NASHVILLE, TN --- The Colts scored 21 4th quarter points to go from down 13 to up 8 at Tennessee, but the defense still needed to get a stop with less than a minute remaining in the game to preserve the win.
Jalston Fowler's one-yard touchdown run capped a 9-play, 80-yard drive in 2:04 to bring the Titans within two. Then on the first two-point conversion attempt, Colts safety Mike Adams was called for pass interference covering receiver Harry Douglas. That penalty moved the attempt from the two to the one-yard line.
The Colts defense was ready for what came next, with the game on the line.
"They were in an unbalanced set. We knew they were going to line up and try and run it downhill at us," said nose tackle David Parry after the game, who had his first NFL sack and tackle for loss on the day. "They tried it, but we stuffed it."
They stuffed the heck out of it. The Colts met all 254 pounds of Fowler in the backfield, before the rookie out of Alabama was forced to run backwards to try and keep the play alive. Fowler hit the grass field closer to the 20-yard-line than the endzone. 35-33. Ballgame.
"Obviously expecting a run there. So obviously, just trying to get low, knock the offensive line back, and let the linebackers make the play," said defensive tackle Henry Anderson. "That's just a lot of grit right here for the D-line. Glad we made that stop."
Overall, the Colts rushing defense was stout, holding the Titans to just 3.3 yards per carry before the deciding conversion stop.
"It was an incredible play by the defense as a whole," said defensive end Kendall Langford. "We got the stop we needed when it counted. It wasn't a pretty win, but we got it done."
A win is a win is a win, and this particular one all of a sudden has the Colts tied for first place in the AFC South (even if it is at 1-2 after just three games) with two more divisional games up next on the schedule.
