factor for the Titans.”
To get the win, the Titans overcame the third- and fourth-quarter woes which have plagued them early within the season.
A sack by Colts defensive finish Kwity Paye on third-and-8 from the Tennessee 33 with 5:44 left compelled a fourth straight Titans punt. However with the Colts later in scoring place, after a 44-yard reception by rookie receiver Alec Pierce put Indianapolis simply outdoors the crimson zone, Titans defensive lineman Denico Autry — a former Colt — sacked Matt Ryan on third down.
Titans beat Colts once more
Mark Schlereth and Adam Amin weigh in on Tennessee’s 24-17 win at Indianapolis.
Trailing 24-17, the Colts elected for a 51-yard area objective as a substitute of going for it with 2:10 left. Place kicker Chase McLaughlin missed extensive left.
Indianapolis by no means obtained the ball again, with Tennessee changing the game-clinching first down on the 1:42 mark.
“It is at all times good to come back again right here and kick a little bit butt,” mentioned Autry, who had two sacks, three quarterback hits and a compelled fumble and a deal with for loss.
In some ways, the Titans and Colts are constructed the identical approach. Each have invested huge within the trenches. Each need to impose their will with a bodily operating sport. Each have famous person operating backs.
On Sunday, the Titans had been higher on the sport each groups need to play.
Derrick Henry had 22 carries for 114 yards and a landing, posting his first 100-yard dashing sport of the season. Of these yards, 99 got here within the first half. His rating got here on a 19-yard run within the first quarter, after cornerback Brandon Facyson took a poor angle at Henry’s legs and whiffed on a deal with.
“We obtained to be higher”
Derrick Henry sees loads of room for enchancment regardless of the Titans’ win over the Colts.
The Titans’ three takeaways got here on the line of scrimmage. On the Colts’ opening drive, Autry blew by the Colts’ four-time All-Professional left guard, Quenton Nelson, and strip-sacked Ryan. Within the second quarter, defensive lineman Teair Tart battled a Ryan move and the ball wound up in his arms as he fell backward.
The final one was probably the most consequential: On a pivotal third-and-2 simply outdoors the crimson zone within the fourth quarter, Titans linebacker Joe Schobert compelled a fumble on a Jonathan Taylor carry. The ball was recovered by Tennessee.
Taylor, the dashing triple-crown winner final season, was held to 42 yards on 20 carries. Two turnovers had been credited to Ryan, who had two fumbles within the sport and is now as much as 9 on the season. He was additionally hit 5 occasions, as Tennessee took benefit of an offensive line that has continued to fall wanting expectations.
“Simply joyful to get a win, man,” Titans security Kevin Byard mentioned. “It is onerous to win on this league, particularly in opposition to a staff just like the Colts. That is staff. And they will play 4 quarters. We knew it was going to finish up being a one-possession sport or one thing like that.”
These Titans at the moment are on a two-game profitable streak. Nothing about it has seemed it simple. They have not scored within the second half since Week 1.
However they took care of enterprise Sunday on the highway within the division.
“I do know what the perfect is: profitable. I do not actually care the way it comes,” Tannehill mentioned. “Our job is to win. Whether or not it is ‘ugly’ or ‘fairly,’ it does not matter. A W is a W. … Each sport’s not going to be excellent.”
For the Colts, that is one other bitter Sunday.
“Hats off to the Titans,” Colts coach Frank Reich mentioned. “They got here in, performed sport, well-coached, and it is onerous to win a sport while you lose the turnover battle the way in which we did and began the way in which we did. Put ourselves behind the outlet, and simply not adequate. I am pleased with how we fought again, gave ourselves an opportunity on the finish, however on the finish of the day, not adequate.
“We have to place this behind us.”
Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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