NASHVILLE –First Quarter Recap
The Colts won the toss and chose to defer to the second half.
It was a three-and-out for the Colts defense to start things in Nashville. Rookie defensive end Henry Anderson added another tackle to his impressive season total on the first series.
The Colts started off on offense with back-to-back six, and seven-yard carries for Frank Gore. That was all the unit could muster on the opening possession. Pressure on third-down forced an errant throw from Andrew Luck and an eventual punt.
The second Titans series saw another drop, followed by a punt. A beautiful open field tackle from Vontae Davis sent the Titans offense back to the sideline on third-down. The Colts took over at their own 37-yard line with 9:25 to go in the first quarter.
It was a nice drive start for the Colts but a holding penalty took them out of Titans territory. On a third-and-20, T.Y. Hilton made a spectacular 48-yard catch. Two plays later, Frank Gore punched it in from one-yard out. The Colts led 7-0 with 5:42 to go in the first quarter (the Colts first lead of the season).
A 25-yard connection from Marcus Mariota to Justin Hunter took the Titans into Colts territory. However, nice run stops from David Parry and some third-down pressure on Mariota led to the Titans third punt of the quarter.
The Colts would go three-and-out to end the opening quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the Colts led the Titans 7-0.Second Quarter Recap
With the Titans across midfield, the Colts defense made a massive play. New cornerback Josh Thomas jarred the ball loose from Titans tight end Delaine Walker with a crushing hit. Safety Dwight Lowery snagged the free ball and took off 69 yards the other way for a touchdown. The Colts now led 14-0 with 12:59 to go in the second quarter.
Tennessee answered the Colts drive with a 45-yard field goal from Ryan Succop. The drive could have been ended with seven points but a holding penalty on Tennessee negated a touchdown. At the 8:29 mark of the second quarter, the Colts led the Titans 14-3.
Finally back on the field, the Colts offense would go three-and-out. Titans edge rusher Brian Orakpo beat Anthony Castonzo for a third-down sack.
The Titans took things over looking for one final score before halftime. Tennessee converted a pair of third-and-longs with the Colts struggling to apply consistent pressure to Marcus Mariota. A seven-yard touchdown throw to Kendall Wright capped the 13-play drive for the Titans. The lead for the Colts was now 14-10 late in the first half.
At halftime, the Colts led the Titans 14-10.
Third Quarter Recap
The Colts offense started the second half with the ball but a three-and-out was the result. A third-down sack of Andrew Luck ended the drive.
Tennessee re-took the lead on their next drive. An eight-yard touchdown run from Antonio Andrews gave Tennessee a 17-14 lead with 9:51 left in the third quarter. On two separate instances, the Titans converted 1st-and-20s on the touchdown drive.
Needing an answer, the Colts offense would give the Titans the ball right back. Andrew Luck's out pattern to T.Y. Hilton was picked off by Titans cornerback Perrish Cox. Tennessee now had the ball at the Indianapolis three-yard line with 9:41 to go in the third quarter.
On the very next play, Marcus Mariota found Dorial Green-Beckham for the three-yard touchdown. The Titans now led the Colts 24-14 with 9:36 left in the third quarter.
Facing a two-score deficit for the first time all day, the Colts offense stayed in neutral. A three-and-out, with a holding penalty in there, led to another punt, What appeared to be a punt was actually a fake from Pat McAfee. His 18-yard scamper gave the Colts new life.
The new life wouldn't last long for the Colts. Titans linebacker Zach Brown picked off Andrew Luck two plays later. Tennessee now took over at the Colts 17-yard line with 6:45 left in the third quarter.
Tennessee squandered an opportunity to extend their lead to three scores though. A 21-yard field goal from Ryan Succop extended the Titans lead to 27-14 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
The struggles for the Colts offense continued. Another three-and-out gave the Titans the ball back at their own 21-yard line late in the third.
At the end of the third quarter, the Titans led the Colts 27-14.Fourth Quarter Recap
The Titans seemed prime to at least push their lead to 16 points with another drive in Colts territory. However, a third-down sack from Jerrell Freeman pushed the Titans out of field goal range. A downed punt would put the Colts at their own two-yard line, down 13, with 12:20 remaining.
The Colts would embark on a 12-play, 98-yard drive. Facing a third-and-20, Andrew Luck found Phillip Dorsett down the middle of the field for a 35-yard touchdown. Dorsett went up and made a nice play on the ball for his first NFL score. The Titans lead was 27-21 with 6:49 to play.
Needing a must-have stop, the Colts got it. And much more. Dwight Lowery picked off Marcus Mariota, setting the Colts offense up at the Titans 11-yard line with 5:59 left.
On the next play following the Lowery pick, Andrew Luck connected with Donte Moncrief for an 11-yard touchdown. The Colts lead was 28-27 with 5:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Down by one, the Titans offense couldn't produce a first down. A three-and-out gave the Colts a chance to milk some valuable clock.
The Colts did just that and more. A six-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore gave the Colts a 35-27 lead with 2:51 remaining.
Marcus Mariota led a huge touchdown drive that saw Jalston Fowler score on a one-yard run. Needing a two-point conversion to tie the score at 35, Fowler was stuffed.
The Colts held on for the 35-33 win in Nashville.
The Colts (1-2) will head home next week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) for a 1:00 p.m. EST kickoff on Sunday.Colts Inactives
20-Darius Butler
28-Greg Toler
58-Trent Cole
60-Lance Louis
67-T.Y. McGill
71-Denzelle Good
83-Dwayne Allen
Colts Pre-Game Notes
-The Colts are looking for their 14th straight AFC South win. The last loss the Colts had in the AFC South came during Week 15 of the 2012 season.Weather Update
-Saturday night brought plenty of rain to the Nashville area. Temperatures should be nearing 80 degrees for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. kickoff. There is minimal chance for rain.
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