Position：home

Titans vs. Colts: A Comprehensive Breakdown of the AFC South Rivalry

Introduction

The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts are bitter rivals in the AFC South division. The two teams have met 49 times in the regular season, with the Titans holding a slight edge with a 26-23 record. However, the Colts have won the last two meetings, including a 34-31 victory in Nashville in 2022.

Historical Rivalry

The Titans and Colts rivalry dates back to 1999, when the Houston Oilers relocated to Nashville and became the Titans. The Colts, who had previously been based in Baltimore, moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

The rivalry quickly became one of the most heated in the NFL. The two teams are located just a few hours apart, and their fans are passionate and loyal. The games between the Titans and Colts are always competitive and often decided by close margins.

titans vs colts

Key Matchups

The key matchup in the Titans vs. Colts rivalry is between the two quarterbacks, Ryan Tannehill and Matt Ryan. Tannehill has been the Titans' starting quarterback since 2019, while Ryan joined the Colts in 2022.

Both quarterbacks are experienced and talented. Tannehill has led the Titans to two AFC South titles and a playoff berth in 2020. Ryan has been to the Pro Bowl four times and led the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2016.

Another key matchup to watch is between the Titans' running back Derrick Henry and the Colts' pass rush. Henry is one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL, and he is a major threat to score every time he touches the ball. The Colts have a talented pass rush led by DeForest Buckner and Yannick Ngakoue, so they will need to be able to contain Henry if they want to win.

Recent Results

The Titans have won two of the last three meetings between the two teams. In 2021, the Titans won 34-31 in Indianapolis. In 2022, the Titans lost 34-31 in Nashville.

The Colts have won the last two meetings, including a 34-31 victory in Nashville in 2022.

Future Outlook

The Titans and Colts are both expected to be competitive teams in 2023. The Titans have a strong offense led by Tannehill and Henry, while the Colts have a talented defense led by Buckner and Ngakoue.

<h1>Titans vs. Colts: A Comprehensive Breakdown of the AFC South Rivalry</h1>

The two teams are scheduled to meet twice in the 2023 regular season. The first meeting will be in Nashville on September 24, and the second meeting will be in Indianapolis on December 31.

Summary

The Titans vs. Colts rivalry is one of the most heated in the NFL. The two teams have met 49 times in the regular season, with the Titans holding a slight edge with a 26-23 record. The rivalry is expected to continue to be competitive for many years to come.

Tables

Table 1: Head-to-Head Record

Year	Winner	Score
1999	Colts	31-14
2000	Colts	24-17
2001	Colts	28-20
2002	Titans	21-14
2003	Colts	20-10
2004	Colts	38-14
2005	Colts	27-13
2006	Colts	24-17
2007	Titans	17-10
2008	Colts	31-21
2009	Colts	24-17
2010	Colts	27-10
2011	Titans	23-20
2012	Colts	27-23
2013	Titans	20-16
2014	Titans	17-10
2015	Titans	42-14
2016	Titans	36-10
2017	Colts	36-22
2018	Titans	33-17
2019	Titans	34-17
2020	Titans	45-26
2021	Titans	34-31
2022	Colts	34-31

Source: Pro Football Reference

Table 2: Statistical Comparison

Team	Wins	Losses
Titans	26	23
Colts	23	26
Overall Record	49	49

Source: Pro Football Reference

Table 3: Notable Players

Player	Team	Years	Accomplishments
Derrick Henry	Titans	2016-present	2,000-yard rusher in 2020
Ryan Tannehill	Titans	2019-present	Led Titans to AFC South title in 2020
Matt Ryan	Colts	2022-present	Led Falcons to Super Bowl in 2016
DeForest Buckner	Colts	2020-present	Pro Bowl in 2020
Yannick Ngakoue	Colts	2022-present	68.5 career sacks

Effective Strategies

Here are some effective strategies for the Titans and Colts to use in their matchup:

Titans: Run the ball with Derrick Henry. Henry is one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL, and he is a major threat to score every time he touches the ball. The Titans need to get Henry involved early and often in the game.
Colts: Get pressure on Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill is a good quarterback, but he is not as mobile as some of the other top quarterbacks in the NFL. The Colts need to get pressure on Tannehill and force him to make mistakes.
Titans: Protect the ball. The Titans cannot afford to turn the ball over against the Colts. The Colts have a good defense, and they will make the Titans pay for any mistakes.
Colts: Control the clock. The Colts have a good running game, and they need to use it to control the clock and keep the Titans' offense off the field.
Titans: Make big plays. The Titans need to make big plays on offense and defense to beat the Colts. They need to hit some big plays in the passing game and force some turnovers on defense.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for the Titans and Colts to use in their matchup:

Titans: Use play-action to deceive the Colts' defense. The Colts' defense is very good at stopping the run, but they are not as good at stopping the pass. The Titans should use play-action to deceive the Colts' defense and get their receivers open.
Colts: Blitz Tannehill on third down. Tannehill is not as mobile as some of the other top quarterbacks in the NFL, so the Colts should blitz him on third down to try to force him to make a mistake.
Titans: Run the ball to the outside. The Colts' defense is very good at stopping the run up the middle, so the Titans should try to run the ball to the outside.
Colts: Cover Henry with multiple defenders. Henry is a very powerful runner, so the Colts need to cover him with multiple defenders to try to stop him.
Titans: Get to Matt Ryan early. Ryan is a good