Ask anyone on October 12 what they thought of the next time the Colts would play the Titans and they would probably have scoffed at the notion:
“Ha! They didn’t play last night when we trounced those amateurs 31-9, and in their backyard! Next time, after they have gotten their sorry behinds kicked a few more times, at our house- laughable, completely, totally, and absolutely laughable. That’s what that game will be.”
But darn it if the craziest things don’t tend to happen in the NFL. After a disastrous and embarrassing 0-6 start the Titans have rebounded behind the solid play of Vince Young and the electrifying Chris Johnson. Sunday, when they come into Lucas Oil Stadium they will not only look to avenge the loss, but keep their budding playoff hopes alive. As hot as they are playing right now that could prove to finally be the downfall of the undefeated Colts.
The Colts have proven why they are one of the best with impressive comebacks the last few weeks. Games like the first time they played the Titans are pretty boring; the Colts made the Titans look like a DIII college team in their last meeting. Ever since the dismantling of the Rams back in week 7 the Colts have been in a dog fight each week with most games requiring a rather impressive come from behind 4th quarter effort in order to get the job done.
However, often times the hole they climbed out of in the 4th was due to their own digging. In the last hour games Manning has thrown 7 interceptions often times killing drives and making the other team’s offense not work too hard to score. Manning fans will be quick to point out that he is averaging almost 300 yards a game and has thrown 9 touchdowns. When you throw interceptions and are forced to come from behind that is going to happen.
The key on Sunday will probably be whether or not the Colts can stop the running combo of Chris Johnson and Vince Young (LenDale White has not really been a factor this season) and get an attack going themselves. Joseph Addai has been doing the bulk of the work lately, churning out around 60 yards a game the last 6 weeks. Against the seventh ranked rush defense of the Titans Addai will find those yards difficult to come by. While the Colts are ranked as the 14th best run defense, they are only allowing about 7 more yards a game than the Titans.
Manning and crew will have their work cut out for them on Sunday in order to keep the undefeated season going. Interceptions or not, they will undoubtedly have their hands full.