Pro Sports

Henry, Taylor take center stage in Round 2 of Titans-Colts

Posted October 28, 2021 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the ball past Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (99) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

TENNESSEE (5-2) at INDIANAPOLIS (3-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS

OPENING LINE: Titans by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Tennessee 5-2; Indianapolis 5-2.

SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 35-18.

LAST MEETING: Titans beat Colts 25-16 on Sept. 26 in Nashville, Tennessee.

LAST WEEK: Titans beat Chiefs 27-3; Colts beat 49ers 30-18.

TITANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (3), PASS (25), SCORING (6).

TITANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (9), PASS (24), SCORING (T-16).

COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (14), RUSH (9), PASS (23), SCORING (15).

COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (14), PASS (T-13), SCORING (11).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Titans minus-1 ; Colts plus-9.

TITANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Ryan Tannehill appears to be hitting his stride after completing 21 straight passes - the final 10 against Buffalo and the first 11 against Kansas City. He was 21 of 27 with 270 yards, one TD, an interception and a passer rating of 105.2 last week. His 21 games with a passer rating of at least 100 are No. 3 in Titans history behind Steve McNair (40) and Warren Moon (33). Tannehill is 25-12 as Tennessee's starter.

COLTS PLAYER TO WATCH: Michael Pittman Jr. Since the last meeting, Pittman has emerged as the Colts' top receiver. He has two 100-yard games this season and when he's not catching passes, he's drawing penalties. QB Carson Wentz has shown more confidence in Pittman as he becomes a more consistent downfield threat.

KEY MATCHUP: Titans RB Derrick Henry vs. Colts LB Darius Leonard. This twice annual matchup is perhaps the most watched in the AFC South. Henry ran over Leonard and company for 113 yards in September. But Leonard has forced a fumble, recovered a fumble or had an interception in six of seven games this year.

KEY INJURIES: Tennessee has 15 players listed and nine others missed practice Wednesday. But the Titans might be turning the corner. LT Taylor Lewan could clear the concussion protocol before Sunday and Lewan's backup, Kendall Lamm, is practicing again. ... It's still unclear whether the Colts will have WR T.Y. Hilton (quadriceps), T Braden Smith (foot/thumb), DE Kemoko Turay (groin) or CB Rock Ya-Sin (ankle). Starting CB Xavier Rhodes (calf) sat out Wednesday.

SERIES NOTES: Tennessee has won two straight in the series and three of the last four as it seeks its third season sweep of the Colts. ... Indy has won three of its last four home games against the Titans. ... Tennessee won the only playoff matchup, 19-16 at Indianapolis in January 2000. ... The first meeting, between the Houston Oilers and Baltimore Colts, came in 1970 after the Colts moved from the NFL to the AFC following the merger.

STATS AND STUFF: Tennessee has won three straight and five of six since a season-opening loss to Arizona. ... The Titans have won five straight division games, are 14-6 on the road since 2019 and are 71-6 since 1999 with at least a plus-2 turnover margin. ... Henry needs 131 yards rushing for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and two touchdowns to become the third player in franchise history with 70 or more. The others are Eddie George (74) and Earl Campbell. (73) ... Tennessee WR Julio Jones needs 2 yards receiving to pass Andre Reed (13,198) for 17th on the NFL's career list. ... Titans DL Denico Autry had two sacks last week as the defense held Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to a career-low 62.3 passer rating. ... Indy has scored a league-high 63 points off takeaways. The Colts also are tied with Buffalo for the league lead in takeaways (16). ... The Colts have forced a turnover in eight straight games. ... Wentz needs one TD pass for No. 125 and can become the first quarterback in franchise history to throw multiple TD passes and no interceptions in five straight games. ... RB Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 50 or more yards in 13 straight games, the second-longest active streak behind Henry (32). Taylor needs 72 yards rushing to pass Alan Ameche (1,819) for fourth most in a player's first two seasons in franchise history.

FANTASY TIP: Henry and Taylor are the obvious choices. But a sleeper pick would be Colts TE Mo Alie-Cox. He's caught four TD passes over the last three weeks and is tied for third in TD receptions among tight ends This week, he could help exploit the middle against a pass defense ranked in the league's bottom third.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs defenders Jarran Reed (90) and Willie Gay (50) try to bring him down in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel signals to his players in the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) fumbles the ball as Tennessee Titans cornerback Elijah Molden (24) dives for it in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans recovered the ball on the play. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz, top, falls forward as he is tackled by San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., top, catches a touchdown pass over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (13) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) The Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) The Associated Press

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