Are the Indianapolis Colts a legit Super Bowl contender? Yes? No? Well, here is what we know so far. The Indianapolis Colts were 5-3 going into their game against a 6-2 Tennessee Titans team. This was one of the most important games of the season for the Colts, because they needed to establish themselves as the top dog in the AFC South.
The Colts are also in the midst of a tough four game stretch against the Ravens, Titans, Packers, and Titans again. For the Colts to solidify themselves as a playoff lock, they will need to win another one of these games and hope for at least a 10-6 record. The Colts started the evening off with a scare, as they let the Titans score with ease on their first drive. From there until halftime, the Colts managed to keep the game close, and head into half only trailing 13-17.
Once the second half started, the Colts were not playing around and they dominated the Titans defensively. The Colts kept Ryan Tannehill from heating up which led them to use Derrick Henry, who still rushed for over 100 yards despite not scoring a touchdown.
Another reason for the massive victory was the outstanding performance from the Colts special teams who blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown. Nyheim Hines displayed that he is a reliable RB1, scoring a touchdown on the ground and through the air. Although the Colts offense played fittingly, there are still worries about Jonathon Taylor. He has seen less touches each week, as this week he saw the ball seven times and only earning 12 yards from scrimmage rushing. If Frank Reich can find a way to incorporate him in the offense more effectively and can rely on Phillip Rivers to be consistent, then this Indianapolis team could be a threat in the playoffs.
They don’t have a walk-in-the-park schedule to the playoffs though, given that their schedule is not effortless. Some key matchups for determining their chance at a playoff spot are coming up soon, with games against the Titans in two weeks and the Raiders in Week 14. If they can beat the Titans for a second time, then they should be able to win the AFC South. If not, they’ll need to beat Las Vegas, as they are also in the hunt for a wildcard spot.
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