There are two days left until the Indianapolis Colts take on the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. For the sake of their playoff aspirations, the Colts need to come out with a win over the top team in the AFC South. Therefore, Indianapolis needs to be at its best.
Heading into the start of the year, any high expectations for the Colts significantly dropped with after 0-3 start. If Indianapolis can walk away on Sunday with a win, the team will sit at .500 on the season with a 4-4 record. That would be an impressive five-week turnaround.
For that to happen, Indianapolis is going to rely on Carson Wentz’s arm, Jonathan Taylor’s vision and the defense. One of the biggest sore spots on the season has been the D, but after a solid outing against the 49ers last week, they’re going to need to carry that same energy over to Sunday.
The Colts have been lacking a few key pieces on both sides of the ball, but are currently as healthy as they’ve been all year. Heading into such a crucial matchup, this is big news.
All the Colts’ main pieces who’ve been injured of late — T.Y. Hilton, Braden Smith, Rock Ya-Sin, Xavier Rhodes, Kemoko Turay — are practicing again today. This team will be as healthy as it’s been all season Sunday vs. the Titans.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 29, 2021
Indianapolis Colts injury update: Encouraging news headed into Week 8
If Hilton is back on the field, Wentz is sure to extend his touchdown streak to five games. The wide receiver’s speed is the perfect pairing to Wentz’s ability to throw the ball far downfield. He played in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, but other than that he’s been sidelined for the majority of the year. If he can stay healthy, that’ll be a game-changer for Indianapolis.
Wentz and Taylor will have extended protection with the potential addition of offensive lineman Braden Smith. He hasn’t played since the Colts’ season-opener, when he went down with a foot injury. Tennessee’s linebackers have been a difference-maker in recent wins over Kansas City and Buffalo, so Wentz is going to need all the security that he can get.
As for a defense that’s going to have to find ways to stop both A.J. Green and Derrick Henry, the promising injury updates are very encouraging. Cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Xavier Rhodes, along with defensive end Kemoko Turay, will help boost a defense that has performed below average. Still, last week was a huge confidence booster.
A lot is going to have to go right to knock off one of the hottest teams in the AFC — according to our friends at WynnBET, all this leaves the Colts as -145 favorites on the moneyline entering this one. Frank Reich will be happy to have these five players back on the field. The stage has been set and the Colts should be feeling decent about their chances to walk away victorious this weekend.
Colts: 3 matchups vs. Titans that must be exploited
The Indianapolis Colts will host the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in an AFC South showdown in Week 8. Here's what the Colts need to do to win.