Pro Sports

Ryan Tannehill throws 3 TDs as Titans hold off Colts 25-16

Posted September 26, 2021 7:00 am

By TERESA M. WALKER

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill passes against the Indianapolis Colts in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Ryan Tannehill threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns and the Tennessee Titans held off the Indianapolis Colts 25-16 Sunday to grab an early tiebreaker in the AFC South.

The road team had won the previous five games in this division rivalry, but the Titans (2-1) are the defending AFC South champs with a healthy Derrick Henry. The reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year ran for 113 yards, topping the 100-yard mark for a sixth straight division game.

The Colts (0-3) are off to their worst start since 2011. Carson Wentz started after being questionable for Indianapolis with a pair of sprained ankles. He never ran even once, choosing to throw the ball away repeatedly when pressured. He finished with 194 yards passing.

The Titans outgained the Colts 368-265 and won despite three turnovers that Indianapolis turned into 10 points.

The Colts twice had first-and-goal inside the Titans 9 in the second half. Tennessee's defense, much-maligned in 2020, held the Colts to a pair of field goals by Rodrigo Blankenship. The last came with 10:20 left when Blankenship's 24-yarder pulled the Colts within 22-16.

Tennessee then put the game away, going on a 14-play drive chewing up 7:22 of the clock. Randy Bullock put Tennessee up 25-16 with a 32-yard field goal.

The Colts tried for a final score, but Blankenship's 51-yard attempt was wide right with 57 seconds left. The Titans knelt down for the win.

The Titans had plenty of opportunity to blow this game open, but only led 14-10 at halftime because of two interceptions. Darius Leonard picked off Tannehill to set up a 9-yard TD run by Nyheim Hines. Kenny Moore II picked off the second, and the Colts got a 43-yard field goal by Blankenship as the first half expired.

Tannehill threw a 6-yard TD pass to Chester Rogers against his old team and found Westbrook-Ikhine on an 18-yard TD - the first of the receiver's career.

Henry also caught a pass from Tannehill under pressure and finished off a 14-yard play with Leonard bouncing off him in the second quarter.

INJURIES

Colts defensive end Kwity Paye was ruled out in the first quarter with an injured hamstring. All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson hurt his right ankle early in the second quarter and was carted to the locker room. He didn't return and was replaced by Chris Reed. Cornerback Khari Willis had a cramping issue in the fourth quarter.

Pro Bowl WR A.J. Brown hurt a hamstring early and was ruled questionable. But he came out of halftime in shorts and a T-shirt. Titans rookie outside linebacker Rashad Weaver was carted to the locker room late in the third quarter after not putting any weight on his right leg.

UP NEXT

Colts continue their three-game road trip by visiting Miami next Sunday.

The Titans start a two-game road swing at the New York Jets next Sunday.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz passes against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chester Rogers (80) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) gets past Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Rashaan Evans (54) as Hines scores a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) intercepts a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chester Rogers, on the ground, in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) celebrates with Parris Campbell (1) after Hines scored a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

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