NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts (2-0) are tasked simultaneously with their first AFC South and road matchup of the season on Sunday as they travel to Nissan Stadium in Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans (0-2) at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Colts got a shot in the arm over the weekend as they were determined to be at full strength, with no players remaining on their injury report. Meanwhile, the winless Titans are struggling to fill their lineup with their best players, as several are ailing with injuries.
Sunday is an opportunity for the Colts to gain a true stranglehold on the division lead while also bolstering their early-season playoff resume'.
Here is everything you need to know about Sunday’s battle between the Colts and Titans.
Broadcast Information
- Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Nashville, Tenn.; Nissan Stadium
- Television: CBS — Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (color), Amanda Balionis (sideline)
- Stream: Paramount+, NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube/YouTubeTV
- Radio: WIBC HD 2 — Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (color), Larra Overton (sideline)
All-Time Series
- Colts lead, 39-21. The Colts have won the last four matchups, sweeping the series for the last two years, dating back to 2023.
- Last game: Week 16 of 2024; Colts won, 38-30.
Coaching Staff
- Colts: head coach Shane Steichen; offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter; defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo; special teams coordinator Brian Mason
- Titans: head coach Brian Callahan; offensive coordinator Nick Holz; defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson; special teams coordinator John Fassel
Injury Report
COLTS
- None
TITANS
- QUESTIONABLE — CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (ankle), RB Kalel Mullings (ankle), WR Bryce Oliver (knee), CB L'Jarius Sneed (back), G Kevin Zeitler (bicep)
- DOUBTFUL — S Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring)
- OUT — OT J.C. Latham (hip), NT T'Vondre Sweat (IR-ankle)
Storylines/Keys
- Will Offensive Regression Arrive?: The Colts' offense is red-hot to start the season, ranking No. 1 in the NFL in yards per game after putting up over 400 yards in each contest and averaging 31.0 points per game. However, how sustainable is that? They scored on an NFL-record first 10 consecutive drives of the season, they haven't punted or turned the ball over, they lead the NFL in passing yards per attempt (9.3), and have the league's leading rusher. Logic says that some of this will begin to come down to earth. However, if they can improve in the red zone from their 26th rank and get even better on third downs (they're still top 10), the offense should continue to hum.
- Jonathan Taylor Could Dominate: Taylor leads the NFL in rushing with 236 yards after his 165-yard outburst last week. In the last matchup between these two teams last season, Taylor went for over 200 yards, with three touchdowns. Tennessee's defense currently ranks 29th against the run (150.0 avg.) and 30th in yards per carry allowed (5.5). They also just placed nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat on IR with an ankle injury. The Colts' plan of attack should be fairly obvious here.
- Which Defense Shows Up?: In Week 1, while at full health, the Colts smothered the Miami Dolphins, nearly holding them scoreless. However, the Denver Broncos had a good bit more success last week while the Colts were without two of their top defenders, Laiatu Latu and Charvarius Ward Sr. Both are back this week, so will the Colts resemble more of their dominant Week 1 version or the one with holes from last week? They face a talented rookie quarterback in Cam Ward, who's leading a mightily struggling Titans offense.
Intriguing Matchups
- Colts IOL vs. Titans DT Jeffery Simmons: Simmons was already the engine that drove the Titans' defensive line, but he has more on his plate now without Sweat. The Colts know they must neutralize him with Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, and Matt Goncalves. The Colts' offensive line has been terrific so far this season, paving the way for the league's leading rusher while also only allowing quarterback Daniel Jones to be sacked twice.
- Colts DE Laiatu Latu vs. Titans RT John Ojukwu/Oli Udoh: The Colts should smell blood in the water with this matchup. The Titans have given up a league-high 11 sacks and are without talented right tackle J.C. Latham, which will give Latu a matchup against either of Ojukwu or Udoh. The Colts' four-man pass rush hasn't gotten off the ground yet, as the defense got three sacks in Week 1 (two from defensive backs on blitzes), and none last week.
- Colts CB Charvarius Ward Sr. vs. Titans WR Calvin Ridley: Ridley is Tennessee's leading receiver but will likely draw the attention of Ward throughout the game. How will quarterback Cam Ward perform while his top receiver is being covered by a shutdown corner such as Charvarius Ward?
Projected Weather
- Mostly cloudy (thunderstorms possible), temperature mid-80s, 24% chance of precipitation, wind SW 7 mph, per Weather.com
Referee Assignment
- Head referee: Scott Novak (seven years), per FootballZebras.com. Novak's crew ranks 10th out of 18 crews in most penalties called per game (13.7) in 2025, per NFLPenalties.com.
Betting Line
- Favorite: Colts (-3.5), per ESPN Bet Sportsbook
- Over/Under: 43.5
SEASON LEADERS
COLTS
- Passing: QB Daniel Jones (588 yards)
- Rushing: RB Jonathan Taylor (236 yards)
- Receiving: TE Tyler Warren (155 yards)
- PFF OL Run Block: LG Quenton Nelson (77.5)
- PFF OL Pass Block: RG Matt Goncalves (74.8)
- Non-Pass TD: QB Daniel Jones (3)
- Tackles: LB Joe Bachie, S Nick Cross (13)
- Tackles for Loss: DT DeForest Buckner (2)
- Sacks: S Nick Cross, DE Samson Ebukam, CB Kenny Moore II (1.0)
- Takeaways: S Cam Bynum (2)
TITANS
- Passing: QB Cam Ward (287 yards)
- Rushing: RB Tony Pollard (152 yards)
- Receiving: WR Calvin Ridley (84 yards)
- PFF OL Run Block: LG Peter Skoronski (72.6)
- PFF OL Pass Block: LG Peter Skoronski (76.8)
- Non-Pass TD: WR Elic Ayomanor (1)
- Tackles: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (17)
- Tackles for Loss: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (2)
- Sacks: S Amani Hooker, DT Jeffery Simmons (1)
- Takeaways: LB Cody Barton, DE Sebastian Joseph-Day, LB Dorian Mausi, CB Roger McCreary, S Xavier Woods (1)
KEY STATS
COLTS
- Total Offense: 1st (445.5 YPG)
- Scoring: 4th (31.0 PPG)
- Pass YPA: 1st (9.3)
- Sacks Allowed: T-3rd (2)
- Rush YPC: 13th (4.5)
- Red Zone Offense: 26th (41.7%)
- Giveaways: T-1st (0)
- Third-Down Offense: T-7th (46.4%)
- Total Defense: 5th (267.5 YPG)
- Scoring Defense: 11th (18.0 PPG)
- Pass YPA Allowed: T-5th (5.8)
- Sacks: T-25th (3)
- Rush YPC Allowed: 29th (5.4)
- Red Zone Defense: 32nd (100.0%)
- Takeaways: T-3rd (4)
- Third-Down Defense: 24th (47.4%)
- Time of Possession: 2nd (35:25)
- Penalties: T-19th (7.5)
- Turnover Differential: 1st (+4)
TITANS
- Total Offense: 32nd (192.5 YPG)
- Scoring: 30th (15.5 PPG)
- Pass YPA: 32nd (4.7)
- Sacks Allowed: 32nd (11)
- Rush YPC: 23rd (3.8)
- Red Zone Offense: 30th (20.0%)
- Giveaways: T-21st (3)
- Third-Down Offense: 31st (27.6%)
- Total Defense: 27th (378.0 YPG)
- Scoring Defense: T-23rd (26.5)
- Pass YPA Allowed: T-13th (6.5)
- Sacks: T-30th (2)
- Rush YPC Allowed: 30th (5.5)
- Red Zone Defense: T-9th (44.4%)
- Takeaways: 2nd (5)
- Third-Down Defense: 16th (40.7%)
- Time of Possession: 19th (29:05)
- Penalties: 32nd (11.5 avg.)
- Turnover Differential: T-5th (+2)
Notes
- The Colts made the following transactions this week: Signed linebacker Austin Ajiake to the active roster from the practice squad. Signed center Jimmy Morrissey to the practice squad.
- Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner needs 1.5 sacks to pass Donnell Thompson (40.0) for the fourth-most sacks in franchise history.
- Cornerback Kenny Moore II needs three pass breakups to pass Vontae Davis (65) for the most in franchise history (since at least 1994).
- Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. needs 68 receiving yards to pass Raymond Berry (4,657) for the fifth-most receiving yards by a Colts player in their first six seasons.
UNDEFEATED: Indianapolis Colts Look to Stay Perfect Ahead of Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans Clash
The Indianapolis Colts (2-0) have their first road and AFC South tests of the year on Sunday as they visit the Tennessee Titans (0-2) at Nissan Stadium in Na...
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, can be seen on WTHR+, and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.