NFL Week 16 predictions, expert picks: Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts host the Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 16 action as the Colts cling to slim AFC playoff hopes.

Both teams are coming off dispiriting losses. The Colts (6-8) made two huge blunders (here, here) in a disastrous second half against the Denver Broncos. The Titans (3-11) switched quarterbacks as they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Colts beat the Titans 20-17 in Week 6, but each team’s quarterback will be different this time around.

Want more Colts coverage? Nate Atkins, Joel A. Erickson and Gregg Doyel track the team all season, and sign up for IndyStar’s Colts newsletter.

NFL Week 16 expert picks, predictions: Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans

Nate Atkins, IndyStar: Titans 20-17

“The Colts are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Broncos that erased a clear lane to make the playoffs. That emotional toll will show up on Sunday in a subdued home atmosphere as the Titans come out swinging to prove they’re not the soft team they’ve been accused of lately.”

Joel A. Erickson, IndyStar: Colts 20-16

“Tennessee’s not as much of a wild card with Will Levis on the bench, but the Titans still have one of the NFL’s worst offenses with Mason Rudolph at the helm. The Colts have generally taken care of bad teams this season outside of cursed locations like Jacksonville.”

Gregg Doyel, IndyStar: Colts, no problem

“Colts aren’t very good, but the Titans are a whole other level of bad. Colts win. Won’t be close.”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Colts 24-17

“The Colts are alive in the playoff race − barely. The Titans are done and might be making a quarterback change. The Colts did some good things in losing to the Broncos last week in a game they should have won. They bounce back here. Colts take it.”

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: Titans 22-21

“The well-coached and feisty team that head coach Shane Steichen fielded last season has devolved to the point where a series of blunders now defines its current status. None of this even includes the continuing development of quarterback Anthony Richardson, whose ups and downs are so drastic that a bouncing bumble can be overwhelmed.”

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Colts 21-18

“These teams combined for 11 turnovers last week. Will Levis committed four turnovers in Week 15, and Mason Rudolph was not much better. The Colts committed five turnovers in their loss to Denver. Anthony Richardson had two interceptions. This one literally comes down to who protects the football, and it feels like a one-score game either way.”

Vic Tafur, The Athletic: Titans cover the spread

“The Colts were cruising to a victory last week when Jonathan Taylor dropped the ball before scoring a touchdown, and it was the first of a series of unforced errors. Their playoff chances took a big hit with the loss, though it would have been hard to make it the way Anthony Richardson is throwing the ball. Story time: The stats dudes started charting inaccurate throws in 2000. There have been 777 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 250 passes in a season. At 17.7 percent, Richardson comes in at No. 776. But he will be playing Sunday. The Titans’ Levis will not, being benched Wednesday for Mason Rudolph. Does it matter? Nah. The Titans will be able to run the ball better than the Colts, when you look at the defenses, and would have lost by a field goal and covered with Levis, too.”

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Colts 26-16

“The Colts need more help than a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs to make the postseason, but they will continue to cling to those hopes as long as St. Elmo continues to make the best shrimp cocktail. By the way, do you need reminded the Colts beat the Steelers earlier this season?”

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Titans 24-21

“The air went out of Indy’s balloons when Jonathan Taylor dropped the ball short of the goal line. Throw in Tennessee coach Brian Callahan’s epic rant in response to a question about the team being soft, and it’s just enough for the Titans to get another win.”

Dan Parr, NFL.com: Colts 24-21

“Here we have two teams that bungled their way to a combined 11 turnovers in their double-digit defeats last week. Sunday’s meeting will probably be at least a little less messy because the Titans made a change at quarterback − benching the giveaway-plagued Will Levis for Mason Rudolph − and I don’t think Jonathan Taylor will ever let go of the ball like he did last week. The unfortunate thing for Tennessee fans is they have already seen this movie and the ending still left a lot to be desired. When Rudolph started three contests earlier this season, he threw at least one INT in each outing and the Titans averaged 14.7 points per game, which is 4.4 points fewer than they average in Levis’ starts. Who will play the cleaner game? I don’t have much confidence that Anthony Richardson is up to the challenge, with four picks in his last two games, but Indianapolis has taken care of business against sub-.500 teams (5-1) and the defense allowed a season-low 3.2 yards per play to go along with three INTs last week. I’m grasping at straws and taking the home team.”

Colts-Titans betting odds

via BetMGM

Favorite: Colts by 3.5 points

Colts are 8-6 against the spread, failing to cover in five of their past six games; the Titans are 2-12 ATS.

Over/under: 42.5 total points

Six Colts games have gone over, seven under, and last weekend’s game was a push; eight Titans games have gone over, six under (three of the last four have gone over).

Moneyline: Colts -190, Titans +155

When do the Colts play the Titans in NFL Week 16?

1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

How to watch Colts vs Titans in NFL Week 16

CBS, with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), and Ross Tucker and Jay Feely (analysis).

How to stream, watch Titans-Colts game for NFL Week 16

The Colts-Broncos matchup will stream on Paramount+ at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. The app is available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Fans can also download NFL+ in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

How to listen to NFL Week 16 Titans-Colts game on radio, streaming

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis) and Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 231 and 813

What a deal!: Watch Colts-Titans on Fubo

Colts-Titans common opponents

The Colts (4-7) beat the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and New England Patriots, and have lost to the Houston Texans twice, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

The Titans (3-7) beat the Dolphins, Patriots and Texans, and have lost to the Bears, Jets, Packers, Bills, Lions, Vikings and Jaguars.

Colts-Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium

At Lucas Oil Stadium: Tickets start at $23 on StubHub

Colts 2024 schedule

all times ET

Sept. 8: Texans 29, Colts 27

Sept. 15: Packers 16, Colts 10

Sept. 22: Colts 21, Bears 16

Sept. 29: Colts 27, Steelers 24

Oct. 6: Jaguars 37, Colts 34

Oct. 13: Colts 20, Titans 17

Oct. 20: Colts 16, Dolphins 10

Oct. 27: Texans 23, Colts 20

Nov. 3: Vikings 21, Colts 13

Nov. 10: Bills 30, Colts 20

Nov. 17: Colts 28, Jets 27

Nov. 24: Lions 24, Colts 6

Dec. 1: Colts 25, Patriots 24

Dec. 15: Broncos 31, Colts 13

Dec. 22: vs. Tennessee, 1 p.m., CBS

Dec. 29: at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m., Fox

Jan. 5: vs. Jacksonville, TBD