Oct 18, 2026 1:24 PM
The Indianapolis Colts look to rebound against the winless Tennessee Titans after last week's disappointing loss. Here's everything you need to know.
Indianapolis Colts HC Shane Steichen spoke ahead of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. Steichen also discussed the release of WR Darius Slayton. (Video via Jake Arthur/ColtsRoundtable)More Videos
The Indianapolis Colts (2-3) host the winless Tennessee Titans (0-5) on Sunday in a game that seems heavily skewed toward the home team. While the Colts are comfortable betting favorites, there is pressure to deliver in this matchup, as they've already got three AFC losses this season, and another, against a winless opponent, would be a rough look down the stretch for their postseason chances.
Sunday should be an energetic day, however, as the Colts induct legendary kicker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri into the Ring of Honor at halftime.
Here's everything you need to know about Sunday's matchup.
- Date/Time: Sun., Oct. 18, at 1:00pm ET
- Where: Indianapolis, Ind.; Lucas Oil Stadium
- Television: FOX — Chris Myers (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (color), Jen Hale (sideline)
- Stream: FOX One, NFL+ (mobile), NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube/YouTube TV
- Radio: WIBC HD 2 — Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (color), Larra Overton (sideline)
All-Time Series
- Colts lead, 41-21. The Colts have won the last six matchups, dating back to 2023.
- Last game: Week 8 of 2025; Colts won, 38-14.
Coaching Staff
- Colts: head coach Shane Steichen; offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter; defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo; special teams coordinator Brian Mason
- Titans: head coach Robert Saleh; offensive coordinator Brian Daboll; defensive coordinator Gus Bradley; special teams coordinator John Fassel
COLTS
- QUESTIONABLE — TE Tyler Warren (groin)
- OUT — LB Jaylon Carlies (ribs), WR Ashton Dulin (hamstring)
TITANS
- QUESTIONABLE — RB Tyjae Spears (knee), CB Joshua Williams (IR-pec),
- OUT — DT Jordan Elliott (personal), S Kevin Winston (quad)
Storylines/Keys
- Jonathan Taylor: Big Play Hunter?: Taylor has had a pretty solid year but hasn't run for over 100 yards in a game since Week 10 of last season, or even had a run beyond 25 yards since Week 12 last year. The Titans have one of the better run defenses in the NFL in terms of yards per carry allowed (3.5 is tied-4th). In two games against Tennessee last year, Taylor touched the ball 34 times for 292 yards (8.6 avg.) and six touchdowns.
- Defense, Back to the Basics: In the Colts' three losses, poor tackling and angles have been a big problem. There have also been breakdowns or miscommunications in coverage that have led to big plays. Those issues didn't come up much in the Colts' two wins, however. Play clean and smart on defense, and they should be just fine against one of the most struggling offenses in the NFL.
- More Blitzing Begets More Big Plays?: The Colts' four-man pass rush is nearly nonexistent outside of defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Adetomiwa Adebawore. The edge group has contributed very little pressure so far, and there's no indication that's suddenly going to change. The Colts will need to start blitzing more often to generate a pass rush. Their current 20.0% blitz rate is tied for the second-lowest in the NFL.
Intriguing Matchups
- Colts LG Quenton Nelson vs. Titans DT Jeffery Simmons: This is always one of the best matchups to watch all year when these two are paired up. Both players are still playing as well as ever and are going to have their successes and failures against each other. Neutralizing Simmons, though, could change everything for the Colts' offense.
- Colts CB Sauce Gardner vs. Titans WR Carnell Tate: Tate is Tennessee's top overall receiver but is still a rookie. Gardner has had some up-and-down performances this season, so will he look like the Pro Bowl vet vs. the rookie, or overmatched?
- (Retractable roof/window OPEN) Sunny, temperature high-50s, 0% chance of precipitation, wind S 8 mph, per Weather.com
- Head referee: Bill Vinovich (18 years), per FootballZebras.com. Vinovich's crew ranks 8th out of 17 crews in most penalties called per game (14.8) in 2026, per NFLPenalties.com.
- Favorite: Colts (-6.5), per FanDuel Sportsbook
- Over/Under: 44.5
Season Leaders
COLTS
- Passing: QB Daniel Jones (1,021 yards)
- Rushing: RB Jonathan Taylor (398 yards)
- Receiving: WR Josh Downs (249 yards)
- PFF OL Run Block: LG Quenton Nelson (86.6)
- PFF OL Pass Block: LG Quenton Nelson (75.9)
- Non-Pass TD: RB Jonathan Taylor (6)
- Tackles: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (44)
- Tackles for Loss: DT DeForest Buckner (5)
- Sacks: DT DeForest Buckner (4.0)
- Takeaways: DT DeForest Buckner (1 FR), LB Jaylon Carlies (1 INT)
TITANS
- Passing: QB Cam Ward (896 yards)
- Rushing: RB Tony Pollard (273 yards)
- Receiving: WR Carnell Tate (274 yards)
- PFF OL Run Block: RT JC Latham (66.2)
- PFF OL Pass Block: LG Peter Skoronski (74.8)
- Non-Pass TD: WR Wan'Dale Robinson, QB Cam Ward (2)
- Tackles: LB Anthony Hill Jr. (47)
- Tackles for Loss: DT Jeffery Simmons, CB Alontae Taylor (4)
- Sacks: DE Jacob Martin (2.5)
- Takeaways: CB Marcus Harris, S Amani Hooker (1 INT)
KEY STATS
COLTS
- Total Offense: 24th (293.8 YPG)
- Scoring: 10th (24.8 PPG)
- Pass YPA: T-29th (5.8)
- Sacks Allowed: T-7th (9)
- Rush YPC: T-23rd (3.7)
- Red Zone Offense: 8th (66.7%)
- Giveaways: T-22nd (8)
- Third-Down Offense: 25th (35.3%)
- Total Defense: 28th (384.2 YPG)
- Scoring Defense: 27th (27.6 PPG)
- Pass YPA Allowed: 29th (8.0)
- Sacks: T-20th (10)
- Rush YPC Allowed: T-27th (5.0)
- Red Zone Defense: T-18th (62.5%)
- Takeaways: T-30h (2)
- Third-Down Defense: 4th (30.5%)
- Time of Possession: 11th (30:43)
- Penalties: T-1st (5.0 avg.)
- Turnover Differential: T-31st (-6)
TITANS
- Total Offense: 32nd (246.4 YPG)
- Scoring: 32nd (11.6 PPG)
- Pass YPA: T-29th (5.8)
- Sacks Allowed: T-9th (10)
- Rush YPC: T-18th (3.8)
- Red Zone Offense: T-28th (46.2%)
- Giveaways: T-18th (7)
- Third-Down Offense: 24th (35.6%)
- Total Defense: 19th (331.8 YPG)
- Scoring Defense: T-11th (21.8 PPG)
- Pass YPA Allowed: T-25th (7.8)
- Sacks: T-20th (10)
- Rush YPC Allowed: T-4th (3.5)
- Red Zone Defense: T-18th (62.5%)
- Takeaways: T-30h (2)
- Third-Down Defense: 15th (38.5%)
- Time of Possession: 32nd (24:31)
- Penalties: T-3rd (6.0 avg.)
- Turnover Differential: T-27th (-5)
Notes
- The Colts made the following roster moves this week: Activated tight end Will Mallory from Injured Reserve. Signed tight end Pharaoh Brown to the active roster from the practice squad. Released wide receiver Darius Slayton. Signed free-agent linebacker Germaine Pratt to the practice squad.
- Running back Jonathan Taylor needs four rushing yards to reach 8,000 for his career, which will make him the fifth player in the NFL to do so in their first 90 games since 2000. Taylor also needs one total touchdown to pass Reggie Wayne (82) for the third-most in franchise history.
- Wide receiver Keenan Allen needs four catches to pass Anquan Boldin (1,076) for the 10th-most in NFL history, and six catches to pass Terrell Owens (1,078) for the ninth-most.
- Wide receiver Josh Downs needs four catches to pass Wayne (221) for the fifth-most catches by a Colts player in their first four seasons.
- Tight end Tyler Warren needs one receiving touchdown to pass Dallas Clark and Coby Fleener (six) for the third-most by a Colts tight end in their first two seasons.
- Punter Rigoberto Sanchez needs two punts down inside the opponent's 20 to pass Pat McAfee and Hunter Smith (193) for the second-most in franchise history. Sanchez also needs one game with a 50.0-yard avg. to pass McAfee (23) for the most in franchise history.
- Former Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor at halftime.
- Former Colts tight end Dallas Clark will have the pregame honors of striking the anvil.
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