Both the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans enter a Week 4 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium expecting a physical bout between the AFC South rivals.
Though both teams have played under expectations to begin the season, they also are both coming off their first wins of the 2022 campaign.
Regardless of what has happened throughout the course of the season, the Colts always expect a physical battle against the Titans. It’s something head coach Frank Reich has come to respect about the divisionmates.
“They are a physical team. You always expect that when you play them. It starts up front. It start up front on both sides of the ball, running the ball, stopping the run. I just think in this day and age, we’re in passing league but we play this game against these guys and a lot of it comes down to the run and stopping the run,” Reich said Wednesday. “So, that’s being physical but also executing. We respect that. We respect how physical they are. So, we need to match that.”
Both Reich and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel took over their roles before the 2018 season. While the Colts have made the playoffs twice in that span, Tennessee has done it three times, which includes two consecutive division titles over the last two seasons.
And when it comes to the head-to-head battles, the Titans have won four out of the last five matchups. That’s not something lost on Reich.
“There’s no doubt, they have had their way with us for, like you said. It’s not been good, especially within your division,” Reich said. “So, we respect them. They’re a good football team. They’re well-coached. This is going to be a good battle.”
Stopping the Titans will all come down to containing Derrick Henry, who finally broke out of his slump in Week 3 to total 143 yards and a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Colts, coming off a thrilling upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs, will look to build off that victory knowing a physical team awaits them at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend.
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