NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts entered Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans with an opportunity to prove their undefeated start to the season wasn't a fluke and that they could continue to take advantage of inferior opponents. From the very first drive of the game, the Colts left no doubt that they were in control of this matchup.
The Colts (3-0) left Nissan Stadium with a smothering 41-20 victory over the still-winless Titans (0-3), furthering their lead in the AFC South.
FIRST QUARTER
The Titans received the opening kickoff. On the third play of the game, on 3rd-and-9, Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward threw the ball slow and late out into the right flat to running back Tony Pollard, but Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II read it the whole way and intercepted it for a 32-yard pick-six. Spencer Shrader's extra point gave the Colts an early 7-0 lead with 14:11 remaining in the first quarter.
The Titans were able to get a 57-yard field goal from kicker Joey Slye on the next drive to cut the Colts' lead to 7-3, with 12:40 remaining in the quarter.
On the following Colts drive, facing 3rd-and-3 at Tennessee's 42-yard line, quarterback Daniel Jones threw deep downfield to receiver Josh Downs for a 29-yard gain. The Colts had to settle for a 24-yard field goal on the drive after struggling in the red zone, yet again. It became 10-3, Colts, with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The Colts' defense made quick work of the Titans' offense on the ensuing drive, forcing a three-and-out, sparked by consecutive sacks from Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye.
The Colts were able to put yet another scoring drive together when they resumed possession of the ball. On a 3rd-and-7 from Tennessee's 42-yard line, Jones escaped heavy pressure, slipping a sack and scrambling for 17 yards and a first down. The Cols marched down and got a one-yard touchdown from Jonathan Taylor. The extra point by Shrader made it 17-3, Colts, with 1:07 left in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The Titans got the scoring started in the second quarter first, as Slye knocked in a 42-yard field goal with 10:50 remaining to cut the Colts' lead to 17-6.
For the first time in 2025, 20 drives into the season, the Colts punted the ball. Rigoberto Sanchez notched a 46-yarder to Tennessee's 10-yard line.
The Titans and Colts swapped a pair of missed field goals. Slye attempted a 64-yarder that veered to the right, while Shrader's career-long attempt of 51 yards was wide right. On Shrader's kick, it appeared as if there may have been an issue with the snap-hold operation.
After some questionable clock management by the Titans, which resulted in a 62-yard field goal attempt that was partially blocked by Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart, the Colts got an opportunity for more points, and cashed in. They drove down to Tennessee's 18-yard line and converted a 36-yard field goal by Shrader to go into the locker room up 20-6.
THIRD QUARTER
It didn't take long for the Colts to truly blow the game open, taking the opening drive of the second half 67 yards in six plays. Jones found Michael Pittman Jr. over the middle up the left hash in front of the end zone, while Pittman powered himself in. Shrader's extra point made it 27-6, with 11:08 remaining in the third quarter.
The Titans answered on the following drive, putting together a 13-play, 73-yard sequence that resulted in a short, one-yard touchdown by Pollard.
The Colts' offense responded in a big way to Tennessee's first touchdown of the day. On the seventh play of the drive, Taylor broke several tackles for a highlight-worthy, 46-yard touchdown run.
FOURTH QUARTER.
The Titans constructed a grueling, but fruitful 16-play drive, as Ward found fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor for an eight-yard touchdown on 4th-and-Goal from Indy's 8-yard line. It cut the Colts' lead to 34-20 with 8:40 remaining in the game.
The Colts answered with the icing on the cake, getting a short, one-yard touchdown run from Taylor, his third of the game. It extended the Colts' lead to 41-20 with 2:47 remaining.
The Titans went four-and out on their final drive, turning the ball over on downs.
Anthony Richardson came into the game for the Colts at quarterback with about four-and-a-half minutes remaining. He helped the Colts run the clock down and kneel the ball out.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.