Colts-Titans Preview
By JUSTIN BYERS
ISL Contributor
INDIANAPOLIS — Prior to the 2018 season, expectations for the Indianapolis Colts weren’t necessarily low, but many expected the organization to be in a rebuilding process. However, first-year head coach Frank Reich, General Manager Chris Ballard, and the rest of the organization didn’t share the same sentiment. In the first six games, the Colts fell to 1-5. Many of those losses were by small margins and included one or two plays that made the difference. The Colts proved to the rest of the NFL that they are a football team that should not be taken lightly. And now, the stage is set for Sunday night- they will compete for the AFC wildcard playoff spot against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football.
The 2018 Colts have come a long way. This team has a unique opportunity ahead of them. NFL history has not favored teams who started 1-5, but the Colts can change that narrative. Many expected this roster, flooded with youth, to have growing pains. Those pains were evident early, but the coaching staff has prepared this team to compete each week to the point that the pains have turned to lessons that have been applied on the field. Hence, the Colts’ recent surge of success. What is unique about this team is not necessarily its superstar quarterback or wide receiver but its ability to compete at a high level in all three phases of the game; offense, defense, and special teams.
This is a complete football team. A team of that make-up has the ability to make noise late in the season as a playoff opportunity is available. The turnaround and the chance to compete for a playoff berth solidifies that the Colts have the ability to beat any AFC opponent.
The game against the Titans favors the Colts. Vegas likes the Colts by 3.5 points. Even though the Colts are away from Lucas Oil Stadium, the Titans are officially without corner Logan Ryan, defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, and linebacker Brian Orakpo. All three players are staples of the highly rated Titans defense. Andrew Luck has owned the Titans, and the Colts are the ones who have gone 8-1 in their last nine games. A Week 14 win against the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium proved the Colts can win on the road. With Reich eager to prepare his team for this “win or go home” game, the Colts will be eager to prove their worth against an AFC South foe.
Fellow first-year Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will be looking to exploit Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. However, he may also be without starting quarterback Marcus Mariota who is questionable with a nerve issue. Without Mariota, the Titans will rely on journeyman Blaine Gabbert who will bear the responsibility of the Titans’ playoff hopes.
“You know what, we are just going to kind of prepare for their system more or less,” Coach Reich told Colts.com. “(Blaine) Gabbert is also a pretty athletic guy. I don’t think they are that dramatically different as far as the style of their play and kind of the skill set that they have. I think they are both good quarterbacks, both really athletic. Obviously, (Marcus) Mariota is elite athletically, but Gabbert is pretty athletic himself. I think we will just focus in there.”
The weather will be something to keep an eye on. 24 hours before kickoff, weather reports are calling for a rainy night with temperatures in the 40’s.
Despite all the injury woes, the Titans will come out firing on all cylinders, and the Colts will have no small task. But at the end of the day, the Colts have a rare opportunity to shock the NFL and its audience by having one of the most significant turnarounds to a season in NFL history. Win or lose, Colts fans can be excited about a huge game Sunday night, and a bright future ahead.
(@TylerSmith_ISL contributed to this story.)
