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If they win at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, they would take
a three-game lead and have the tiebreaker over the Colts by
virtue of a season sweep. They would also bolster the case of
some that they might be the AFC favorites.
Home wins over Buffalo and Kansas City the last two weeks have
validated the Titans' belief that they can play with anyone in
the league. Their 27-3 walloping of the Chiefs on Sunday was
easily the Titans' most complete game of the year in all three
phases.
"There's not a team in this league we don't think we can't beat
any given Sunday," safety Kevin Byard said. "Power rankings, all
that stuff, it really doesn't matter in this league. (If) you
don't come out here and don't perform on Sunday, you're going to
get your behinds whipped.
"That's the bottom line. We don't really look at who's the best
team here and there. They're not handing out Lombardi trophies
in the middle of the season."
Which is why Tennessee (5-2) says it's not taking Indianapolis
(3-4) lightly, even though it owns a 25-16 win over the Colts on
Sept. 26. Derrick Henry rushed for 113 yards and Ryan Tannehill
threw for three touchdowns while the defense allowed just 265
yards.
Since then, Indianapolis has found traction for the first time
in 2021. The Colts have won three of the last four games,
including a 30-18 decision last week in a rainstorm at San
Francisco. After trailing 9-0 early, the Colts controlled most
of the last three quarters.
Carson Wentz played a much better game than his stats -- 17 of
26, 150 yards -- indicated, throwing for two touchdowns and
running for a third. The defense limited the 49ers to 280 yards
and came up with four turnovers.
The version of Wentz that limped through the first meeting in
Nashville bears scant resemblance to the one taking the field
for the rematch. Wentz played with two sprained ankles last
month and had no rushing attempts for just the second time in 75
NFL games.
"When the play's there to be made -- whether it's improvising,
scrambling, running or whatever that is -- I'm not going to shy
away from it," he said. "We're still going to try to make those
plays, still be smart, protect myself, all those things. But
yeah, that's the type of player I am and competitor I am."
Wentz and Indianapolis are hoping to crank up the running game
with second-year pro Jonathan Taylor. He collected 107 yards at
San Francisco, his third 100-yard effort of the year, and has
579 yards for the year, second in the NFL.
That still pales in comparison to what Henry continues to do to
NFL defenses. Even though his five-game streak of rushing for at
least 100 yards ended against Kansas City, Henry's 869 yards is
more than all but seven teams in the league.
And he might have the Titans' starting left tackle back in the
lineup. Taylor Lewan (concussion) returned to practice Wednesday
after missing the Kansas City game.
If Tennessee prevails, it will mark the first time it has won
three straight games in Indianapolis.
--Field Level Media
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