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Colts, Titans continue playoff chase

Dec 9, 2010 - 5:18 PM (Sports Network) - There was a point in this 2010 season where the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans appeared to be the clear-cut top two contenders for the AFC South crown. But when the time comes for these divisional foes to face one another Thursday at Nashville's LP Field, both find themselves merely trying to stay alive in the playoff chase.

The Colts and Titans each spent a period in sole possession of first place in the AFC South at midseason, before the teams fell victim to unexpected and prolonged slumps that are still ongoing. Indianapolis was 6-3 and owned a one- game advantage atop the standings in mid-November, but has since lost three straight times. Tennessee held a half-game lead in the division race at 5-2 through Week 7, but hasn't prevailed in five subsequent outings as a wave of turmoil has engulfed the normally-stable franchise.

As it stands now, Thursday's participants are both looking up at the surprising Jacksonville in the pecking order, with the 7-5 Jaguars registering their fourth win in five games with last weekend's 17-6 decision over the lifeless Titans in Nashville.

The Colts' free-fall may be viewed as the more shocking of the two, considering the defending AFC champions have reached the playoffs in each of the last eight campaigns and had won 12 regular-season games or more in seven consecutive years prior to this one. However, Indianapolis has been unable to withstand a litany of injuries at several key positions and more importantly, an uncharacteristically bad stretch from quarterback Peyton Manning.

The four-time NFL MVP enters Thursday's tilt mired in the worst three-week sequence of his brilliant career, having thrown an unheard-of 11 interceptions during the Colts' current skid. Manning was picked off four times in last week's 38-35 home overtime loss to resurgent Dallas, with the Cowboys returning two of the turnovers for touchdowns and the last one setting up the game-ending field goal in extra time.

Manning also tossed four interceptions and had two taken back for scores in a forgettable 36-14 setback to San Diego the previous week, Indianapolis' most lopsided loss at home since the organization took the future Hall of Famer with the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 draft.

Despite their recent woes, the Colts still control their own destiny in the team's quest for a seventh AFC South title in eight years. Following Thursday's important clash, Indianapolis will host the high-flying Jaguars in Week 15 and can edge out Jacksonville in a tie-breaker if it's able to win its four remaining contests.

The Colts will be heading into the Music City a banged-up bunch, however, with top running back Joseph Addai (neck), slot receiver Austin Collie (concussion) and starting linebacker Clint Session (forearm) all slated to miss another week and cornerback Jerraud Powers forced to injured reserve after fracturing his forearm against the Cowboys.

Believe it or not, the Titans actually have greater problems than their opponent at the moment. An offense now being directed by declining veteran Kerry Collins hasn't produced a single touchdown in 13 straight quarters, while a once-formidable defense has been gashed for 188 and 258 rushing yards, respectively, in defeats to division members Houston and Jacksonville over the past two weeks.

Collins, pressed into duty in the aftermath of troubled quarterback Vince Young's season-ending thumb injury and well-publicized tirade at head coach Jeff Fisher following an overtime loss to Washington in Week 11, completed a substandard 14-of-32 passes for 169 yards and was intercepted twice in last Sunday's matchup with the Jaguars.

The offense did receive a welcome bit of good news this week, however, as emerging wide receiver Kenny Britt is on track to return from a torn hamstring that's sidelined him for Tennessee's entire losing streak in time for Thursday's test. The talented second-year pro racked up 225 receiving yards and hauled in three Collins touchdown strikes in his last game, a 37-19 home victory over Philadelphia on Oct. 24.

Indianapolis will be attempting to avoid its first four-game slide since dropping five in a row from Nov. 11-Dec. 10, 2001, the last season the Colts failed to make the playoffs.

SERIES HISTORY

Indianapolis holds a 18-12 lead in its all-time regular season series with Tennessee, including a sweep of last year's home-and-home. The Colts were 31-9 winners when they teams met in Nashville in Week 5, and completed the sweep with a 27-17 home victory in Week 13. The teams embarked on a conventional split of the 2008 home-and-home, including a 31-21 victory for the Titans.

The only postseason meeting between the two was in a 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff, when Tennessee scored a 19-16 road victory en route to a Super Bowl appearance.

Fisher has a 6-11 record against Indianapolis, including the aforementioned playoff victory. The Colts' Jim Caldwell is 2-0 against both Fisher and Tennessee as a head coach.

Moving the ball hasn't been much of a problem for an Indianapolis team that leads the NFL in passing yards (303.3 ypg), ranks fourth in scoring (26.4 ppg) and is fifth overall in total offense (382.4 ypg). Manning (3709 passing yards, 24 TD, 15 INT) did amass 365 yards through the air and threw for two touchdowns in the Dallas loss, with All-Pro wideout Reggie Wayne (90 receptions, 1107 yards, 5 TD) torching the Cowboys' secondary for career bests of 200 receiving yards and 14 catches. He's the obvious headliner of a still- dangerous pass-catching corps that also contains speedy counterpart Pierre Garcon (46 receptions, 2 TD) and tight end Jacob Tamme (42 receptions, 3 TD), who's done a nice job filling in for injured star Dallas Clark, with rookie Blair White (22 receptions, 4 TD) holding down the third receiver's role until Collie returns. Turnovers and a lack of balance has been what's plagued the Colts as of late, as the team has failed to establish an effective rushing attack in the six games the valuable Addai has sat out. With backup running back Mike Hart also a no-go for Thursday due to an ankle problem, disappointing 2009 first-round pick Donald Brown (293 rushing yards, 1 TD, 16 receptions) and undrafted rookie Javarris James (63 rushing yards, 5 TD, 9 receptions) will carry the load when Indianapolis does take to the ground.

While the Colts are incredibly adept at throwing the ball, the Titans' strength on defense is in containing the pass. Scrappy cornerback Cortland Finnegan (60 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT) and playmaking free safety Michael Griffin (85 tackles, 4 INT, 9 PD) are the standouts of a solid backfield that's helped the team compile 15 interceptions so far this year, while a persistent pass rush headed up by ends Jason Babin (43 tackles, 9 sacks) and Dave Ball (30 tackles, 7 sacks) stands among the league leaders with 33 sacks. Tennessee also excels within the red zone, having yielded touchdowns on an NFL-low 36 percent of opposing trips in that area, and should challenge an Indy offense that's reached paydirt on an outstanding 70.7 percent of its visits inside the enemy's 20-yard line. Stopping the run has been a major trouble spot as of late, however, with both Houston's Arian Foster (143 yards) and Jacksonville's Maurice-Jones Drew (186 yards) delivering huge games against the Titans in the last two weeks. Since the Colts don't possess a back the caliber of those two, a front seven led by linebackers Stephen Tulloch (127 tackles, 1 INT) and Will Witherspoon (65 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) should have an easier time on Thursday. Tulloch is fresh off a 17-tackle effort against the Jaguars.

WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL

Tennessee's offensive druthers have coincided with a drop-off in both production and opportunity for the team's best weapon, running back Chris Johnson (1026 rushing yards, 9 TD, 29 receptions). The dynamic big-play threat has been an less active part of the game plan in recent weeks, in large part due to the Titans falling behind on the scoreboard and the inconsistent play of Collins (807 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) and raw rookie Rusty Smith under center. Johnson was held to career lows of five rushing yards and seven carries by the Texans two weeks back, and managed a modest 53 yards on 13 attempts last week. A bounce-back game would bode well for the prospects of Collins, who showed he could still do some damage with a 276-yard, three- touchdown display against the Eagles in late October, and having the promising Britt (23 receptions, 7 TD) back alongside leading receiver Nate Washington (33 receptions, 5 TD) should help out as well. Getting midseason pickup Randy Moss (27 receptions, 5 TD) untracked and ingrained in the offense could provide a needed boost as well, as the moody seven-time Pro Bowl honoree has just five catches and 62 yards in four games since being claimed off waivers from Minnesota. The Titans are next-to-last in the NFL in passing yards with an average of 179 per game.

Johnson's anticipated breakout could take place this week, as the Colts rank 29th in the NFL in run defense (142.8 ypg) and are allowing an unimpressive 4.8 yards per carry, with the pass-heavy Cowboys even having their way for 217 rushing yards in last week's thriller. Linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (35 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), who came up with 13 stops against Dallas, and rookie counterpart Pat Angerer (68 tackles, 1 sack) will have the unenviable task of keeping the Tennessee game-breaker under wraps, and the pair will have support from safety and leading tackler Antoine Bethea (86 tackles, 0.5 sacks). If Indianapolis is able to keep Johnson under wraps and force the Titans into obvious throwing downs, they'll be better equipped to unleash the tremendous pass-rushing duo of ends Dwight Freeney (21 tackles, 8 sacks) and Robert Mathis (44 tackles, 8.5 sacks) upon the cement-shoed Collins and protect a secondary that no longer has Powers (53 tackles, 2 INT, 9 PD) at one corner spot but is expected to get opposite-side starter Kelvin Hayden (61 tackles, 2 INT, 8 PD) back after he missed the Dallas game with a neck stinger.

FANTASY FOCUS

Those with Johnson on their rosters couldn't have a more enticing matchup than this one in time for what's the opening round of the playoffs in many fantasy leagues. He may be the only Tennessee player worth using right now, however, as Collins isn't starter worthy and the Titans figure to run a lot this week, which hinders the potential of Washington and Britt. And since the Titans aren't scoring much at all lately, kicker Rob Bironas becomes a pretty big risk. The Tennessee defense might be a good play here, however, when factoring in that the Colts have allowed four touchdowns to opposing stop units over the last two weeks. Manning owners have to look past his recent struggles and keep the accomplished quarterback in their lineups, and Wayne is an absolute must- play as well. Tamme has been a pretty reliable choice at the tight end spot since taking over for Clark, with Garcon a hit-or-miss option in the spread- it-around Indy offense from week-to-week. No Colts running back is a highly- recommended pick, though James did score two short touchdowns last Sunday, but kicker Adam Vinatieri is worth a look. The Indianapolis defense isn't normally a strong selection, but Tennessee's scoring drought may make for an exception.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Though both clearly haven't been at their best as of late, these are still two very talented teams with contrasts in styles that should make for an interesting matchup, one which still carries plenty of significance as well. For all their problems, the Titans remain a very physical team capable of playing stout defense and which possesses a clear x-factor in Johnson, who should be able to run wild against a soft Indianapolis rush defense. The Colts, on the other hand, have no ground game whatsoever at the moment, an underlying accomplice to Manning's turnover tendencies, and the team's extensive injuries will be a cross to bear for another week. This prediction is based on Tennessee displaying a measure of motivation and urgency, something it hasn't shown much lately, but there's no excuse whatsoever to for the Titans not to be determined against possibly their biggest rival and playing at home in front of a national stage.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Titans 30, Colts 23