For the first time since 2009, the Indianapolis Colts are 2–0, and they got there on a walk-off. Indy’s newly elevated kicker, Spencer Shrader, who bounced from practice squad to free agent to the 53, went a perfect 5-for-5 in Week 2. He drilled a 45-yard game-winner to beat Denver 29–28 after a 4-for-4 debut the week before. Lucas Oil Stadium didn’t just exhale; it roared.
Now comes a different kind of test: a bruising AFC South rival in Nashville. The Tennessee Titans are coming off a 33–19 loss to the Rams, where they were held to just 252 total yards and 3.9 per play. All eyes are on rookie quarterback Cam Ward, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, as Tennessee looks to prove they’re not headed for another spiral like last year’s 3–14 campaign. It’s momentum versus urgency, with early control of the division on the table.
Colts vs Titans: Offensive Rhythm
Through two weeks, Daniel Jones has looked every bit the steadying veteran presence the Colts envisioned. He’s thrown for 588 yards, the second-most in the NFL, with 2 passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and 3 rushing scores. He has completed passes to seven different receivers in each game. It’s not just the numbers; it’s the distribution. Jones has consistently kept defenses guessing by spreading the ball around, allowing Indy’s passing game to hum even when defenses key on Jonathan Taylor.
Speaking of Taylor, the Colts’ workhorse is back in rhythm. He leads the league with 236 rushing yards and has chipped in a receiving touchdown. His 165-yard explosion against Denver included a 68-yard run with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, flipping field position and setting up a crucial score. Taylor’s ability to deliver those back-breaking plays keeps Indianapolis in position to succeed. That’s exactly what Indy has done. They are the only team in the NFL to score on their first 10 offensive possessions and haven’t punted once this season, a testament to how efficiently this unit is executing.
Colts Defense and Depth Concerns
On defense, the Colts are quietly building into a top-10 unit. Even while battling injuries, Lou Anarumo’s group has held strong in critical moments. Reinforcements are on the way, too. Charvarius Ward is progressing from a concussion, and second-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu (hamstring) is also hopeful to return this week. Losing Jaylon Jones (IR, hamstring) still stings, but this group is about to get healthier, which should sharpen a defense that’s already been stingy.
Still, the secondary depth is thin. As Jake Arthur of Colts Round Table reports, Indianapolis worked out seven free agent defensive backs this week, including veterans like Tre Flowers and Nik Needham, in search of reinforcements. Arthur also notes that Xavien Howard, thrust into CB1 duties against Denver, was targeted eight times and allowed 78 yards, with the Broncos leaning on quick slants and “now” routes to exploit the unit. Until Ward returns, this will remain a pressure point.
Titans’ Growing Pains with Rookie QB Cam Ward
Tennessee is leaning on the growing pains of rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 287 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 fumbles through two games. He has completed just 50.8% of his passes while absorbing 11 sacks. Against the Rams, he went 19-of-33 for 175 yards with a touchdown but was sacked five times and lost a fumble. He has flashed the arm talent that made him the top pick, but consistency and pocket awareness remain issues. Running back Tony Pollard has been the steadier weapon, logging 152 rushing yards at 4.0 per carry and keeping the Titans’ offense afloat in stretches.
Titans Defense Struggles to Contain Opponents
The Titans’ defense, however, hasn’t carried its weight. After giving up 317 yards to Denver and 439 to Los Angeles, questions remain about their ability to tighten up. On paper, they’ve held opponents to 27.6% on third down (8-for-29). But those numbers hide costly breakdowns in key situations: missed tackles, penalties, and drives that snowball when they can’t get off the field. Against the Rams, two fourth-quarter touchdowns — a 16-yard pass to Davante Adams and a 66-yard march capped by a Blake Corum score — turned a tight game into a two-possession deficit. Until Tennessee proves it can hold up consistently, their defense feels like a unit opponents can exploit.
Key Matchups in Colts vs Titans Week 3
Jonathan Taylor vs Titans Front Seven
Taylor has rediscovered his home-run stride. With 236 rushing yards through two games, including a 68-yard burst late against Denver, he is forcing defenses to load the box and still ripping off chunk gains. The Titans’ front was gashed by the Rams for over 140 rushing yards and struggled with tackling in space.
Daniel Jones’ Distribution vs Titans Secondary
Jones has been a model of efficiency through two weeks, spreading the ball to seven different receivers in each game. That balance makes it nearly impossible for defenses to key on one target. It’s a big reason why the Colts have scored on 10 straight drives without punting once this season. The Titans’ secondary, however, was picked apart by Matthew Stafford for nearly 300 yards last week.
Cam Ward vs Colts’ Lou Anarumo
Ward has shown flashes of his arm talent, but he’s also looked like a rookie with inconsistent reads and 11 sacks in two games. Now he faces Lou Anarumo, a defensive coordinator known as the “Mad Scientist” for disguising coverages and sending pressure from unexpected spots. Tennessee has converted just 40.7% of its third-down attempts (11-for-27). If Anarumo dials up his blitz packages, that number could dip fast.
Tony Pollard vs Colts Linebackers
Pollard has been Tennessee’s most consistent weapon, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. His vision and ability to bounce runs outside are keeping drives alive, but he hasn’t yet broken the explosive runs that change games. The Colts’ linebackers, led by Zaire Franklin and Joe Bachie, are built to flow sideline-to-sideline and bottle up backs like Pollard.
Red Zone Efficiency Could Decide Colts vs Titans
The Colts have been nearly flawless at sustaining drives. They are the only team in the league to score on their first 10 offensive possessions and have finished Week 2 without a single punt. They’ve scored on 12 of their first 14 drives overall. But not all scores are created equal. Too often, Indy has settled for field goals instead of touchdowns. While points are always valuable, and Shrader has delivered (9-for-9 on field goals), touchdowns are what truly put pressure on an opposing offense.
By contrast, Tennessee has managed just one offensive touchdown drive. They’ve leaned almost entirely on Joey Slye, who has connected from as far as 57 yards. In Week 1, they didn’t reach the end zone at all, and in Week 2 against the Rams, their lone touchdown came alongside four more field goals. Living on threes has kept them afloat, but it’s also why they’ve fallen behind.
Coaching and Strategy: Colts vs Titans Breakdown
Titans: Brian Callahan & Dennard Wilson
Head coach Brian Callahan brings an offensive pedigree, but he has entrusted his defense to Dennard Wilson. Wilson has installed an aggressive, attacking identity. He emphasizes press coverage and physicality at the line, daring receivers to win quickly. His front isn’t shy about bringing stunts and disguised blitzes to create pressure when the four-man rush doesn’t get home.
Colts: Shane Steichen and Staff
Shane Steichen has crafted an early rhythm that has the Colts scoring on every drive but one this season, blending Taylor’s power and Jones’ distribution. Jim Bob Cooter’s sequencing complements Steichen’s aggressiveness, keeping defenses off balance. Defensively, Lou Anarumo has brought flexibility and disguise. His game plans mix coverages and pressures in ways that keep even veteran passers guessing. Special teams under Brian Mason have also been a hidden advantage. Shrader is a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals, and the unit’s discipline has helped Indy control field position.
X-Factors for Colts and Titans
Colts: Explosive Plays vs. Red Zone Execution
Indianapolis has proven they can move the ball at will, but the difference between good teams and great ones is red zone execution. If Taylor’s breakaway speed or Jones’ distribution can turn long drives into touchdowns instead of threes, Indy will put games away earlier instead of leaning on Shrader at the buzzer.
Titans: Joey Slye’s Leg
Through two weeks, Tennessee has lived off Joey Slye’s right foot. He’s been reliable from deep, but relying on field goals is a dangerous way to live, especially against a division rival that knows how to close.
Defensive Reinforcements and Tyler Warren
Steichen said Charvarius Ward and Laiatu Latu are “progressing well” this week. Both were missed in Week 2, and their return would boost a defense already in the top 10. On offense, tight end Tyler Warren has emerged as a true X-factor. He disappears in the shuffle of a play and reappears downfield for chunk gains, already logging 11 catches for 155 yards at 14.1 yards per grab with a 41-yard reception. He’s playing at a veteran level, and if Tennessee fails to account for him, he could quietly tilt this matchup.
Prediction: Colts vs Titans Week 3
This game has all the ingredients of a classic AFC South clash: familiarity, physicality, and the sense that every possession matters. The Colts are riding a wave of efficiency, still not having punted and scoring on 12 of their first 14 drives. The Titans are trying to find an identity with a rookie quarterback and a defense that has been aggressive but inconsistent.
Ultimately, this feels like a game where Indianapolis has too many answers. Taylor’s explosiveness, Jones’ distribution, Warren’s emergence, and a kicker who hasn’t missed yet make for a steady formula. Tennessee will lean on Slye to keep them in it, but unless they find a way to turn field goals into touchdowns, the Colts have the edge.
- Prediction: Colts 24, Titans 13
More from The Blue Stable:
