Colts (6-5) at Titans (4-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee TV: CBS
Spread (BetMGM): Colts by 2.5
Colts’ keys to victory: Indy needs to bring the heat on Tennessee’s suspect offensive line, which has been poor against the blitz. The Titans have been especially bad at the tackle spots. On offense, if the Colts can keep Tennessee’s inconsistent pass rush at bay, QB Gardner Minshew and Co. should be able to pick apart a Titans secondary that has struggled without the help of consistent pressure from the group up front.
Titans’ keys to victory: The Tennessee offense needs to do a better job of playing a productive full 60 minutes, and that’s especially true for QB Will Levis. The Titans also need to do a better job of taking pressure off the rookie by getting RB Derrick Henry going. On defense, the Titans can’t allow the Colts to run wild like they did in Week 5 and instead must force Minshew to beat them through the air. The pass rush also must show up in order to take pressure off a bad secondary.
Matchup to watch: Titans’ front seven vs. Colts’ running backs. The last time these two teams met, RB Zack Moss went off for 165 yards while RB Jonathan Taylor was eased back in. This time around, Taylor will be a full go and presents even more of a challenge. With the issues Tennessee’s secondary has had, the team can’t afford to allow the Colts to successfully run the ball.
Who wins? The Titans barely beat the Panthers last week, so there’s no reason to believe they’ll be able to beat a superior team like the Colts. Tennessee keeps it close, but Indianapolis ultimately secures the season sweep.
Colts, 24-17