The Tennessee Titans are at risk of losing every game this season.
That's not an overreaction, but more a growing possibility after Tennessee laid out a laundry list of struggles in its 26-3 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 11.
Now, the Titans (0-5, 0-1 AFC South) are a seven-point underdog before its divisional road game against the Indianapolis Colts
(2-3, 1-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 18 (noon CT, FOX).The Colts are one of four teams with losing records remaining on the Titans’ schedule. It doesn’t seem right to circle those games as easy opportunities for coach Robert Saleh, considering the Texans were 0-4 when they blitzed the Titans.
Quarterback Cam Ward and Tennessee's best chances will be against sub-.500 teams. But even that has
been a struggle in a weak AFC South. The Titans have lost 12 division games in a row and are 2-17 in those contests since the start of the 2023 season.
Here’s our scouting report for the Titans and Colts before their Week 6 matchup.
One Indianapolis Colts stat to know vs. Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis ranks No. 1 in the league in fewest penalties, averaging five per game.
Tennessee’s not bad, either, at six per game, but got sideways with seven flags for 83 yards in the second half against the Texans.
Where Colts have edge in Indianapolis vs. Tennessee Titans
Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor is the type of steady constant the Titans lack, averaging 79.6 rushing yards per game, with six touchdowns this season.
His productivity goes deeper than that. Taylor’s ability to keep Indianapolis’ offense on schedule could create long drives and gas Tennessee’s defense.
Taylor ranks 11th in the league in rushing success rate at 54.5%. Rushing success rate separates players from their total number of yards and instead identifies whether players are gaining crucial yards needed on each down to move the chains.
Taylor’s one of the NFL’s best in that regard.
The Titans have rushed for more than 100 yards just once this season (122 yards against Philadelphia) and have surpassed 80 yards rushing just two other times. That has compounded Ward and the poor passing attack, which ranks 31st in passing yards per game (163.8).
“We are searching to try to find a great identity for our offense, something that we can hang our hats on,” Saleh said on Oct. 12.
Where Titans have the edge in Tennessee vs. Indianapolis Colts
In Week 5, a stout Houston Texans defense finally woke up and dominated the Titans.
But the Colts' defense has struggled top to bottom. It surrendered 1,029 yards total in Weeks 1-2, and ranks low in yards allowed per game (348.2, 29th in the league), yards per play (6.4, 31st) and passing yards per game (254, 28th).
The way things are going, the Titans should be pleased to see a struggling defense.
They also get to face an opponent that has turned the ball over more than they have. Indianapolis has committed eight turnovers to Tennessee’s seven, including quarterback Daniel Jones’ four interceptions.
A defensive touchdown or field-flipping play can go a long way with the Titans at an offensive standstill.
Score prediction: Colts 24, Titans 17
Indianapolis' defense gives Tennessee a chance, but Taylor's running ability will be the difference.
The Titans will make some adjustments offensively, but it'll be another too-little, too-late performance in which Ward won't be awarded enough possessions to get his team over the hump.
Tyler Palmateer covers the Tennessee Titans for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans scouting report vs Indianapolis Colts, matchups, prediction NFL Week 6
