NASHVILLE – Andrew Luck is a win away from putting the Indianapolis Colts back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014 while doing something no NFL quarterback has managed since at least 1970 – beat the same opponent 11 straight times.
Luck has won his first 10 games against the Tennessee Titans, matching the dominance of Hall of Famer John Elway, who went 10-0 as a Denver Bronco against the New England Patriots. One more win over Tennessee, and Luck would be alone in his mastery of a single opponent in the aforementioned span.
Not that Luck is counting on past success, especially after the Colts needed a late touchdown last Sunday to edge the New York Giants 28-27 for their eighth victory in nine weeks.
“What happened previously and what happened in previous years, it doesn’t matter,” Luck said. “What happened last weekend does not matter. It’s a new cycle.”
Tennessee safety Kevin Byard refuses to ponder why Luck has so tormented the Titans, who are 2-3 against the Colts in Byard’s three seasons with the team. (Luck missed 2017 with a shoulder injury.)
The national spotlight will be on this AFC South meeting, with the NFL flexing the game to its Sunday night spot, which will make it the league’s final contest of the 2018 regular season.
Both teams are 9-6 and on a roll under first-year coaches – Frank Reich for Indianapolis, Mike Vrabel for Tennessee – with the Titans having won four straight games to move within a win of a second straight postseason berth. Tonight’s winner will receive, at worst, an AFC wild-card berth.
By kickoff, everyone will know exactly what’s at stake. The division title will be up for grabs if the Houston Texans lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the day. Even crazier for the Titans, a No. 2 seed with a first-round bye would be available if the Baltimore Ravens, Patriots and Texans all lose this afternoon.
That’s more than enough to keep the Titans focused.
“We’re just blessed to be in this position to be playing for a playoff game, so that’s all the motivation that guys need,” Byard said. “They’ll be motivated, we’ll be motivated. It’ll be a fun game.”
Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota is listed as questionable on the injury report with a stinger in his right (throwing) shoulder after being knocked out of the team’s 25-16 victory over the Washington Redskins last weekend. A similar nerve injury kept him out of a 38-10 loss at Indianapolis on Nov. 18, and he was limited in practice Thursday and Friday after missing Wednesday’s workout.
Even at midweek, Mariota was optimistic he would be able to play against the Colts instead of backup Blaine Gabbert, who has made two starts this season and won his first, 20-17 at Houston on Sept. 16.
“This is what it’s about,” Mariota said. “You’re playing for everything. I’m doing everything I can day and night, and just trying to make sure that I can be ready.”
The Titans will be without at least three defensive starters. Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Jurrell Casey (left knee) was placed on injured reserve Monday, a week after cornerback Logan Ryan went on IR with a broken left leg, and linebacker Brian Orakpo (elbow) has been ruled out for a third straight game, a big loss for the NFL’s second-ranked scoring defense.
Tennessee defensive coordinator Dean Pees will be available for a unit that has allowed just two offensive touchdowns over the past four games. Pees missed most of the Titans’ first game against the Colts this season after being taken to an Indianapolis hospital, where he spent the night.
The Colts are banged up as well, waiting for tight end Eric Ebron to clear concussion protocol, while center Ryan Kelly (neck) and rookie wide receiver Daurice Fountain (ankle) are out. Indianapolis receivers T.Y. Hilton (ankle) and Dontrelle Inman (shoulder) were listed as questionable.
One difference from the previous game between these rivals is the way Titans running back Derrick Henry is playing. The third-year pro is this month’s league leader in rushing yards (532) and touchdown runs (eight), but he had just 46 yards on nine carries at Indianapolis in November.
The Colts know how Henry is trending, and they expect a tougher test this time.
“He’s as good as advertised,” Indianapolis linebacker Anthony Walker said. “He’s big, he’s explosive and when he gets outside, he’s a problem in the open field. Definitely have to get him before he gets going.”
Everyone will try to get going as quickly as possible tonight, knowing the result will determine whether they’re practicing or packing up next week.
The Colts and their coach were doing their best this past week to avoid putting any added pressure on themselves.
“We’re just convinced that the best way is not to weight the importance of it (the game), but to weight the importance of practice and the everyday process,” Reich said. “I certainly understand all the outside variables and all the other things that everybody else would look at, but from inside out, really the healthiest approach for us is to keep doing what we are doing.”
For two teams that have been winning regularly as of late, that’s the plan.