INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts took the lead on the first possession of the game and never looked back as they beat the Tennessee Titans, 38-14, at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
The Colts have won six straight over the Titans. Indianapolis beat Tennessee, 41-20, in Nashville on Sept. 21.
The Colts are now 7-1 this season with a road matchup against another top team in the AFC — the Pittsburgh Steelers — looming next week.
In their win over the Titans, the Colts took the opening kickoff and drove 53 yards in 10 plays before settling for a 43-yard Michael Badgley field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Colts added to the lead right before the end of the first quarter as running back Jonathan Taylor scored on a run from 18 yards out to put them up 10-0.
Tennessee cut into the lead when this year’s top draft pick, quarterback Cam Ward, connected with tight end Gunnar Helm for a 1-yard touchdown.
Colts’ wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was the star of the next possession as he caught three passes on the 6-play, 71-yard scoring drive. He caught an 11-yard pass and a 14-yard pass that deflected off his face mask before he corralled it. Pittman Jr. hauled in a 21-yard touchdown with one hand to cap the drive.
The teams punted twice, then Titans’ kicker Joey Slye missed a 58-yard field right before halftime to send the teams to the locker room with the Colts on top, 17-7.
The Colts’ defense stopped Tennessee on the first possession of the second half. Taylor then broke free for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the Colts’ ensuing drive. The score put Indianapolis up 24-7.
Quarterback Daniel Jones found wideout Josh Downs for a 10-yard score and Taylor for a 19-yard touchdown to help seal the game.
Jones finished 21-of-29 for 272 yards and three touchdowns, while Taylor ran for 153 yards on 12 carries. Taylor scored two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown on the contest.
The Colts will visit the Steelers at 1 p.m. next week on CBS4. With a win, Indianapolis would improve to 8-1 before travelling to Berlin, Germany, for a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL’s international series.