Colts vs Titans: The 4th Quarter That Saved a Season
By Dave McKee
The Colts entered Nissan Stadium 0-2 with a much-maligned offense and an embattled coach on the verge of a tailspin. Despite an early surge, Indianapolis trailed 27-14 entering the fourth quarter. The Colts faced a 98-yard drive to save their season after an amazing special team play pinned them back on their on the 2-yard line. Then, something special happened.
35. 35. 46. Final. 33
The Colts trailed by 13 with their season hanging in the balance and only 12:20 remaining on the clock. They had struggled for two quarters after an early rushing touchdown by Frank Gore and pick-six by safety Dwight Lowery. It was up to Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck finished the game 18-of-30 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Most of that production came from the fourth quarter.
The misfires, mental mistakes, penalties, and turnovers continued to plague their offense like they had for the previous two weeks. The Colts faced nearly insurmountable odds with their backs against the wall. During the post-game press conference, Luck described the experience as he locked eyes with his teammates in the huddle.
“We got up there and there was a special look in the guys’ eyes,” Luck said. “You’re sitting on the 2-yard line. This is a test. If we can do this, we’ll have a chance, and if we can’t, we won’t have a chance.”
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That special look could have been anything. It could have been anger, anticipation, determination or even resolution. Whatever it was, special is probably the best description. The 12-play 98-yard drive the Colts produced was one for the record books. They get out of the shadow of their own endzone and go no-huddle to try and get the Titans defense on its heels.
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The offense started clicking. Luck’s pocket was clean and with surgical precision, strung together seven straight passes taking the Colts down to the Titans 27-yard line in only four minutes. After a short first down conversion to the 25-yard line by running back Frank Gore, things got shaky. An incompletion, false-start, and a sack had the Colts backed up to the 25-yard line facing a 3rd-and-20.
Then the Colts struck paydirt. Luck fired a beautiful pass down the seam to a streaking Phillip Dorsett who made a leaping grab for his first career touchdown.
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The 98-yard drive was the turning point of the game, and possibly the Colts entire season. Those twelve plays set a tone that started 21-point scoring spree by the Colts in the fourth quarter. On the second play of the ensuing possession Titan’s quarterback Marcus Mariota was intercepted by Dwight Lowery – for the second time, the first being a pick-six in the first quarter – returning the interception down to the Titans 11-yard line.
The very first play, Luck Throws a high arcing fade to Donte Moncrief in the back corner of the endzone. Moncrief made a great catch jumping over cornerback Parrish Cox and snagging the ball at the high-point to retake the lead 28-27. Suddenly, the Colts were leading after scoring two touchdowns in 56 seconds and momentum was on their side with just under six minutes remaining.
The Colts defense came out forced a quick three-and-out on Tennessee and with the lead in hand, The Colts did not opt to chew up the clock, instead they extended their lead on a 5-play 69-yard drive. After a 19-yard pass to tight end Jack Doyle, Luck handed the ball off to Frank Gore who swept up the right sideline for a 25-yard run.
Gore later capped off the drive with his second touchdown on the day. A 6-yard run to the strong side that extended the Colts lead to 35-27. Gore finished the game with 86-yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
Marcus Mariota and the Titans were not finished yet. Mariota orchestrated a 9-play touchdown drive that covered 80-yards in just over two minutes. With 0:47 remaining and the Titans trailing 35-33. They needed a two-point conversion send the game to overtime. On their first attempt, Colts cornerback Jalil Brown was called for pass interference. This set the ball on the one-yard line.
Titans running back Jalston Fowler‘s assigned who was plugged by the defense resulting in Fowler cutting back and eventually being run down by the defense. The Colts sealed the game in an emotional rollercoaster of a victory. The offense no longer looked maligned when the game was on the line. As for the coach, this was one victory Chuck Pagano will never forget. Pagano was so overwhelmed by the win he was holding back tears during his post-game locker room speech. No longer embattled, but so much left to improve on, the Colts look to continue to build from the fourth quarter that changed their season.
Be sure to check back for more Colts coverage here at Ink on Indy all season long!
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