The Tennessee Titans faced a tough defeat against the Indianapolis Colts, losing 20-17 in a competitive match at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
The game turned in favor of the Colts when receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught a touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with 7:27 remaining in regulation, overcoming a challenge from Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
Titans quarterback Will Levis struggled throughout the game, finishing with only 95 passing yards on 16 completions out of 27 attempts.
Flacco, stepping in for the injured Anthony Richardson, started strong by leading an initial scoring drive that included a touchdown pass to Josh Downs, ultimately delivering the decisive throw to Pittman later on.
The Titans dropped to a disappointing 1-4 for the season, with difficult upcoming matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the Colts improved to 3-3 despite not having their starting quarterback.
As the game progressed, the Titans’ offense struggled to gain traction, culminating in a flurry of three-and-out series. Levis faced challenges in his passing game, including an interception thrown to Colts safety Julian Blackmon.
The defense managed to force a three-and-out from the Colts, giving Levis another chance, but he failed to capitalize, throwing three consecutive incompletions during an important drive. Notably, a potential pass interference call on DeAndre Hopkins was missed by officials, prompting visible frustration from Titans coach Brian Callahan.
The Colts initially took the lead in the first quarter with an effective drive capped off by a touchdown pass from Flacco to Downs. Although the Titans responded with a touchdown from Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, they struggled with penalties that extended Indianapolis’ drives.
At halftime, the score was tied at 10-10, with both teams showing flashes of offensive capability but also a propensity for mistakes. The Titans had a solid first drive in the second half, highlighted by a 23-yard touchdown run from Tony Pollard.
Ultimately, the Colts’ late-game execution and a pivotal touchdown drive secured their victory, while the Titans faced mounting pressure at the end of the game as time expired on a desperate lateral play that yielded no gain.
The performance marks another frustrating chapter for the Titans as they aim to turn the season around in upcoming games.