The Indianapolis Colts (7-5) defeated the Tennessee Titans (4-8) in overtime, 31-28, at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
It was a wild game all around from the start. The Colts blocked two consecutive punts during the second half, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Ryan Tannehill was used as a holder after the Titans punter left the game due to an injury. Matt Gay got stung by a bee on the sideline (really).
Neither team deserved to win this game, and both sides did their best to give it away to the other team. But in the end, the Colts did enough to prevail, extending their winning streak to four games.
Here’s everything we know from the Week 13 win:
Final Score: Colts 31, Titans 28
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Final | |
| Colts | 7 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 31 |
| Titans | 10 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 28 |
It was over when...
Gardner Minshew connected with Michael Pittman Jr. for a four-yard touchdown in overtime to seal the win.
DAWG (emphasis on the W)
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/c7Tvmt97Cx
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 3, 2023
Keys to the game
- Before overtime, the Colts did not score a touchdown on any of their four trips to the red zone. They also converted just 3-of-14 attempts (21%) on third downs.
- The game probably would have been different had Derrick Henry not exited the game in the second half due to a concussion.
- The Colts couldn’t get anything going in the run game, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on the ground. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears combined for 37 carries for 177 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
- Gardner Minshew had a brutal game for the majority of the day, but he was money when it mattered in overtime. He delivered his best throw of the game on a 55-yard deep shot to Alec Pierce and followed it up with a game-winning strike to Michael Pittman Jr. from four yards out.
- The Colts held Will Levis to 16-of-33 passes (48.5%) for 224 yards and a touchdown while sacking him six times.
- The two blocked punts on special teams helped gain some momentum in the Colts’ favor during the second half.
3 Stars of the game
- WR Michael Pittman Jr.: Certified DAWG. Pittman could not be stopped taking 11 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.
- WR Alec Pierce: Easily his best game of the season, Pierce caught a 36-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive and then a 55-yard dot in overtime to set up the game-winning touchdown.
- DE Samson Ebukam: Quietly having a strong season, Ebukam collected 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Digging deep for the win
The Colts did not deserve to win this game. As harsh as that sounds, this was arguably their worst game of the season. Considering that, this was still a big win for the Colts to come away with on the road. They had no answer for stopping the run, and their struggles on offense made things far more difficult than they needed to be. But when it mattered most, this team continued to fight to the end, which has been characteristic of the entire season. With all that said, they have to figure out some of these issues on offense if they are going to continue making a run for a playoff spot.
Injuries
- CB Julius Brents (quad) and RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) were inactive due to injuries.
- RT Braden Smith (knee) suffered an injury on the first drive and did not return.
Quick Hits
- The Colts completed a season sweep over the Titans for the first time since 2018.
- This also marked the first time since 2018 the Colts won in Nashville.
- With 10 receptions, Michael Pittman Jr. passed Marvin Harrison (311) for the most receptions by a Colts player in their first four seasons.
- Michael Pittman Jr. has consecutive games with over 100 receiving yards.
- The Colts are now 5-2 in one-score games this season.
- The Colts are the first team to block two punts in a game since 2020.
- The Colts have now scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season.
- The Colts are currently on a four-game winning streak. They last accomplished that feat in 2018.
What's next?
Colts head coach Shane Steichen will meet with the media Monday before the team prepares for a Week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 10.
