Colts tie NFL record with victory over Titans

PRINT THIS COMMENTS (0) SEND TO A FRIEND RELATED STORIES

By Bryan Ault, December 6, 2009

The defense played a crucial role in the victory. Defensive tackle Eric Foster stripped the ball from Titans receiver Ahmard Hall early in the second quarter. On the next drive, Tennessee quarterback Vince Young threw an interception to corner Jacob Lacey, his second interception of the season. The Titans attempted three fourth-down conversions during the game, and the Colts defense stopped them every time.

 

“[The defense has] made great plays all year,” Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. “Their goal is to create turnovers during the game. We’ve had a lot of great team wins, and we never take that for granted.”

 

The Titans – who started the season 0-6 – won five straight games and began thinking about playoff potential. Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday’s loss, which drops the team to 5-7, could have been avoided.

 

“We had good opportunities to nab this game and we did not,” Fisher said. “They are a very talented defense. They did a very good job.”

 

The Colts got on the board first after running back Joseph Addai ran for a five-yard touchdown. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon caught two passes for 63 yards on the drive. The Titans drove down the field on their next drive, but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Rob Bironas.

 

In the second quarter, a 36-yard reception by Garcon and a personal foul on Titans cornerback Vincent Fuller advanced the ball to the 33-yard line. Three plays later, the Colts extended the lead to 14-3 on Addai’s one-yard touchdown run. Addai ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and also contributed 17 receiving yards.

 

“He’s done a tremendous job of keeping his nose to the grindstone,” Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said of Addai. “I think he’s been running hard. He’s been running very smart.”

 

The Titans next two drives ended with turnovers. The Colts took over and drove down the field. The drive ended with a touchdown on a Manning pass to wide receiver Austin Collie. The Colts lead was 21-3.

 

With 1:55 to play before halftime, the Titans drove down the field and scored on a six-yard touchdown pass from Young to wide receiver Kenny Britt, closing the lead to 11.

 

With 20 seconds left in the half, the Colts could have taken a knee to end the half. But after an 18-yard catch by Garcon and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the defense, the Colts moved into field goal range. Matt Stover’s 43-yard field goal gave the Colts a 24-10 halftime lead.

 

After a scoreless third quarter, Tennessee moved into the red zone on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Young threw an incomplete pass on fourth down, and the Colts took over.

 

“We had some important defensive stops,” Caldwell said. “We have an aggressive bunch. All of the guys do a tremendous job.”

 

A 15-play drive that took 7:23 off the clock resulted in 36-yard field goal by Stover, giving the Colts a three-possession lead.

 

The Titans drove down the field and Young threw a touchdown pass to tight end Bo Scaife to close the lead to 27-17, but the Colts held off the Titans.

 

The Colts will try to move to 13-0 next weekend at home against the Denver Broncos.