5 things you need to know about Titans vs. Colts in Week 6

The Tennessee Titans went into their off-week with a 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night at South Florida. Now the club returns to the field and faces its first divisional foe of the season, hoping to build on that first win of 2024.

The Titans are also looking for their first home triumph this season. They have already fallen to the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium.

All-Time Series Record

Although these franchises first met in 1970, when the the-Baltimore Colts defeated the then-Houston Oilers at the Astrodome, these teams did not become division rivals until 2002 when the AFC South was formed. Since then, the Indianapolis Colts own a 30-14 advantage and one year ago, they swept the two-game set for the first time since 2018.

Prior to those two losses last season, the Titans won the previous five meetings. In 2024, the Colts came away with a 23-26 win in Week 5 at Indianapolis. Eight weeks later (Week 13), Indianapolis completed the sweep via a wild 31-28 victory.

Quarterbacks: Tale of the Tape

Shane Steichen via longtime Colts’ writer Mike Chappell: “Anthony Richardson is our starting quarterback when healthy.” He will be a gametime decision, so veteran Joe Flacco could make his second straight start and third appearance this season. In two games, he’s connected on 49 of his 70 throws (70.0) for 527 yards and five scores without an interception. He has been sacked six times and lost his only fumble. Richardson is expected to start.

On the other hand, second-year Titans’ signal-caller Will Levis’s issues are very well-documented. He missed most of the team’s Monday night win at Miami with a shoulder issue. On Tennessee’s first series of that game, he served up his sixth interception of the season, committing his league-leading ninth turnover. Backup Mason Rudolph did a solid job in relief. However, Levis will start on Sunday, and he's capable of exploiting a porous Colts’ secondary.

Defensive Analysis

Speaking of Indianapolis’ defense, this group has had plenty of problems in all aspects. No team has allowed more total yards per game (419.2), and only the Rams are giving up more yards per contest on the ground (157.0). Gus Bradley’s unit is also ranked 29th in the league in pass defense. Those are pretty wild numbers, considering the Colts have totaled a respectable dozen sacks, and forced eight turnovers.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum are the Titans. Coordinator Dennard Wilson is at the helm of a group that has allowed the fewest total yards and passing yards per game in the league. Brian Callahan’s team has given up just six offensive touchdowns. However, Tennessee has surrendered a total of 90 points because Levis has had two interceptions returned for scores, and the Titans had a punt blocked for a TD.

Keys to the Game

Colts: Steichen will be without his team’s top rusher for this clash. Running back Jonathan Taylor (349) has already been ruled out. The duo of Taylor and Richardson have combined for 490 of the club’s 626 yards on the ground, and five of the Colts’ seven rushing touchdowns this season. The Colts will apparently have wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has been bothered by a back injury.

Titans: It shouldn’t be hard for Nick Holz’s attack to take advantage of a team that has allowed the most total yards per game in the league (419.2). While only the Rams have allowed more yards per game on the ground, Levis could flourish against a defense that is allowing opposing passers to complete 71.7 percent of their throws. He’s thrown only four TD passes in three-plus games in 2024, only two to wide receivers.

Titans Player to Watch

Tennessee’s veteran wideout contingent may thrive against this aforementioned Colts defense. Keep an eye on 12-year pro DeAndre Hopkins, who was targeted a combined 11 times vs. the Packers (7) and Dolphins (4) and finished with eight catches for 104 yards and one score. The productive receiver saw only three throws his way the first two weeks of the season and totaled just one reception in each outing.

Then again, there hasn’t been much from the NFL’s 29th-ranked passing attack. In fact, Hopkins (10), Tyler Boyd (10), and Calvin Ridley (9) have combined for only 29 catches. That adds up to just 370 yards and a pair of touchdowns—one each from Ridley and Hopkins. There are 10 wide receivers in the NFL that have caught at least 29 passes five weeks into the season. Hopkins could be the key to an explosive outing.