The Tennessee Titans lost their fourth game of the season to the Indianapolis Colts. After their week off, the Titans hosted the Colts, and it seemed like everything was going well. The Titans scored first, got a defensive takeaway, didn’t turn the ball over in the first three quarters of the game, and the defense was on point.
But the fourth quarter came, and that’s when it all changed. The Colts scored a touchdown to take the lead with 7:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Titans went three-and-out after the kickoff. The defense held and forced the Colts to punt. Then Levis threw his interception. The teams traded punts after that and it ended 20-17.
Here’s a quick look at the studs and duds (and studly duds) from Sunday’s loss:
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Tony Pollard carried the Titans today with 17 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown. On more than one occasion, Pollard was responsible for keeping the offense on the field, giving Will Levis an outlet, and blocking when that’s what he was called to do. The offense ran through Pollard, and he did his job well.
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Calvin Ridley did the Titans no favors today. He ran the ball once for nine yards. Other than that, he was targeted eight times and recorded zero receptions. Part of that is because the Colts defended him well, preparing for Levis’ return and knowing Ridley is Levis’ favorite target. Even so, to record zero catches when that is your sole responsibility on the field, well, that’s dud material.
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Titans’ safety Amani Hooker recorded the defense’s very first interception on the Colts’ second drive of the game. The Titans punted after the Colts scored on their opening drive, and on the second play of that drive, Hooker intercepted a pass from Joe Flacco that was intended for Michael Pittman, Jr. Hooker ran the ball back 30 yards to the Colts’ 27 -ard line, giving the Titans’ offense all it needed to tie the game at seven.
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Titans’ safety Mike Brown had two tackles today, both solo. But he also let Michael Pittman, Jr. get behind him and score a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Titans’ defensive depth is slim, so everyone out there has to pull their weight. Brown didn’t do that today.
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Prior to leaving the field for a few plays with an injury, safety Quandre Diggs was leading the defense in tackles. After Diggs’ injury, Ernest Jones IV stepped up in a big way. He led the defense with 10 tackles (four solo), and the bulk of his tackles stopped what could have been break-away runs.
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Tre Avery was elevated from the practice squad this week to provide support on both defense and special teams. He had one tackle on the field, solo, and was less than helpful on special teams.
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was targeted only twice today. He caught one pass for nine yards and a touchdown but was otherwise nonexistent on the field. Westbrook-Ikhine has found the end zone three times this season, benefiting from being an under-the-radar receiver on a team that rosters DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley.
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- WR DeAndre Hopkins
- QB Will Levis
- WR Tyler Boyd
- LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
- S Quandre Diggs
- DE Harold Landry III
- CB L’Jarius Sneed
- P Ryan Stonehouse
- K Nick Folk
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- TE Josh Whyle
- DT Otis Reese IV
- DE Sebastian Joseph-Day
- CB Darrell Baker
- LB Arden Key
