Titans continue to own the Colts, forcing Indy into a tough spot as a franchise
The Indianapolis Colts once again lost to the Tennessee Titans. The Week 7 loss will force Indy to think about its standing in the AFC South.
Entering Week 7, the Indianapolis Colts were coming off of a big win against the Jacksonville Jaguars where they scored a season-high 34 points. It seemed like Indy had worked out a lot of the issues that were plaguing the team and that Indy was starting to turn the corner. However, everyone knew the Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans would be the real test.
Before Sunday, Tennessee had beaten Indianapolis in the last four matchups. Additionally, the Titans have won the AFC South for the last two years. It’s no secret that they’re the measuring stick for the division. Indy was hoping to end that losing streak on Sunday and prove that they are now the team to beat in the AFC South. That didn’t happen, as Tennessee won its fifth-straight game against the Colts, winning 19-10.
Now, Indianapolis will be forced to do some soul-searching as a franchise. The season isn’t over by any means but the inability to show up against the division rival will make the franchise’s decision-makers closely analyze the personnel and contemplate changes.
The Week 7 loss to the Titans isn’t just another game for the Colts
All throughout the offseason, Colts’ owner Jim Irsay made it very clear that he was tired of the franchise losing to the Titans. Both similarly built teams with coaches that were hired in the same cycle, it was evident that Irsay’s patience was running thin with Tennessee’s sustained dominance in the division. Now, Irsay’s patience is being tested by two more losses.
It’s not far-fetched to think that getting swept by the Titans for the second season in a row is enough for people to get fired. After Sunday’s loss Frank Reich’s and Chris Ballard’s seats have to be getting hotter. However, it’s unlikely that mid-season changes will occur so the Colts have a chance to right this ship.
Indianapolis is only 3-3-1 and is second in the AFC South. Although the team was swept by the Titans, there are 10 games left and the Colts could very well still win the division and make their way into the postseason. With a quality playoff run, everyone’s job could be secure. However, the Colts have a lot to fix before that can become a real possibility and the Tennessee Titans showed that on Sunday.
