The Titans will try to get their first road win of the season and move into first place in the AFC South in the process, if they can defeat the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. Let’s look at the keys to victory.
First down
Keep the balance. The Titans had a nice balance between the passing game and running game against the Bengals. Derrick Henry had 122 yards rushing, his best game of the season. Ryan Tannehill had 240 yards on 18 completions of 25 passes. If the offense can function like that and avoid third-and-long situations, it can succeed in Indy.
Second down
Harass the rookie. Anthony Richardson is still quite raw, but is still capable of making plays with his athleticism. The Titans need to make sure they get him on the ground when they pressure him, otherwise he can quickly make something out of nothing with his legs or his arm. A turnover here could be the difference in the game.
Third down
Don’t backslide. The Titans have been alternately bad and good through the first four weeks of the season with two home wins and two road losses. They need to buck that trend against the Colts. The Titans have taken the upper hand in the series of late and need to find a way to continue that Sunday.
Fourth down
Keep up the special teams work. The Titans have stopped the bleeding on special teams. Nick Folk has solved the Titans kicking problem, and Ryan Stonehouse continues to be solid punting the ball. The only thing left for the Titans special teams to improve on is to come up with a big play that could be potentially game-changing.
-- Terry McCormick