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

It’s been a whirlwind of a season for second-year Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, as he’s been tasked with navigating through the trials and tribulations that a young, developmental signal caller faces at the NFL level.

However, through the steep turbulence the Colts and Richardson suffered early on in the season, it’s been clear that the players in the locker room have had his back during the process– especially the Colts’ veteran leader, DeForest Buckner.

Ahead of the Colts’ dire battle against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Buckner sounded off on how he’s tried to help Richardson throughout his roller-coaster second season pro, per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan:

“Him being a young player and the stage that he’s on and the pressure that he has, I can’t relate to that. I’m not a quarterback,” Buckner said. “I can relate to it as a former first-round pick, being a team’s first pick, having all these high expectations for the guy and coming in, and that type of pressure. But also, he is essentially the franchise quarterback, the guy that they brought in to be the guy to lead this team, the city, to wins.”

The first half of the season was far from Richardson’s best. During his six games as QB1 before being benched for poor performance, he had a 44.6% completion rate, a 4-7 touchdown-interception ratio, and paired it with an ugly six fumbles lost. It placed Joe Flacco in line to start for a short two-game stint before ultimately seeing Richardson back in line under center.

Yet, throughout such a shaky time in Richardson’s early career, Buckner made sure to have his signal caller’s back, trying to throw a bit of advice his way as one of the most prominent leaders of this Colts roster.

“I just felt I needed to speak up and tell him how I felt,” Buckner continued. “Even though he was benched, I still believe, and [the team] also believed he needs to know that, especially as a young player. But also know that the standard wasn’t being met and that he needs to pick it up. I feel like he responded well to that.”

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In his four games back from his benching, things haven’t been perfect, but Richardson has shown some positive strides in the right direction.

He’s led two game-winning drives during the Colts’ two wins across that stretch, emerged as one of the top rushing threats at quarterback in the NFL, and continues to showcase a couple of explosive moments on a week-to-week basis. Despite coming out of the gates for this season a bit rattled, Richardson has taken the criticism and gotten back on track.

“He’s shown the team on a consistent basis that he’s all in for the team,” Buckner stated. “He’ll do whatever it takes for the team to get these wins and to be the best player he can be. I’ve been very proud of him for everything that he’s done so far, and just the way he responded, really, that’s the biggest thing.”

“A lot of guys say they want to be great, and when when you get criticism from your peers or coaches, some young guys tend to get defensive with little things,” Buckner said. “But he just took it, he ran with it, learned from it and grew. So I’m just proud that he’s grown so far.”

Richardson will have another opportunity to show some forward progress in the Colts’ upcoming home bout on Sunday vs. the Titans, where Indianapolis hopes to sweep their division rival for the second-straight season.

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We’re getting close to Christmas, and I’m feeling a little traditional, so I decided to give you a list of make-or-break players at every position this week, including defense. A stocking stuffer at each position!

‘Tis the season for fantasy miracles and potential boom weeks that can carry you into your fantasy championship!

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

We don’t traditionally think of him this way, but Stafford is fairly boom-or-bust by nature. It’s easy to miss because he’s an elite quarterback. However, Stafford’s lack of mobility means that to “make” your fantasy lineup, he either needs 300+ yards or a couple of touchdowns. If he throws an interception, can’t break 250 yards or manages just one touchdown, you’re likely getting a low-end QB2 or worse. Stafford has had three games this season finishing as QB30 or lower.

The Rams offense is either clicking on all cylinders or struggling. There’s typically no in-between, hence their constant jostling in the NFC West. The last time we saw Stafford was in a messy, rainy Thursday night game against the 49ers. Stafford had just 16 completions for 160 yards and no touchdowns in a game where Cooper Kupp didn’t catch a single pass. To be fair, conditions weren’t ideal, and both quarterbacks struggled significantly.

Will Stafford make or break your lineup in Week 16?

We’re due for a Matt Stafford boom game, and at first glance, a matchup against the New York Jets seems like a less-than-ideal scenario. However, the Jets defense has been in a tailspin since the firing of Robert Saleh. They’ve allowed strong performances to Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, Anthony Richardson, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.

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On a positive note, Aaron Rodgers is on a bit of a hot streak, meaning he should be able to take advantage of an inconsistent Rams defense and push this into a high-volume, back-and-forth game with one of the highest point totals of the week. The only concern is that the game is in New York, which brings potential weather implications. As of now, the forecast is simply cold, with no inclement weather expected, so Stafford should have no issues.

Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns

With Nick Chubb out for the season, Ford is the next man up. I discussed Ford in this week’s Pulse Check, recapping his Week 15 performance and potential moving forward. Ford had a strong showing — the best Cleveland has seen in a while — as Chubb had been struggling on the ground and relying on touchdowns. Ford posted 84 rushing yards and a touchdown, including an electric 62-yard run, plus a couple of receptions.

Ideally, I’d like a week to see Ford in a clear lead-back role — especially given Kevin Stefanski’s lack of commitment earlier in the season — and evaluate how this offense operates with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of time. It’s Week 16, and we’re all in must-win scenarios. With a variety of injuries and underwhelming performances from running backs across the league, many fantasy managers might be considering Ford as a potential starter this week.

Will Ford make or break your lineup in Week 16?

While there are plenty of unknowns heading into this matchup, one thing is certain: Cincinnati’s defense is a complete mess. Running backs have had notable success against them in recent weeks, so we can take a leap of faith that Ford will provide at least a low-end RB2 floor. It’s also worth noting that Ford has decent receiving upside, a critical factor when facing the Bengals. Backs like Tyjae Spears, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren all thrived against them through receptions.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Heading into the season, you could’ve given me 1,000 guesses, and I would never have thought DK Metcalf would be a player I’d view as a make-or-break candidate. Unfortunately, since his return from injury, he’s failed to crack the top 30 at receiver and has hit double-digit fantasy points just once. To be fair, this hasn’t been an easy stretch of matchups, but the bigger problem is that while Metcalf is struggling, Jackson Smith-Njigba has essentially taken over as the WR1.

After Smith-Njigba’s breakout performance in Week 9 against the Rams, he has been the complete opposite of Metcalf. Smith-Njigba has posted at least 10 fantasy points in every game since Metcalf’s return, never finishing lower than WR34. Five games is enough of a sample size to suggest we may be witnessing a changing of the guard and a shift in offensive philosophy, leaving Metcalf as the secondary option in an inconsistent offense.

Will Metcalf make or break your lineup in Week 16?

In the past, Geno Smith hasn’t had an issue supplying volume to multiple receivers. However, during this stretch, Smith has failed to exceed 250 passing yards or throw multiple touchdowns in a game. There simply isn’t enough volume to go around, and Metcalf is the one suffering.

Looking at the Week 16 matchup against Minnesota, there are a couple of ways this could play out. Minnesota’s defense has been stout this year, but they do allow volume. While quarterbacks are less than ideal plays against the Vikings, wide receivers can still thrive. Although Metcalf has had a shaky floor, I think he leans more toward hitting double-digit fantasy points this week, making him less of a bust risk based purely on volume and potential game flow.

Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson returned from injury, and while Luke Schoonmaker did an admirable job in his absence, Ferguson is clearly the TE1 in Dallas. Unfortunately, holding that title hasn’t translated into production. Since his strong Week 9 game against Atlanta, Ferguson has gone from a fairly reliable TE1 option to failing to finish inside the top 20 at the position.

It’s likely not a coincidence that Week 9 was the last time we saw Dak Prescott under center. It’s possible Cooper Rush and Ferguson simply don’t mesh. The bigger issue, however, is Rush’s lower passing volume compared to Prescott and Dallas’ fairly average target distribution to tight ends. Low volume plus average distribution equals a middling TE2.

Will Ferguson make or break your lineup in Week 16?

Ferguson has repeatedly dropped in my rankings, but this week he gets a slight boost, thanks to a favorable matchup against Tampa Bay. Tampa has consistently been one of the most generous defenses to passing attacks, including tight ends. It’s allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the position this season.

That said, we still need to be cautious. Even in excellent matchups like Cincinnati and Carolina, the Cowboys haven’t pushed significant volume with Rush at quarterback. While a high-volume game for Ferguson is unlikely, a touchdown and favorable game flow make him a viable option this week.

Indianapolis Colts D/ST

We’ve got a special treat this week: for the first time, I’m including a defense in this article!

With so many shaky backup quarterbacks thrust into starting roles across the league, several intriguing streaming defenses have emerged as top-12 options. Fantasy managers face some tough choices in Week 16: do you rely on a traditionally strong defense like Kansas City, facing a Houston offense that’s inconsistent but capable of explosive play? Or do you take a risk on a lesser-regarded defense with an excellent matchup against a turnover-prone quarterback?

The Indianapolis defense has been a mixed bag. They’ve allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks but the 10th-fewest to wide receivers. Against running backs, they’ve given up the eighth-most fantasy points, though Joe Mixon accounted for much of that damage, and they’ve faced overall strong backfields. While I expect Tony Pollard to take advantage of this matchup if he’s active, the damage he does on the ground won’t be enough to negate the potential for multiple turnovers by Mason Rudolph.

Will Indianapolis make or break your lineup in Week 16?

Ideally, we’d love to see Will Levis in this spot, but Rudolph will suffice. Rudolph has thrown at least one interception in every game he’s started this season, totaling five interceptions to just six touchdowns. In only three starts and two partial games, he’s also fumbled four times. Fantasy managers looking for high-upside streaming defenses with the potential to generate turnovers — and maybe even a glorious pick-six — should look to Indianapolis this week.