Pro Sports

Colts hope to build momentum off 34-26 victory over Titans

Posted October 23, 2016 7:00 am

By TERESA M. WALKER

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and strong safety Mike Adams (29) leave the field after the Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 34-26 in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts believe they got the confidence boost so desperately needed after blowing a late lead a week ago.

The Tennessee Titans are still searching for answers, angry that they just can't beat their AFC South rival.

Andrew Luck threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns, even missing a trio of starters on offense, and the Colts scored the final 14 points Sunday in beating the Titans 34-26.

"This is big," Colts running back Frank Gore said. "It's a division win. I take my hat off to Tennessee. They are a good team, and they play hard. We knew coming in that it was going to be tough, but we had to win. Now we are 3-4, and we are going to move onto Kansas City and try to get a win again next week."

Stringing together consecutive wins is something the Colts (3-4) have yet to do this season.

The Titans (3-4) thought they had figured out how to do just that themselves with this loss snapping a two-game winning streak.

Worse, the Titans now have never beaten Luck in eight games with the Colts winning their 10th straight and 16th in 16 games in this series. Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was very upset after the latest loss and eager for Thursday night's game with Jacksonville.

"Me personally, I've been losing to this guy since college," Casey said of Luck. "It hurts me deeply. I've just got to find a way, and my team just has to find ways to win these close games."

Here are some things to know about the Colts' latest win over Tennessee:

PROTECTING LUCK

Luck had been sacked 23 times coming into this game, and the Colts started rookie Joe Haeg at left guard with Jack Mewhort out injured. They allowed only two sacks to a defense that came in fifth in the NFL after piling up six in each of the past two games. That gave Luck time to pick apart the Titans, who had been allowing only 235.5 yards passing per game good for 11th in the league.

MARIOTA'S BOBBLES

Marcus Mariota now is just 2-8 at home with 19 turnovers in those games since being drafted by the Titans. He escaped a pair of would-be turnovers on a game-tying drive. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Josh McNary wiped out an interception by Patrick Robinson late in the third quarter, and then Mariota simply dropped the ball as he turned to hand off before falling on it for a 9-yard loss.

With the Titans trailing 27-23, Mariota was sacked and stripped by T.Y. McGill with Robert Mathis picking the ball up and running 14 yards for the clinching TD. "Again, one of those things we have to stop doing," Mularkey said.

STREAKING VINATIERI

Adam Vinatieri, the 43-year-old kicker, set an NFL record with 43 consecutive made field goals. He came in two shy of the mark of 42 set by former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt between 2002 and 2004, and Vinatieri kicked field goals of 28 and 33 yards, the second coming with 3:46 left in the third quarter. Vinatieri said he never concerns himself with personal goals and records, preferring a victory. "I'm sure I'll sit back some day down the road and enjoy it," Vinatieri said.

NEXT MAN UP

The Colts played without starting wide receiver Donte Moncrief, who was replaced by rookie Chester Rogers, and tight end Dwayne Allen. Erik Swoope replaced Allen, but Luck leaned heavily on T.Y. Hilton who caught seven passes for 133 yards, including a 37-yard TD. Tight end Jack Doyle was Luck's second favorite target, catching nine passes and 78 yards and a TD that put the Colts ahead to stay with 1:55 left.

SPECIAL TEAM WOES

Mularkey fired special teams coordinator Bobby April on Oct. 3 after the Titans gave up a punt return for a TD. Special teams cost the Titans four points Sunday with a botched extra point after a kickoff on the opening drive, and Tennessee was beaten in the second quarter when Indianapolis recovered an onside kick. Phillip Supernaw had a chance to recover for Titans and couldn't pull in the ball. The Colts settled for the first of Vinatieri's field goals.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) leaves the field after the Titans lost to the Indianapolis Colts 34-26 in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, left, meets Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey on the field after the Colts beat the Titans 34-26 in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis (98) recovers a fumble after Colts defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (99) stripped the ball away from Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Mathis scored a touchdown on the play. The Colts won 34-26. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) is congratulated by holder Pat McAfee (1) after Vinatieri kicked a 33-yard field goal against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The kick is the 43rd consecutive field goal for Vinatieri, an NFL record. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) kicks a 33-yard field goal against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The kick is the 43rd consecutive field goal for Vinatieri, an NFL record. Holding is Pat McAfee. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches a 7-yard touchdown pass ahead of Indianapolis Colts defenders Clayton Geathers (26) and Josh McNary (57) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans defenders Karl Klug (97) and Jason McCourty (30) try to bring down Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin (33) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) celebrates after catching a 7-yard touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

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