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Tennessee Titans are on the road Sunday to take on the Indianapolis Colts

Tennessee Titans (4-8) at Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

Sunday, December 9th, 2012 • Noon CT
Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN • TV: CBS

Tennessee TitansNashville, TN – This week the Tennessee Titans (4-8) play their last of three consecutive games against AFC South opponents, as they travel to play the Indianapolis Colts (8-4). Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium (capacity 63,000) is scheduled for noon CT on Sunday, December 9th.

This week’s game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF News-Channel 5. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties while Dan Fouts provides analysis.

The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and game day host Larry Stone.

Additionally, Sports USA will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Larry Kahn (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst) and Troy West (sideline reporter) have the call.

The game can be heard locally on 1400am WJZM.

The Rematch

The Titans and Colts played their first of two annual contests on October 28th at LP Field. In a hotly contested game, the Colts won by a final score of 19-13 when Andrew Luck connected with running back Vick Ballard on a 16-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession of overtime.

In the loss, running back Chris Johnson rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries, while Matt Hasselbeck, starting at quarterback for the fourth straight week due to Jake Locker’s left (non-throwing) shoulder injury, was an efficient 22-of-29 for 236 yards, no interceptions and a 23-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright.

On defense, the Titans got an interception and a blocked field goal from safety Michael Griffin. Additionally, they sacked Luck twice.

Last Week

Tennessee TitansThe Titans hosted the Houston Texans last week at LP Field and were unable to keep pace with the AFC South division leaders, falling 24-10.

In the loss, Locker passed for 309 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt. The Titans gained more total yards (354 to 332) and first downs (17 to 16) than the Texans. The Texans were routinely rebuffed by the Titans defense in the second half, as their longest drive in the third or fourth quarter was only 29 yards.

However, the Texans intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles, while themselves playing a turnover-free game. Their six sacks of Locker were the most given up by the Titans in a game since 2005.

The Colts

The Colts are having success this season despite undergoing significant changes during the off-season.

In January, Ryan Grigson, the former director of college scouting and player personnel with the Philadelphia Eagles, was hired as the new general manager, and Chuck Pagano, previously the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, was brought in as the new head coach to replace Jim Caldwell.

Indianapolis ColtsOn March 7th, quarterback Peyton Manning was released by the Colts after spending 14 seasons with the club. Then, in late April, the Colts used the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on Luck.

Then, Indianapolis was dealt a significant hardship less than a month into the season. On October 1st, it was announced that Pagano would be kept from his duties for several weeks to undergo treatment for leukemia. In his stead, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is serving as the interim head coach.

Through 12 games of his rookie season, Luck has completed 279 of 503 passes for 3,596 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions (76.1 passer rating). Last week at the Detroit Lions, he completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Donnie Avery as time expired, giving the Colts a 35-33 victory over the Lions. It was the Colts’ sixth win in their last seven games.

Titans-Colts Series At A Glance

Overall series (regular & postseason): Colts lead 22-14

Regular season series: Colts lead 22-13

Postseason series: Titans lead 1-0

Total points: Titans 685, Colts 889

Current streak: Two wins by Colts

Titans at home vs. Colts: 7-9

Titans on road vs. Colts: 7-13 (including 1-0 in playoffs)

Longest winning streak by Titans: 3 (twice, last 1999-02)

Longest losing streak by Titans: 7 (2003-06)

Titans vs. Colts at LP Field: 4-7

Last time at LP Field: COLTS 19 at Titans 13 OT (10/28/12)

Titans vs. Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium: 0-4

Last time at Lucas Oil Stadium: Titans 13 at COLTS 27 (12/18/11)

First time: COLTS 24 at Oilers 20 (10/11/70)

Mike Munchak’s record vs. Colts: 1-2

Bruce Arians’ record vs. Titans: 1-0*

Mike Munchak’s record vs. Bruce Arians: 0-1*

* Bruce Arians is the current interim head coach in place of Chuck
Pagano.

A Titans Victory Would

  • Improve the Titans’ all-time record against Indianaplis to 15-22 (including playoffs).
  • Give the Titans their first-ever win at Lucas Oil Stadium.
  • Improve Mike Munchak’s career record as a head coach to 14-15.
  • Give Jake Locker a 3-5 career record as a starting quarterback.

What To Look For This Week

K Rob Bironas (894 career points) needs six points to become the second player in franchise history (Al Del Greco) to reach 900 career points.

K Rob Bironas (88 points in 2012) needs 12 points to record his sixth career season with 100 points, second only in franchise history behind Al Del Greco (eight). Bironas would tie Del Greco’s team record for most consecutive 100-point seasons (six).

RB Chris Johnson can record the 33rd 100-yard rushing game of his career and his fifth of 2012.

RB Chris Johnson (993 rushing yards in 2012) needs seven rushing yards to record his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season to begin his career. He would be the third rusher in franchise history to reach five 1,000-yard seasons (Eddie George, Earl Campbell) and the second to do so in five consecutive seasons (George).

RB Chris Johnson (8,259 scrimmage yards) needs 22 scrimmage yards to pass Ernest Givins (8,280) for third place on the team’s all-time career scrimmage yards list.

WR Nate Washington can extend his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 75 (61 games with the Titans).

WR Kendall Wright (54 receptions) needs three receptions to pass Sid Blanks (56 in 1964) for third place on the team’s all-time rookie receptions list.

Titans-Colts Series History

This week’s game will mark the 37th all-time meeting between the Titans and Colts. The Colts lead the series 22-14.

The Titans and Colts met for the first of their two annual meetings on October 28th at LP Field, a game the Colts won in overtime by a final score of 19-13. Andrew Luck’s 16-yard touchdown pass to running back Vick Ballard on the first drive of overtime proved to be the difference.

The last time the clubs met at Lucas Oil Stadium was December 18th, 2011. On that day, the Colts earned their first win of the 2011 season by defeating the Titans 27-13. The day was highlighted by Donald Brown’s 161 rushing yards, including an 80-yard touchdown for the Colts.

In 2002, the first year the Titans and Colts met as opponents in the newly-formed AFC South, the Titans won both games on their way to claiming the first AFC South title. The Colts then won seven consecutive meetings, taking both games in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons and the first meeting in 2006. Indianapolis claimed the division crown every year from 2003-06, until the Titans re-acquired it in 2008.

The Titans and Colts have met only once in the postseason, a 19-16 Titans victory in a Divisional Playoff game in the RCA Dome on January 16th, 1999. Eddie George rushed for 162 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown run to help lead Tennessee during its run to Super Bowl XXXIV.

The teams first clashed in 1970 following the AFL-NFL merger. The then-Baltimore Colts defeated the then-Houston Oilers 24-20 during the Colts’ run to a Super Bowl V Championship.

Titans-Colts: The Last Meeting

Indianapolis Colts 19 at Tennessee Titans 13 (OT)
Sunday, October 28th, 2012
LP Field, Nashville, TN

1 2 3 4 OT Final
Indianapolis Colts 3 0 3 7 6 19
Tennessee Titans 3 7 0 3 0 13

 

In Week 8, Andrew Luck’s 16-yard touchdown pass to running back Vick Ballard in overtime gave the Colts a 19-13 victory over the Titans at LP Field.

The touchdown capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive to begin the extra period. The Colts won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive, and the touchdown prevented the Titans offense from getting a chance with the ball.

Running back Donald Brown began the drive with consecutive runs of 19 and nine yards. Later in the series, with the Colts facing a third-and-eight at the Tennessee 36, Luck completed a 20-yard pass to Reggie Wayne for a first down. Two plays later, Ballard scored, and a replay review confirmed that the ball crossed the front left pylon on his dive to the end zone.

Luck completed 26 of 38 passes for 297 yards in the contest. His primary target, Wayne, caught seven passes for 91 yards. The Colts totaled 457 offensive yards and converted six of 12 third downs.

The Titans, meanwhile, were 5-7 on third downs in the first half but were 0-4 in the second half. They also were whistled for eight penalties for 65 yards, including three offensive pass interference calls. Their offense had only seven possessions (to the Colts’ nine) in a game that featured several long drives.

The Titans did manage 339 total yards, including 99 on the ground from Chris Johnson. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was 22-of-29 passing for 236 yards with one touchdown. In the first quarter, Titans kicker Rob Bironas and his counterpart, Adam Vinatieri, exchanged field goals.

In the second quarter, the Titans took the lead on a 12-play, 72-yard drive. A 22-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Kenny Britt was wiped out due to an offensive pass interference penalty. However, three plays later Hasselbeck connected with Kendall Wright for a 23-yard touchdown.

The Colts drove down the field in the final minute of the first half but were denied a score. Vinatieri lined up for a 37-yard field goal, but safety Michael Griffin sprung loose up the middle to block the kick. Jordan Babineaux scooped up the ball and returned it 42 yards before being tackled with no time on the clock.

The Colts began the second half with a 10-play, 49-yard drive, but once again the Titans defense prevented a touchdown. Vinatieri made the score 10-6 with a 44-yard field goal.

The Titans got back on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter with a 30-yard field goal, only to have the Colts even the score at 13-13 on the ensuing possession. Luck converted a third-and-one with a seven-yard run. Then, facing a fourth-and-one at Tennessee’s eight yard line, running back Delone Carter ran for seven yards. On the next play, Carter scored from the one-yard line.

The Titans drove to the Indianapolis 41-yard line with 1:07 on the clock, but on fourth and- nine, they elected to punt rather than attempt a long field goal.

The Colts converted another third down to keep from having to punt from their own end zone. When Luck kneeled to run out the remainder of the clock, the stage was set for his overtime heroics.

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