Colts: 3 Good, 3 Bad in Win Against Titans

In the Indianapolis Colts’ 23-16 win against the divisional foe Tennessee Titans on Sunday, there was plenty of good and bad to be served.

The Indianapolis Colts defended home turf Sunday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans by winning 23-16 and improving to a 3-2 record.

However, they would do so without franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson due to a right shoulder injury for most of the game. This was later reported to be an AC joint sprain. The good news on the front is that the X-rays were negative. This news was broken by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

X-Rays were negative for #Colts QB Anthony Richardson, source says. While he’s ruled out, that’s a positive sign.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2023

With ups and downs in the divisional victory, it’s worth diving into three of each and what could be ahead.

The Good – RB Zack Moss

© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The massive news over the weekend was the three-year, $42 million contract that star runner Jonathan Taylor etched with the Colts. But, as was advertised, he was on a pitch count and notched only 6 carries for 18 yards, pairing 1 catch for 16 yards.

This is expected with how long Taylor was out of action. However, Zack Moss, yet again, showed he is a monster of his own unique breed.

He would carry the pigskin 23 times for 165 yards (7.2 avg.) and 2 touchdowns.

At this point, Moss has shown the Colts and league he’s a starting back. He hit the gaps beautifully and patiently, showing no effort in his backfield instincts and awareness. This was against the Titans’ number-one defense in yards allowed per attempt coming into the contest.

Look for Moss to cement a role in this Shane Steichen offense somehow even when Taylor is back to 100% with his homework. 

The Bad – Pass Rush

Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

As far as bottling up running back Derrick Henry, the Colts can check that box.

Henry had 13 attempts for only 43 yards and a long of 8. Given his history against the Colts, this is a massive win.

However, the ill-equipped Titans' offensive line stood up strong against the Colts' pass rush minus Kwity Paye (concussion).

Coming into this contest, the Titans allowed a whopping 16 sacks on Ryan Tannehill. However, they’d stave off the Colts, allowing a lone sack from defensive end Samson Ebukham.

While the defense played solid overall, the Colts should have been able to bring more than this, even with Paye sidelined.

Ebukam continues to warrant himself the contract he earned in the offseason, but the Colts need to step up the pass rush when they face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

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The Good – WR Josh Downs

© Hali Tauxe/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Colts may have a serious receiving threat in rookie Josh Downs, and it showed in the victory against the Titans.

Downs would lead the way in receptions (6) and receiving yards (97). Whether it’s Richardson or Gardner Minshew, Downs has delivered.

He now has 23 catches and 255 yards in five games and is climbing in the Colts passing target ranks. Look out for Downs to continue working seamlessly in Steichen’s offense and become a safety blanket for any passer under center.

The Bad – 4th Down Call

Mandatory Credit: Bob Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

This is a small issue, but Steichen’s play call on fourth down before the half ended wasn’t necessary.

The Colts had just lost Richardson to a shoulder injury and turned to Minshew. After a long 12-play drive, Steichen opted to run a play-action pass play to tight end Kylen Granson on fourth down, which fell incomplete.

While the team took the win at the end of the day, it could have been with three extra points to pad a more comfortable victory. The Titans' offense hadn’t mustered much and weren’t too intimidating to score points, so the field goal wouldn’t have been a risk, but a positive decision instead. 

The Good – Run Blocking (Quenton Nelson and Will Fries)

Mandatory Credit: Hali Tauxe-USA TODAY Sports

The Titans came into this contest with a top-five-level defense against opposing ground attacks. However, guards Quenton Nelson and Will Fries didn’t research this rank, as they opened up lane after lane for the ground game. But, nobody took advantage more than Moss.

Moss put together a masterclass in rushing, especially on a massive, 56-yard home-run take near the end of the first quarter.

Zack Moss is GONE. 💨

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/hBSmZKwDsv

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023

Both Nelson and Fries showed out, opening up easy access to the second level for Moss and Taylor. If this is any indication of what’s to come for the Colts’ offensive line, it’s a huge sign and potentially an indication that Indy has their offensive line of the past back to stay. 

The Bad – Anthony Richardson’s Injury

© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Despite Minshew coming in and snagging another win, the Colts want Richardson to be starting at QB in a perfect world.

While it’s nice to get wins, the 2023 Colts season isn’t measuring its success by number of victories. Instead, most of it is based on the progression of a young roster and the development of Richardson.

Richardson would go down after a QB run with 4:39 left in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury. As mentioned at the start of the piece, Richardson’s X-ray results were negative, so it’s a good sign for the rookie.

Despite the positive update, Richardson has only finished the contest against the Los Angeles Rams. Outside of that, he’s exited early against the Jacksonville Jaguars (knee/ankle), Houston Texans (concussion), and now the Titans (shoulder).

The end lesson is that Richardson needs to be more aware of his body's presence on the field. He is a massive QB for his level of athleticism, so being physical isn’t bad in any realm of discussion.

But, with that type of advantage, there are more risks, and Richardson has to know this. Look for this to be an added point of focus for Richardson’s ongoing development this season.

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