Here’s why Colts going for it on 4th down multiple times vs Titans was smart

The Colts’ aggressiveness on fourth down is a lot more sensible than you think.

The Indianapolis Colts weren’t playing around on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans. Head coach Frank Reich went for it FIVE times on fourth down and converted three of them, though the two the Colts missed were deflating.

On fourth-and-goal from the Titans one-yard line in the third quarter, Jordan Wilkins got stuffed, which kept Tennessee in the lead. The running back also came up short on a fourth-and-one in the first quarter after the Colts opted to pass up a 47-yard field goal.

Indy has rookie sensation Rodrigo Blankenship! Why aren’t we trying to secure the easier points against the first-place team in the AFC South? A loss could’ve put the Colts back big with tough games remaining against the Packers, Steelers and Titans again down the stretch.

But a 47-yarder is no gimme. And kicking a field goal from the one-yard line is pretty much proof that you’re not going for the win (the Colts were down 17-13 at that point).

Fans must’ve forgotten that the Titans hadn’t been playing good football (particularly on offense) for a few weeks, which likely, in Reich’s mind, afforded the Colts these opportunities to take shots. Tennessee had lost two of their last three and didn’t look particularly good offensively against the Chicago Bears the week prior.

And when you look back even farther, this team only beat the Broncos, Jaguars and Texans by a combined six points. The Titans aren’t blowing anybody out or making them pay for untimely mistakes.

Another important element here? The Colts have arguably the best defense in the NFL, which was getting plenty of rest on Thursday night because the offense was eating up clock, putting together solid drives. and avoiding three-and-outs. A chance to flip the field just 30 yards and the possibility of taking three points instead of pinning the Titans on their one-yard line seems much less appealing when you know your defense is up for the challenge.

Aside from the first drive of the game, the Titans didn’t exactly march up and down the field on the Colts, and Reich realized that as the game progressed. He took advantage of Tennessee’s reliance on the run game and used the defense to his benefit.

That’s what we call shrewd coaching.

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