Michael Pittman TD evens Colts record at 3-3

NASHVILLE – The Colts found a way to win on Sunday, pulling away from the bottom tier of an AFC that wasn’t very deep to start the season.

A late touchdown catch by Michael Pittman Jr., an outstanding defensive fourth quarter and a gutsy performance gave Indianapolis a 20-17 victory over Tennessee despite a disappointing start from backup quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Colts (3-3) are now two games ahead of the Titans and Jaguars (1-5) and are somehow in the playoffs despite a series of injuries and uninspiring play.

Colts result: Titans-Colts game review: Indianapolis 20, Tennessee 17

Broken receivers make a big impact

Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are both far from healthy.

Pittman is dealing with a back injury that forced him to undergo an MRI scan and threatened him with being placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Downs missed two practices because of a toe injury that apparently bothered him during Sunday’s game, forcing him to hunker down on the sidelines in spotty pain.

But both players fought through the pain and came up big for the Colts on Sunday.

Downs broke free for a 22-yard touchdown pass on the first Indianapolis drive, then did the dirty work, catching seven passes for a total of 66 yards. The second-year receiver also made an impact in the return game, returning four punts for 67 yards, a 16.8-yard average that was crucial in a field position game.

Pittman had to wait a little longer to make his impact.

Pittman was dealing with a back injury and appeared to play fewer snaps than usual. He was targeted just four times and caught three passes for 35 yards.

Two of those catches ended up being the game winners.

Facing a third-and-long in the red zone, Flacco threw a prayer for Pittman in the end zone, a floater that seemed to have little chance of completion until Pittman went up and hit it for the go-ahead touchdown pulled down.

Pittman then sealed Tennessee’s fate on the final drive, battling through contact for a 16-yard grab after the two-minute warning to end the game.

Colts Secondary comes up with big plays in the fourth quarter

When Indianapolis finally forced the game into the hands of erratic Tennessee quarterback Will Levis in the fourth quarter, the secondary was ready to capitalize, with a little help from a team of referees who approved two plays by Jaylon Jones, which the team also agreed to of Nissan Stadium was begging for a flag.

Indianapolis forced a three-pointer early in the quarter when Laiatu Latu made a crucial run stop.

Then the Colts responded to Pittman’s touchdown catch with another three-and-out, this time on Jones’ first breakup.

The next time the Titans had the ball, the Colts took advantage of the first deep ball Levis threw all day. Levis, under pressure from Dayo Odeyingbo, allowed the ball to slide deep down the sideline and a clever Julian Blackmon – who had missed an early chance to intercept – made contact and ripped the ball away from him.

Indianapolis struggled to extend the lead, but Jones broke up another play on DeAndre Hopkins down the sideline. Levis managed just 15 of 26 for 83 yards, never found the ball deep and couldn’t make the big play late.

Titans are trying to eradicate it

Tennessee’s game plan was easy to see.

Fed up with Levis’ penchant for getting sacks and coughing up the football in the first four games of the season, the Titans wanted to keep the game out of his hands as much as possible. Tennessee built its game plan around the running game and short passes that essentially served as extended handoffs.

The Indianapolis defense didn’t do much to force the Titans to put the ball in the hands of their young quarterback for three quarters.

Neither of Tennessee’s running back tandem entered Sunday’s game averaging more than four yards per carry, but the Titans made up yards against a poor Indianapolis rush defense.

Tony Pollard ran 17 times for 93 yards. Tyjae Spears rushed for 27 yards on six carries before exiting with a hamstring injury. The Titans weren’t explosive, but they kept getting first downs and made 15 and 14 plays in the second half.

The approach brought points.

It also saved Levis from making a crucial mistake. Levis fumbled three times, threw six interceptions and took 15 sacks in the first four games; Indianapolis didn’t force a turnover until the Colts were able to put the game in its hands in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Richardson is sitting again

Richardson seemed optimistic this week.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the second-year starting quarterback believed he had made significant progress and said he could handle the running and passing needed to play, even if he didn’t promise against the Titans play.

Richardson was limited in practice on Wednesday, then practiced fully on Thursday and appeared to be on his way to the lineup.

However, on Friday he was withdrawn to limited participation, announced as a game-time decision and then officially ruled out just an hour and a half before kick-off. Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen told CBS that Richardson would serve as the team’s emergency quarterback, signaling that the young starter was close to a return but that the Colts didn’t want to put him in danger until he was fully healthy was.

Broken receivers make a big impact

Colts Secondary comes up with big plays in the fourth quarter

Titans are trying to eradicate it

Anthony Richardson is sitting again

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