NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts (10-6) defeated the Tennessee Titans (9-7), 33-17, on Sunday night in Nashville, Tenn., punching their ticket to the postseason. Here are the notes and highlights from Indy's huge Week 17 victory.
FOURTH QUARTER
— Adam Vinatieri connects on a 25-yard field goal, and the Colts extend their lead to 10, 27-17, with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter. The Titans were looking like the aggressors down just seven to start the quarter, reaching midfield on a long drive. But Kenny Moore II stepped in front of a Blaine Gabbert pass for his third interception of the season. Huge play by the second-year corner.
— Marlon Mack with the cherry on top. The second-year running back punches it into the end zone from eight yards out, and the Colts take a 33-17 lead. Mack tonight: 25 rushing attempts for 119 yards and a score. Darius Leonard puts a bow on it with his second pick of the season.
— That's a final. Colts are postseason bound with their victory over the Titans. A No. 6 seed, the Colts will travel to take on the Houston Texans, the No. 3 seed, at 4:35 p.m. ET Saturday at NRG Stadium.
THIRD QUARTER
— It took 15-plus games, but Ryan Hewitt has his first reception of the season — and it's a big one. Hewitt hauls in a one-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck, and the Colts extend their lead back to 14 points, 24-10, with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter. Hewitt is the 13th player to haul in a touchdown reception for the Colts this season from Luck, tying an NFL record that both Drew Brees and Matt Ryan have been holding.
— The Titans get back to within seven. Luke Stocker hauls in a 22-yard touchdown reception, and the Colts' lead is 24-17 at the 1:47 mark of the third quarter. A huge 33-yard carry by Derrick Henry on the first play of this two-play drive set that one up for Tennessee. Colts need to hunker down here.
— At the end of the third quarter, the Colts lead the Titans, 24-17.
— Injury update: defensive tackle/end Tyquan Lewis (knee) is OUT; wide receiver Ryan Grant (toe) is QUESTIONABLE to return.
SECOND QUARTER
— It's been money all season. Andrew Luck finds Eric Ebron on a perfectly-placed nine-yard touchdown pass, and the Colts now lead the Titans, 14-0, with 9:26 left in the second quarter. Ebron, who leads all NFL tight ends in touchdown receptions, just caught the first touchdown by a tight end against this Tennessee defense all season.
— The Colts played about as well as they could for a quarter and a half, but then things came unraveled for a first time. On 1st and 10 from his own six-yard line, Andrew Luck drops back, climbs up the pocket and tries a couple pump fakes. The Titans aren't fooled; his pass intended for Nyheim Hines is intercepted by Jayon Brown and returned 22 yards for a touchdown. It's now Colts 14, Titans 7 with 6:47 left in the second quarter.
— Adam Vinatieri, who just turned 46 years old, nails a 53-yard field goal. Colts lead this thing 17-7 with 39 seconds left in the first half.
— Darius Leonard makes history, as he breaks the Colts' franchise record for tackles in a season. Read more about that accomplishment here.
— Titans connect on a 38-yard field goal, and we go into halftime with the Colts leading this one, 17-10.
FIRST QUARTER
— Colts take an early lead. After the Indy defense forces a three-and-out on Tennessee's opening possession — which started on the Colts' side of the 50 after the Titans had a successful reverse play on the opening kickoff — Andrew Luck leads Indy on a 12-play, 92-yard drive that takes 6:39 off the clock, as Luck, on 3rd and 8 from the Tennessee 11, scrambles to his left and then finds wide receiver Dontrelle Inman for the touchdown in the back of the end zone. It's Colts 7, Titans 0 with 6:39 left in the first quarter.
— At the end of the first quarter, the Colts lead the Titans, 7-0. Indy has eight first downs; Tennessee has one. Total offense: 139 for Colts; 15 for Titans. Time of possession: 11:10 for Colts; 3:50 for Titans.
PREGAME
The following players are inactive for today's 2018 Week 17 matchup against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium:
• T/G Le'Raven Clark
• CB Jalen Collins
• WR Daurice Fountain
• S Clayton Geathers
• C Ryan Kelly
• LB Ahmad Thomas
• RB Jonathan Williams
Lineup changes
The Colts are expecting the following lineup changes today:
— Evan Boehm is expected to start at center in place of Ryan Kelly.
— Mike Mitchell is expected to start at safety in place of Clayton Geathers.
