AFC South showdown: Indianapolis Colts favourites for win vs reeling Tennessee Titans – NFL Preview
The Indianapolis Colts are favourites to win versus the visiting Tennessee Titans this Sunday (Dec. 09) as the hosts have many positives to keep up their confidence heading into the game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
First, the Colts have maintained an invincible record versus the visitors this season. They have beaten them at their home ground and beaten them convincingly.
Two, rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has been thriving on some record-breaking performances. He has shown an extraordinary ability of salvaging the Colts from a number of clear losses in final moments of games.
Three, they are on streak of four wins at their home ground and targeting the fifth straight wins over the Titans, which is very much possible.
Four, the Colts know they are on top of the wild card opportunity to secure a playoff berth and a win on the weekend will ease the situation for them. So a must-win situation has warranted them to be more competitive in the game, putting in some extra efforts.
Five, it is very much possible that their coach Chuck Pagano, who has just successfully completed all four phases of chemotherapy, might show up in the coaches box to boost morale of the team.
The doctors have allowed Pagano and owner Jim Irsay to decide return of the coach whenever he feels comfortable to return and reaccept the coaching responsibilities. He is expected to be back by end of this month formally but there is a likelihood he shows
up on the weekend. He has done so during previous games while he was still under treatment.
Six, the Titans are going through their worst situation at the moment. Their consistent losses have made them lose their offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, who has been replaced with Tom Moore.
There is an extra pressure of losses on the Titans and they are failing to return to full form at all positions. The first-year offence leader Jake Locker is 2-5 in the season so far, and has missed five straight games with a shoulder injury.
Owner Bud Adams has already issued an informal warning to them to improve. The game is less important for them because even if they win reaching the playoffs is very difficult.
Coach Mike Munchak is already concerned with the team’s record of 4-8 in American Football Conference (AFC) South, while the Colts are quite ahead of them. The Houston Texans have already made the playoffs from the division, and the Jacksonville Jaguars
– the other team in the division - with only two wins are with even worse record.
Munchak said:
"It seems like this is one of those years where what can go wrong is going wrong, and we're getting challenged in a lot of different ways."
Amid the scenario, the Colts have a fair chance for a win over the visitors and they should not go into the game for a lesser outcome.
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