Colts stumble to 0-3 with 25-16 loss vs. Titans

Kevin Hickey
·3 min read
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The Indianapolis Colts (0-3) stumbled their way to a 25-16 loss against the Tennessee Titans (2-1) on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

It was an ugly game for the Colts from the jump. It was clear that Carson Wentz’s ankle injuries were hindering to the point where his game was completely ineffective.

More struggles in the red zone on offense, lack of consistent pass rush on defense and more injuries to key players led to the Colts starting 0-3 for the first time since 2011.

Here’s everything we know from the Week 3 loss to the Titans:

Final Score: Titans 25, Colts 16

Jenna Watson/IndyStar

It was over when...

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Titans kicker Randy Bullock converted a 32-yard field goal to put the Titans up 25-16. With how the offense was playing throughout the day, it was clear the game was over.

Keys to the game

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Carson Wentz limited: The Colts offense was a shell of itself on Sunday. Wentz toughed it out to start despite two sprained ankles, but it was clear he wasn't comfortable not using his legs. Wentz completed 19 of 37 pass attempts (51.4%) for 194 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions and a 66.7 passer rating.

Defensive Struggles: The Colts defense struggled in several areas for the third week in a row. They allowed 6-of-12 (50%) on third-down attempts and 3-of-5 (60%) in the red zone. The pass rush recorded just one sack and two quarterback hits.

Big Injuries: The Colts suffered some injuries during the game that certainly had an impact. They were already without RT Braden Smith. Meanwhile, LG Quenton Nelson (ankle) and DE Kwity Paye (hamstring) both were ruled out in the first half.

3 Stars of the game

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DE Al-Quadin Muhammad: Set the tone early against the run with several run stops. Finished with 7 tackles (5 solo) and one tackle for loss. RB Nyheim Hines: Electric factory again. He needs more touches. Six carries for 25 rushing yards and a touchdown. Five receptions for 54 yards. S Julian Blackmon: Was the only one in the secondary to stop Derrick Henry. Led the team with 11 tackles (all solo).

Carson Wentz Clearly Limited

Jenna Watson/IndyStar

We knew that Wentz would be limited if he played through the two ankle sprains, but it wasn't clear what that might look like. Now that we know, it wasn't pretty. Wentz wasn't comfortable playing as a pocket passer. When pressure got to him, he even struggled to throw the ball away. The offensive line struggled to maintain integrity in the pocket while Wentz was errant all day. He's still the best option in the quarterback room, but that doesn't mean the offense will be good.

A Rough Start

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The Colts start the season 0-3 for the first time since 2011 when Curtis Painter was the starting quarterback. Even though the playoff hopes were dwindling regardless, this probably will be the nail in the coffin. Fighting back from 0-3 will b incredibly difficult especially now that the tiebreaker belongs to the Titans for the moment. With the season likely done in terms of playoff chances, the Colts now must make a decision when it comes to Wentz's playing time for the rest of the season.

Injuries

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What's next?

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The Colts will be on the road again visiting the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 3.

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