Week 12 Game Scout: Titans at Colts

Nov 25, 2017 - 1:17 AM TENNESSEE TITANS (6-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-7)

GAME SNAPSHOT

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lucas Oil Stadium. TV: Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 46th regular-season meeting. Colts lead series, 31-14. The Titans finally ended an 11-game losing streak to the Colts by winning 30-22 on "Monday Night Football" on Oct. 16. Now, they go to Lucas Oil Stadium, where they are 0-9 all-time.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Titans were forced to play with Marcus Mariota in the pocket in the first meeting in October. Mariota was effective enough throwing the ball, but the run element was missing as he nursed a hamstring injury.

He should be able to run better in this meeting, which should add an important element back to a running game that was nearly non-existent against Pittsburgh.

The Colts have to find ways to contain Tennessee's running attack. They did a pretty good job of it in their last meeting until the fourth quarter. Keeping track of Mariota and not allowing him to make plays with his legs is crucial.

Indianapolis has to be able to control tempo offensively and take full advantage of its red-zone opportunities. The Colts' biggest issue this season has been playing well for a half and then having problems moving the ball in the second half.

The Titans will find an improved Jacoby Brissett operating the Colts' offense. Brissett, who is plenty mobile, should be able to throw the ball more this time around and test the Titans' secondary.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Titans CBs Logan Ryan and Adoree' Jackson. The Titans did a great job of limiting their long-time nemesis Hilton in the first meeting, holding him to one catch. Jackson has the speed to match up with him and Ryan is a veteran who can put himself in good position against the explosive Hilton. Hilton has had several big games against Tennessee, hauling in 44 passes for 667 yards but scoring just two touchdowns. In 11 career games vs. the Titans, he has recorded two 100-yard receiving performances and four games with over 90 yards.

--Titans QB Marcus Mariota vs. Colts CBs Pierre Desir/Rashaan Melvin. Mariota completed 23 of 32 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's home win earlier this season. He had a 53-yard TD pass to rookie WR Taywan Taylor but was intercepted once by OLB John Simon for a touchdown. Mariota has thrown just three interceptions in four career games vs. Indianapolis. Melvin has two interceptions and Desir one this season.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT

TENNESSEE TITANS

--Questionable: WR Rishard Matthews (hamstring)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

--Out: TE Darrell Daniels (hamstring), DT Hassan Ridgeway (shoulder)

--Questionable: DE Margus Hunt (illness), G Kyle Kalis (knee)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Titans WR Rishard Matthews. He has 41 receptions, good for second on the team, and also is averaging 15.3 yards per catch, which was helped by a 75-yard touchdown against the Steelers.

FAST FACTS: Titans QB Marcus Mariota passed for 306 yards and a TD in the last meeting. He has seven TDs vs. three INTs in four career games vs. Indianapolis. Since entering the league in 2015, he has 36 TDs and 0 interceptions in the red zone, giving him the highest TD:INT ratio in the NFL. ... Titans RB DeMarco Murray had 87 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD in the last meeting. He aims for a fifth game in a row vs. Indianapolis with TD. ... Titans RB Derrick Henry rushed for a career-high 131 yards, including a 72-yard TD, in the last meeting. ... Titans TE Delanie Walker has seven-plus catches in four of the past six meetings with Indianapolis. ... Titans LB Wesley Woodyard had eight tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in the last meeting. ... Titans K Ryan Succop converted all five FG attempts, including a long of 48, in the last meeting and won AFC Special Teams Player of Week. ... Colts QB Jacoby Brissett passed for two TDs in Week 10. He aims for a fourth game in a row with two-plus TD passes. ... Colts RB Frank Gore has 197 scrimmage yards in his past two home meetings with the Titans. He has 13,574 rushing yards and needs 89 to pass Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis (13,662) for sixth in NFL history. ... Colts WR T.Y. Hilton ranks second in the NFL with 20.1 yards per catch avg. He has 77 25-yard catches since entering the league in 2012, most in the NFL. ... Colts LB John Simon had 11 tackles, a sack and a 26-yard INT-TD in the last meeting. ... Colts CB Rashaan Melvin had three passes defensed and a tackle for loss in the last meeting. ... Colts CB Pierre Desir had his first career INT in Week 10.

PREDICTION: Back in October, the Titans finally put an end to their 11-game losing streak to the Colts. Now they end their futility in Indianapolis, where they have lost nine in a row, and pull off the surprising sweep.

OUR PICK: Titans, 20-17.

--Ellen Port