Colts-Titans rivalry will take gigantic leap forward in November

The Colts’ rivalry with Tennessee will take a huge leap forward next month.

We could imagine that fans in Indianapolis had mixed feelings about having no Colts football to watch this weekend. As much as it stunk not having a team to root for during the incredibly entertaining Week 7 slate, which featured six one-score games so far, it was probably nice to get a break from the stress that comes with watching their contests.

While there were positive vibes stemming from last week’s comeback victory, fans can only hope that the near-loss to an inferior Bengals side served as a wake-up call for Indianapolis entering their bye. After all, their remaining schedule is relentless and head coach Frank Reich will be hoping that last season’s second half capitulation doesn’t rear its ugly head.

It goes without saying that November will make or break the Colts’ campaign, as out-of-division games include matchups with Baltimore and Green Bay, both of whom have a combined 10-2 record so far this year.

As daunting as those clashes are, however, head coach Frank Reich’s side will have an  opportunity to potentially leapfrog Tennessee in the AFC South, with the division rivals set to square off twice in a three-game span next month.

We hope you enjoyed the week off, Colts fans, because things are going to heat up in a hurry following next Sunday’s game vs Detroit. That obviously isn’t implying they should overlook the Lions, who are quietly right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture at 3-3, but Indy should absolutely be favored to beat them, even on the road.

The Colts-Titans rivalry wasn’t exactly competitive during the Andrew Luck era as Indy rattled off 11 consecutive victories between 2011 and 2016. Tennessee has since made things look respectable, splitting their meetings at three games apiece since then. However, that stretch wasn’t without struggle as it included a three-game skid from Nov. 2018 to Sept. 2019.

One could argue that Indianapolis and Tennessee are two of the most promising young teams in the NFL, and their largely one-sided rivalry — the Colts hold a 34-17 advantage — could easily become one of the most intriguing in the coming years.

Both teams facing off twice in less than a three-week span in November is the perfect opportunity to catapult their rivalry into the elite conversation, and we honestly don’t know whether to be excited or terrified.

Here’s why the Colts should wait until offseason to make a big trade

Indianapolis Colts fans want the team to make a big splash at the trade deadline, but here's why general manager Chris Ballard should wait.