Rivals Colts, Titans have swapped places in the AFC South

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans received the AFC South title within the first 12 months of NFL realignment in 2002. The Titans then proceeded to look at the Indianapolis Colts seize the division crown in seven of the subsequent eight seasons.

The AFC South was the Colts’ private playground for years. Now? All of it appears like historical historical past.

The Titans’ 19-10 victory over the Colts on Sunday gave them their fifth consecutive victory over the division rivals from Indianapolis and additional solidifies the Colts’ current place as second-best within the division. The Colts haven’t received the AFC South since 2014 – former quarterback Andrew Luck’s third season. In the meantime, the Titans have received two consecutive titles and now are in pole place after seven weeks of this season.

And the Titans’ newest win over the Colts highlights why the groups have been on their respective paths: The Titans would possibly’ve made fewer performs, however in addition they, per standard, made fewer errors. It’s what has set the Titans aside underneath coach Mike Vrabel, even permitting them to win 12 video games in 2021 when All-Professional operating again Derrick Henry missed 9 regular-season video games with a foot harm.

The Titans are the crew the Colts want they may very well be.

“They do not beat themselves,” Colts coach Frank Reich mentioned. “That is been their entire M.O. They do not beat themselves. Each crew’s making an attempt to play that very same sport. The saying is, ‘You are not going to win till you find out how to not lose.’”

Each time the groups play, this appears to be strengthened. Previously three conferences with the Titans, the Colts dedicated 9 turnovers. The Colts on Sunday additionally contributed sloppy offensive-line play and poor execution on third downs (4 of 13, 31%).

There was apparent frustration within the Colts’ locker room Sunday as gamers realized a lot of the fault within the loss lied with them. The Colts’ protection held the Titans with out a landing, persevering with the unit’s current stretch of stable performances. The Colts additionally outgained the Titans 292 yards to 254 yards.

What the Titans didn’t do was throw a pick-six like Colts quarterback Matt Ryan did within the second quarter, or fumble on a crucial possession like Michael Pittman Jr. did within the fourth quarter.

“Self-inflicted wounds,” receiver Parris Campbell referred to as them. “We’ve to attain factors. Must. In opposition to a crew like that, you possibly can’t make errors. As a result of with their offense, they’re not gonna lose the sport. They’re offense didn’t do something loopy. It was simply Derrick Henry operating the ball.

“You possibly can’t beat your self.”

The frustration with the predictable outcomes in opposition to the Titans is sporting on the Colts group. Proprietor Jim Irsay held a press availability in August throughout which he emphasised the significance of the Colts reversing this development in opposition to their major division rival.

“It’s about Tennessee,” he mentioned. “It’s about successful the division. It’s about going in opposition to these guys who’ve been very powerful and do a fantastic job there getting their gamers able to play soccer in a troublesome, bodily manner. So, it’s at all times powerful going in opposition to these guys, however we all know that’s what we have now to do. That’s what we have now to beat if we need to get the place we need to get.”

An fascinating subplot on this sequence is that Vrabel was a candidate for the Colts’ job when the Colts employed Reich in 2018. The Titans pounced and employed Vrabel earlier than the Colts selected how one can proceed in their very own search.

Now, after one other Colts loss to Tennessee, Reich’s statements from final week appear virtually prophetic.

The Colts, he mentioned, have “performed proper into their fingers. That’s what they’re anticipating. We all know this crew could be very disciplined. They handle the ball, they create turnovers, they’re good up entrance… They’re actually good and really well-coached.”

They’re additionally probably on their approach to one other AFC South title.