Nashville Sports Today

Nashville Sports News Continuously Updated

Record Breaking Colts Run Wild Against Titans In Week 16

by

The Titans’ vaunted run defense could not withstand the league-average Colts’ rushing attack, allowing the newly-crowned Mason Rudolph to flounder in an attempted comeback. Indianapolis had 1,693 yards total in rushing yards entering Sunday and left with over 2,000 yards as a team. Tennessee’s run defense entered Sunday as a top-15 run defense unit, but that will likely change after a horrific effort on Sunday. Can the defense correct itself for a critical AFC South showdown next week? Will the record-breaking Colts that ran wild against the Titans find it next week?  

Record-Breaking Colts Run Wild Against Titans in Week 16

The crux of the matter for the Titans was their shoddy and oftentimes abominable run defense, which allowed Jonathan Taylor to crush them. It was so historic a collapse for a unit that the Titans didn’t exist as a franchise for an opposing time to run for 300+ yards. Tennessee burst out of the gate with a 7-0 lead before superstar Jonathan Taylor took over. He included two long defense-busting runs in his 200+ yard performance.

Tennessee’s run defense fits got abysmal on this run as Taylor quickly shook off Amani Hooker’s “attempt” at defending him. However, it didn’t get much better for the Titans, as they were equally poor on Taylor’s second long touchdown. Both linebacker James Williams and cornerback Daryl Worley took awful angles, allowing JT to score untouched.

Not to be outdone by his predecessor’s meme antics, Mason Rudolph contributed by throwing this pass while recovering from an appointment with the turf. Unfortunately for Colts fans, it did not result in a comedic turnover.

Rudolph didn’t help his team’s defense one iota after throwing three interceptions in the loss, one so horrific that announcers compared him to Will Levis. It wasn’t all bad for the former Steelers starter as he threw some great passes, including this dime to Calvin Ridley to open the scoring.

The Colts stormed to a 38-7 lead behind the timely passing of enigma Anthony Richardson and a monster JT performance. Tennessee fought back valiantly to cut it to a 38-30 final score after a picturesque touchdown by Tyjae Spears and two two-point conversions.

They Said What Now?

Days after benching Will Levis and moving to Rudolph, Coach Callahan sings a different tune this week. ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that the game’s most crucial position is a “week-to-week” decision. Perhaps it is coachspeak, but Callahan cannot risk a sizeable locker room mutiny by returning to Levis. Callahan has no other option but to ride it out after coming to a fiery defense of his team last week. 

Star defensive tackle and team spokesperson Jeffery Simmons self-reflects on the team’s poor run defense and credits the Colts for being efficient.

The Colts’ tight end Mo Alie-Cox also contributed to the postgame media scrum with this gem.

Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will spend a lot of sleepless nights poring over why the Titans couldn’t contribute anything meaningful in run defense. Granted, Taylor is one of the best running backs in the league, but 300+ on the ground is just grievously shameful.

What’s Next in Week 17?

Both teams will close out a miserable 2024 on the final Sunday in December.

Tennessee travels to Jacksonville in an epic tank battle not seen since the days of Rommel’s Panzers and Patton’s Sherman in World War II. The Titans are in line to hold the third overall selection pending the outcomes of a couple of late-afternoon contests.

Indianapolis will go on the road against an awful Giants team that has long since been playing out the string. The Colts need to win out and get some serious help to make the postseason.

Main Image: Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The post Record Breaking Colts Run Wild Against Titans In Week 16 appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.