The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts will do battle for the second and final time this season when they meet in Week 7 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Tennessee won the last meeting between these two teams in Week 4, and the last four overall, but Indianapolis comes into this game with a head of steam after having its best offensive performance of 2022 in Week 6.
We went behind enemy lines with Colts Wire’s Kevin Hickey and asked him about the team’s recent offensive outburst, the Titans’ dominance over the Colts, as well as the decision to go to former Titan Dennis Kelly at left tackle.
Check out his answers on those topics and more.
The Colts had a rare offensive outburst in Week 6; what was behind it?
Hickey: The Colts made a change in both personnel and philosophy in Week 6. They gave rookie Bernhard Raimann the start at left tackle and moved Matt Pryor to right guard. After 11 snaps, Dennis Kelly took over at left tackle and gave the Colts some hope. The biggest change was how the Colts incorporated the up-tempo, quick-passing game to neutralize the opposing pass rush. The offense emphasized quick drops and rather than running into a brick wall every play, they successfully ran through the air on early downs. Expect that to be a trend moving forward.
What is the feeling in Indianapolis about the Titans’ recent dominance?
Hickey: It’s not a great feeling! The Titans have dominated the Colts over the last four games. There’s no true way to put it. Some of it has been the absence of playmakers but when it comes down to it, the Titans have just been the better team. It should be a better matchup this time around if the Colts really have found a sense of identity on the offense.
What led to Shaquille Leonard being ruled out despite two full practices?
Hickey: The Colts are saying that because he suffered the concussion and a broken nose on the hit he took during Week 4 against the Titans, he wasn’t able to do anything for the last two weeks. That inactivity, they feel, could lead to rust or risk of injury since Leonard couldn’t go through any drills after getting surgery on his nose. It’s not the first time the Colts have held players out despite practicing in full this season, and it appears to be a point of emphasis.
Talk about Dennis Kelly’s ascension to a starting role at LT.
Hickey: For weeks, we were wondering why Kelly wasn’t getting a chance to start. Matt Pryor has been a massive liability—like Ryan Gosling in ‘Remember The Titans’ type of liability. But the Colts stuck with him at left tackle, right tackle and now right guard for whatever reason. Kelly also voiced his confusion as to why he wasn’t playing going into Week 6 on Twitter and eventually got his chance against the Jaguars. Unsurprisingly, the player with 51 starts in his career looked the part of a serviceable left tackle, allowing just one pressure on 54 pass-blocking snaps. It seems the job is his to lose, but expect rookie Bernhard Raimann to mix in as well.
Give us one under-the-radar player from each side of the ball.
Hickey: I’m sure I’ve talked about him before but it’s because he never gets enough love. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart has developed over the years into one of the elite run-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL. His impact, both direct and indirect, against the run gives the Colts a massive boost each week. Offensively, I want to say Alec Pierce because he’s set to have a big game against the Titans secondary, but I’ll go with tight end Kylen Granson. The second-year player out of SMU leads the tight ends in targets (22), receptions (16) and receiving yards (159). He’s a major contributor on quick passes like drags and crossers.
Give us your prediction and a final score.
Hickey: I’m encouraged by how the Colts offense played in Week 6 to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull of the win this week. However, their history against the Titans, the fact that the Titans are coming off the bye week, and their recent struggles against the run, give me pause. It will be a close, physical game, but I think the Titans are the better team right now. Titans 26, Colts 23.
