The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts will do battle for the second and closing time in 2022 once they meet at Nissan Stadium in Nashville in Week 7.
The Titans, who at the moment sit in first place, managed to squeak out a victory over the Colts in Week 4 because of a powerful first half from the offense, and an excellent efficiency from the protection all through.
Indianapolis comes into this sport with a head of steam, although, as not solely did the Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6, additionally they scored 34 factors, essentially the most the offense has mustered up this season.
In the meantime, the Titans are coming off their much-needed bye and hope to get again a few of the many gamers they’re lacking on each side of the ball. Indianapolis is hoping some key gamers return, additionally.
We’ll dive into that scenario and extra as we check out seven issues to know for this AFC South showdown.
In accordance with Tipico Sportsbook, the Titans are 2.5-point house favorites over the Colts for Week 7, with the over/beneath set at 43.5. Of their final assembly in Week 4, the Colts have been favored earlier than dropping to the Titans.
The Titans are 3-2 towards the unfold and have hit the over twice, whereas the Colts are 3-3 and have hit the over simply as soon as.
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
After Indianapolis whooped Tennessee for years through the eras of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, there was a reversal of fortunes because the former unexpectedly retired proper earlier than the 2019 season.
When the Titans beat the Colts in Week 4, it was their fourth straight win over their division rival, and fifth within the final seven conferences since 2019, a span that has included a pair of back-to-back AFC South title for Tennessee.
If there’s been a problem for Tennessee with Indy in recent times, it’s with house video games, because the Colts have gained three of the final 4 in Nashville.
In all, the Colts nonetheless maintain an all-time benefit of 35-21 over the Titans, together with a 1-0 mark within the postseason, however the Titans have been making headway in closing that hole the previous few years.
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The Titans at the moment sit atop the AFC South and may have an opportunity to wrap up the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts this week, though it’s not possible to return right down to a tiebreaker with Indy having a tie in 2022.
Regardless, this matchup is one that may decide who sits in first place in the interim. A win for Indy places them in sole possession, whereas a win for Tennessee retains them there.
AP Picture/Zach Bolinger
Whereas the Colts’ offense is coming off its finest sport of the 2022 marketing campaign in Week 6, the unit has struggled mightily total. Indy is scoring 17.2 factors per sport in 2022, tied for twenty eighth within the NFL.
Tennessee hasn’t been far behind their division rival, although, with the Titans averaging 19.2 factors per contest, tied for twenty first. Of the 96 factors Tennessee has scored this season, solely 14 have come within the second half.
The Titans are twenty eighth in passing, and the Colts are twenty ninth in dashing and bottom-five in sacks allowed. In terms of third downs, the Colts are a top-10 group, whereas the Titans are a bottom-10 group.
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The Titans have been improbable within the crimson zone this season — the one downside is definitely getting there.
After they do get there, the Titans are scoring touchdowns at a 92.3-percent success price, far and away one of the best mark within the NFL. The following closest group — the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — is scoring at a 76-percent clip.
Hopefully that is foreshadowing, however the final three groups to steer the NFL in red-zone effectivity (2019 Titans, 2020 Inexperienced Bay Packers and 2021 San Francisco 49ers) all made their convention championship sport.
Per @NFLResearch, the #Titans offense leads the league in red-zone effectivity (12 TDs in 13 possessions, 92.3%). In every of the previous 3 seasons, essentially the most environment friendly red-zone offense through the common season (TEN 2019, GB 2020, SF 2021) superior to the convention championship sport pic.twitter.com/FExqFskdVe
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) October 18, 2022
On the opposite aspect of the spectrum you may have the Colts, a group that finds pay filth on 47.37 % of its crimson zone journeys, tied for the NFL’s sixth-worst mark.
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Whereas the Titans gained’t be getting again their gamers from injured reserve this week, a listing that features beginning slot cornerback Elijah Molden, linebacker Likelihood Campbell and large receiver Racey McMath, Tennessee’s starters who have been dominated out in Week 5 are trending in the correct route.
As head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned on Monday, exterior linebacker Bud Dupree, security Amani Hooker and proper guard Nate Davis all have an opportunity to return this week.
The Colts have been lacking some key items, additionally.
On offense, operating backs Nyheim Hines and Jonathan Taylor sat out final week (Taylor was out in Week 5, additionally), and on protection the group didn’t have Shaquille Leonard, who was dominated out in Week 5 as effectively, and Kwity Paye.
AP Picture/Terrance Williams
The Undertaker is again!
After hanging out with the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2021, Kelly moved on to play for the Colts in 2022, the place he now finds himself in a beginning function.
The veteran was spectacular at left sort out for the Colts in Week 6, and a lot so he has now grow to be the starter over 2022 third-round choose, Bernhard Raimann, on the group’s unofficial depth chart.
We couldn’t be happier for Kelly, who was all the time an excellent participant and upstanding man throughout his days in Nashville.
We want him success shifting ahead — effectively, not less than after this week.