The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts face off tonight in a huge division game on Thursday Night Football.
The NFC South is top heavy, with the Titans and Colts way ahead of the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the standings. The Titans are ahead by one win and victory tonight would put them ahead by two wins. This would certainly help them on their way to winning the division.
A win for the Colts would put both teams level on wins, with both teams meeting once again in just two weeks time.
The Tennessee Titans Offense
The Tennessee Titans’ star man has once again been running back Derrick Henry. Weighing at 17 stone and over 6 foot, he has become one of the league’s best backs.
Henry has ran for 843 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season.
Only Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings has more rushing yards this season than Henry and only Cook and Todd Gurley have ran for more rushing touchdowns than Henry.
Stopping the Titans running back will need to be the plan for the Indianapolis Colts, who have allowed the second least rushing yards (669) and third least rushing yards per game so far this season (83.6).
This will be where Ryan Tannehill will need to step up. If the Colts are to continue their impressive run defense, they will need to be able to stop the pass. This is something they can also do, being the third best in the league for passing yards allowed (1,651) and passing yards allowed per game (206.4).
Tannehill has had an impressive season, even with Henry’s excellent rushing season. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season, proving more and more how head coach Adam Gase was holding him back at the Miami Dolphins.
The Contrast Between The Colts’ Offense And Defense
This is the true test for the Colts. How can they stop a team with threats on both the run and pass?
Rivers is in poor form and in the decline, despite the excellent offensive line ahead of him that has allowed the fewest sacks this season. He is potentially in his last year as a starting quarterback. The Titans will know that if they can get to Rivers, they can go on and win this game.
The Colts cannot rely on their running game either, as they currently sit 25th in the league in rushing yards (819) and 22nd in rushing yards per game (102.4).
Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor leads the team in both rushing touchdowns and rushing yards. He has ran for 4 touchdowns and 416 yards this season. Running back Nyheim Hines has caught for three receiving touchdowns along with his one rushing touchdown.
They will need to rely on their running backs should Rivers have an off day, especially with Hines also leading the team in receiving touchdowns. The receivers have failed to get going this season.
With this game in Nashville, the Titans have to go into this game as favourites.
The Titans have managed to perform on both parts of offense this season whereas the Colts have been inconsistent in results. The Colts’ defense is winning them games, but they will have one of their toughest games this season to stop this team.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is one of the league’s best up and coming coaches. A win for Tennessee would see them move two wins clear of Frank Reich’s team in their pursuit of a first divisional title since the 2008 season.
I think the Titans will ultimately get the win. Despite the impressive Indianapolis defense, the Titans will still be able to get the victory.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 10-27 Tennesee Titans
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