PSO Premium Review: Colts vs. Titans on TNF

1. A consistent running game is the key to Indy’s success

The spark Nyheim Hines’ provided for Indy’s offense on his 24th birthday was a jolt of life that tremendously helped the Colts control this game and pull off a major AFC South victory. The Colts running game has been wildly inconsistent this season. Hines either puts up elite performances or is borderline nonexistent (with no in-between) while rookie Johnathan Taylor has failed to live up to expectations thus far after Marlon Mack’s season-ending injury. 

Despite these inconsistencies, Hines is only led by Vikings RB Dalvin Cook in multi-RUSH TD games (3). Even though Indianapolis is now sitting atop their division at the moment, there is little margin for error with teams like the Packers, Titans (again) and Steelers further down the road. If Indy wants to make a statement and prove to the rest of the NFL that they are a legitimate title contender, at least two of those matchups will have to be Ws, fueled by an effective rushing attack.

2. The Titans’ struggling special teams have been their downfall

No NFL team has struggled with special teams the way Tennessee has this year. Just halfway through the season, Stephen Gostkowski has missed a league-leading 8 FG in what is quickly becoming his worst career year. On top of that, TEN was forced to sign an emergency punter after Brett Kern was placed on IR with a wrist injury. Saying replacement P Trevor Daniel struggled on Thursday Night Football would be an understatement. 

First, Daniel shanked a punt that led to a Colts TD and then after Tennessee’s next drive stalled, Daniel’s attempt was blocked and scooped up for another TD that represented the biggest play of the game. As the Titans continue to slide in the standings after starting 5-0, their special teams will have to seriously clean up the act if bouncing back and making a real playoff run is in the books, or it’ll prove to be their downfall not just in another game, but for their entire season.

3. The race for the AFC South title is going to be a tight one

As the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts prowl for an AFC South crown, each team has a legitimate chance of finishing strong down the stretch. IND gained a huge advantage tonight after TEN collapsed in the second half thanks to their special teams’ major gaffes. The Colts defense has carried them to where they are now and it will be of incredible importance that they maintain this momentum in order to have a shot at being on top by the end of the year. 

With all that in mind, this could be one of the few divisions where two teams’ Week 17 results will ultimately decide who gets the home playoff game, with the loser potentially being on the outside looking in at the playoffs with the Dolphins, Raiders and Browns all in line for Wild Card spots as well.