The Colts wanted to run a good amount of the hurry-up, pass-heavy approach they broke out for 34 points in a win over the Jaguars the week before. The Titans were more ready for it, and it didn't go nearly as smoothly. They went 3-and-out on the first possession, and they had a harder time moving that way and sustaining drives without falling into the danger that so often strikes this team.
The scheme helped the offensive line out a lot last week, resulting in zero sacks on 58 attempts, but Ryan still took some brutal hits. This week, they rolled with the offensive line that finished that game, with Dennis Kelly at left tackle, and it had a tougher week against a tougher defensive front. Ryan was hit 10 times and sacked three times, and with a pretty quick trigger, the Titans were able to keep routes in front of them and tackle to force the Colts to drive the length of the field.
The Titans led 13-0 at halftime with all of 111 yards. This is who the Titans are: They force opponents into mistakes, they grind out drives to limit possessions and magnify those mistakes, and they don't give any of their own back. It caps their ceiling in the playoffs, but it tests the floor of everyone they face, and this Colts team has a low, low floor right now with their offensive line issues and tendency for disaster.
I had a feeling during the week that this could be the Parris Campbell game. He scored his first touchdown last week, and Reich spoke about needing to force the ball his way more with how well he's fit into the flow of their middle-of-the-field passing concepts. Campbell saw the first two targets of the game, and he just got into a groove from there. He finished with 10 catches for 70 yards and his second touchdown of the season.
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