Joe Flacco replaced Richardson in the starting lineup for the second straight week. The Colts’ backup quarterback started the game with a 22-yard TD pass to Josh Downs on the opening drive, but he struggled to make impact plays through the air for most of the game until Pittman’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Flacco was picked off in the third quarter by Titans safety Amani Hooker, leading to a game-tying Tennessee touchdown three plays later. The Colts’ backup QB finished 22-of-38 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.
Michael Pittman Jr. lifts Colts to victory
Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson missed his second straight game due to a right oblique injury, and while the offense often looked stagnant without him, Indianapolis found way to pull a 20-17 victory at Tennessee on Sunday.
Michael Pittman Jr. provided the play of the game. The Colts’ top wide receiver, who’s been nursing a back injury, put the team on his back when he caught a jump ball in the end zone for a 10-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter. Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was draped all over Pittman when Pittman leapt for the ball, but it didn’t matter. Pittman still came down with it to help the Colts retake the lead and hold on for their first AFC South victory of the season.
Pittman totaled just three catches for 35 yards and didn’t play his usual amount of snaps. But when his team need him most, he answered the call.
Replacing Richardson
Joe Flacco replaced Richardson in the starting lineup for the second straight week. The Colts’ backup quarterback started the game with a 22-yard TD pass to Josh Downs on the opening drive, but he struggled to make impact plays through the air for most of the game until Pittman’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Flacco was picked off in the third quarter by Titans safety Amani Hooker, leading to a game-tying Tennessee touchdown three plays later. The Colts’ backup QB finished 22-of-38 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.
Defense steps up late
The Colts entered Sunday’s game with the third-most missed tackles (46) in the NFL, per Pro Football Reference, and while they struggled to tackle at times again Sunday – most notable on Tennessee running back Tony Pollard’s 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter – Indianapolis’ defense made enough clutch plays to survive.
Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo hit Tennessee QB Will Levis on a deep throw in the fourth quarter that was intended for Calvin Ridley. Since Levis wasn’t able to step into the pass, Colts safety Julian Blackmon swooped in for the easy interception.
On the ensuing drive, Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones forced an incompletion on a pass that was intended for Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins near the sideline. Jones’ sticky coverage on third-and-7 led to a Titans punt and helped the Colts extinguish the Titans’ final comeback attempt.
