NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A long year looks to get a little longer Sunday with the Titans +14.5 point underdogs Sunday at Indianapolis.
Why such a massive point spread for a regular season divsional game? Simple, it is the highest scoring team in the league against the lowest scoring team in the league.
“I’m really proud of Shane (Steichen) and where he’s got this organization,” said Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy. “I worked with Shane. He was on my staff in 2014-16 in San Diego, and he did a phenomenal job for me. You see where he went from there and then from leaving the Chargers, going to Philly, and now being the head coach, really proud of him. He’s done a phenomenal a job. He’s a great coach. He’s put a great staff together, a great team together. So it doesn’t surprise me with his leadership to where they are as an organization and how they’re playing now.”
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NFL Team Scoring
1. Indianapolis 33.1 Points Per Game
2. Dallas Cowboys 31.7
3. Detroit Lions 30.7
31. Las Vegas Raiders 14.7
32. Tennessee Titans 13.7
The Colts (6-1) offense has been balanced and just about unstoppable this season with quarterback Daniel Jones easily turning in the best season of his pro career in his first season in Indianapolis. Jones is fifth in the NFL in passing with 1,790 yards. Jones also has 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
Despite Jones having such a dominant season the Titans (1-6) need to try to put the game in his hands, because if they can not slow down Jonathan Taylor they probably will not have much of a shot. McCoy knows they have their hands full.
“Offensively, they’re balanced and do things during games or situationally, how they play the game they’re very efficient in both run and pass. So yeah, you say you want to take this away, but then they’re going to do this. So it’s really— it’s a combination of both. You just to stop them. And they’re very efficient. The quarterback’s playing at a very high level,” he said.
NFL Rushing Leaders
1. Jonathan Taylor (Colts) 697 Yards, 10 TD’s
2. Javonte Williams (Cowboys) 592 Yards, 6 TD’s
3. Rico Dowdle (Panthers) 551 Yards, 2 TD’s
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The injury situation certainly does not make slowing Indianapolis any easier for the Titans. Tennessee will not have star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons this week after he left last weeks game with a hamstring injury. The Titans are also without cornerback L’Jarius Sneed for at least four weeks after he was placed on Injured Reserve with another quad injury.
Offensively the Titans have to take advantage of a Colts defense that is surrendering 345 yards per game. Last week in their first game under McCoy the Titans scored 13 first half points including their first first quarter touchdown of the season, but they were unable to sustain it in the second half when they fell behind.
Rookie quarterback has struggled with turnovers in recent games, but has also seen his completion percentage soar from 41.8% over the first five games of the season to over 70% over the last two. Ward will once again be limited with his target options this week with Calvin Ridley out again with a hamstring injury and veteran Tyler Lockett was released Wednesday after losing snaps to rookie Chim Dike.
This is already the second meeting between these two teams this season, the Colts dominated the first winning 41-20 in Nashville.