Colts 20-17 Titans (Oct. 13, 2024) Game Recap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Joe Flacco has been in the NFL long enough to know that the backup quarterback should always be ready to go.

The 39-year-old quarterback also knows how to ignore reports that a teammate may be going on injured reserve and looks to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. when it matters most.

Flacco backed away to buy time and then hit Pittman in the end zone with Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed draping over him for the 10-yard touchdown pass with 7:27 left gave the Indianapolis Colts a 20-17 victory over Tennessee on Sunday.

“He has to be one of the toughest players I've ever played with,” Flacco said of Pittman, who practiced only Friday with a back injury that made the receiver questionable. “I think part of him probably wanted to prove something.”

Flacco is now 1-1 in his second straight start for the Colts (3-3), who got a much-needed split in back-to-back road games in the AFC South with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson re-injuring his right hip.

“You just have to stay alert and prepare, and that's how it was, you know?” Flacco said.

Richardson, the fourth overall pick out of Florida in 2023, has yet to play against Will Levis, who was the 33rd overall pick in the same draft by Tennessee. The struggling Colts, with nine injured reserve players, also sat out 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor for the second straight season.

The Titans (1-4) have now lost three straight to their division rival. They will have to wait until November to try to win their first home game this season for first-year coach Brian Callahan, who said he still believes his team is better than its record.

“We also don't make enough plays to win close games, and we have to find a way to do that,” Callahan said of the Titans' third loss by a touchdown or less. “And I have to find a way to help us get there because right now it’s hard to lose games in one-score games.”

Tony Pollard gave Tennessee a 17-10 lead with a 23-yard TD run as that drive took more than half of the third quarter. Flacco responded by leading the Colts to 10 straight points and losing the lead they never lost.

In the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, he set up Matt Gay's second field goal, a 22-yarder. Pittman, who didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, said he knew he was going to play. He praised Flacco for a great throw for the game-winning touchdown.

“I had to go there and get it for him,” Pittman said.

The Titans had their chances. After taking a 20-17 lead, the Colts took the lead when Julian Blackmon intercepted Levis' pass to Calvin Ridley with 4:52 left. Levis now has seven interceptions this season.

Tennessee had one last chance with 12 seconds left. Levis threw to DeAndre Hopkins, who launched a series of sideways throws to Chig Okonkwo before the ball was knocked down and time expired.

Flacco opened with a 10-play drive that he capped off with a 22-yard TD pass to Josh Downs for a 7-0 lead.

That more than made up for the pass Flacco threw directly to Titans safety Amani Hooker for Tennessee's first interception of the season. Hooker returned the ball from 30 yards, and Levis capped a three-play drive with a 9-yard TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the receiver's first score of the season, tying the ball at 7.

The Titans took a 10-7 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Nick Folk, capping a 15-play drive with nine minutes remaining. Gay equalized just before halftime.

Defensive Indy

Colts coach Shane Steichen praised his defense, which held Tennessee to 241 yards and had its best performance in the fourth quarter. The Titans held the ball for less than five minutes with two threes, the pick and a punt.

“They made a lot of progress there in the fourth quarter so we could get those stops,” Steichen said of a defense that was without Pro Bowl tackle DeForest Buckner and two other linemen.

Self-inflicted problems

The Titans were flagged 11 times for 113 yards, both season highs. Callahan declined to comment when asked about a few plays where the Titans wanted interference flags for their offense, saying the officials wouldn't give any real explanations.

Injuries

Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter, while three lineman are currently on injured reserve. He returned in the third. But center Ryan Kelly, who had missed the last two games with a neck injury, injured his calf late in the third quarter and did not return.

Titans RB Tyjae Spears injured his hamstring and did not return.

Next

The Colts host Miami in their only home game in a five-game span.

The Titans begin a two-game road trip in Buffalo.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl