Frank Gore was huge for the Colts in today’s win (Getty).
FINAL SCORE
Indianapolis Colts 7-7-0-21 — 35
Tennessee Titans 0-10-17-6 — 33
FINAL: Colts Escape in Wild Win
Andrew Luck saved the day with two late TD passes in Nashville (Getty).
For awhile, there was real panic in Colts nation.
Then, elation.
The Colts scored three touchdowns in four minutes of play in the fourth quarter, as they stunned the Titans in their home opener, 35-33. Marcus Mariota was great again, but failed to control the game when it was his to lose. He threw for a career-high 367 yards, but his two interceptions (including one in the 4th) led to 14 points for the Colts.
Before the fourth quarter eruption, Luck was having his worst game of the season. He finished just 18/30 for 260 yards, and threw two INTs before his two late TDs. He was also sacked three times.
Moving forward, keep an eye out for Luck on the injury report. He certainly looked to be in pain on the sidelines, and the Colts should be careful how the handle their star QB heading to Jacksonville next week.
With or without Luck the Colts (1-2) will meet the Jaguars (1-2), while the Titans will be one of the first teams to have their bye week.
Mariota Closed the Gap But Came up Short
After the dust cleared, a stunned Titans team still had a final shot to drive for the tie. Down eight they wasted no time, and quickly found themselves in Colts territory.
#Titans in business. Mariota to Wright, then roughing QB on Indy. Ball at 32
A 19-yard completion to Green-Beckham put the Titans on the two yard line, and put Mariota over 350 yards for the day. Jalston Fowler finished the drive on a short run with 51 seconds remaining, but the Titans still needed the two-point conversion.
Tennessee went back to Fowler on the conversion attempt, but he was unable to find a hole as the Colts swarmed the backfield.
Onsides kick coming up
Ball goes out of bounds. Colts ball
What a finish for the Colts. Andrew Luck stays undefeated over the Titans with a gutsy win.
Mistakes Give Andrew Luck a Shot at Redemption
After all the mistakes, Luck came through again the put the Colts ahead late.
It started with a 35 yard jump ball that became the first TD of Phillip Dorsett’s career.
The Titans, ahead and at home, looked to put a dagger in their divisional opponent. Mariota took a shot deep to Kendall Wright, but his pass was intercepted and returned to the Titans 11 yard line.
Luck didn’t waste any time with the chance, and found Moncrief for an 11 yard strike on the first play.
Just like that, the Colts are ahead.
..Then They Exploded in the 4th
Wow. What a turnaround in Nashville.
Marucs Mariota made his first major error in the NFL, as a late interception has started a massive Colts comeback. It started with Andrew Luck, who threw Phillip Dorsett his first NFL TD on a 35 yard jump ball.
Mariota tried to go to Wright on the second play of the next drive, but Dwight Lowery recorded his second interception of the day and almost had his second pick-six. Instead the Colts took the ball from the 11, and Luck hit Moncrief on a fade route on the first play.
After the Titans went three and out, the Colts were back in the endzone in less than three minutes. This time it was led by Frank Gore, who first ran for 25 then finished the drive with a six yard stretch.In almost exactly four minutes, the Colts have scored three touchdowns.
The Colts are Imploding
Andrew Luck off the back foot…PICKED.
That’s SEVEN interceptions on the year for Luck #INDvsTEN http://t.co/dWZ27px9Ku
It’s all going wrong for the Colts.
Coming back onto the field after giving up 14 unanswered, the Colts struggled once again on offense and brought the punt team out. Instead of kicking, punter Pat McAfee took the snap and ran, collecting enough for the first down before heading out of bounds.
Instead of inspiring the Colts, it made matters worse. Luck, trying to make a play, threw off his back foot for Hilton and was intercepted again.
Yeah, he’s rushed. So what? No one makes that throw. Moronic. Luck is the problem. He has been the problem all year.
Mariota took over at the Colts 13 yard line, but struggled to punch it in again. After 1st and goal, the Colts held their ground, forcing a short field goal from Succop.
Titans Take Lead to Start Third Quarter
The Titans refuse to go away. After a sack ended the Colts’ first drive of the half, Mariota wasted no time and hit three different receivers on the drive. He stuck with Kendall Wright however, and Wright caught two passes for 42 yards on the drive.
It was finished off by rookie Antonio Andrews, who is leading the Titans’ rushing attack.
On the Colts ensuing drive, Luck was picked off deep in his own half.
#Colts‘ Andrew Luck throws INT, and he looks like a rookie, flinging it out wide like that.
The Titans’ offense went back on the field for first and goal, and didn’t need long to find D-G-B for an easy fade route. Six minutes into the second half, the Titans are taking control of this game.
Mariota just tied Mark Rypien for most TD passes (6) in first 3 NFL games #Titans
Titans can do no wrong, even if it’s pushing off on TD catch. #Colts trail, 24-14.
Halftime: Close Battle in AFC South
A late TD pass has the Titans close at the half (Getty).
A late TD pass from Marcus Mariota has the Titans hanging around with the Colts, 14-10 at halftime. After falling behind 14-0 early, Mariota didn’t force any plays, and battled back with smart play. He’s 14/23 for 185 yards at the break.
For the Colts, it’s more troubling than the score lets on. Luck has 90 passing yards on just five completions, but has not responded to pressure well. It’s better off he only has right attempts so far, as the Colts are actively trying to feed Frank Gore as the game progresses. Gore had ten carries in the first half, and expect that number to double by the time this one ends.
Colts Start Out Angry
The Colts want nothing to do with 0-3.
After trading punts to start the game, the Colts forced a second three and out and started their second possession at their own 37. They put a nice drive together, aided by a 48-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton.
https://twitter.com/search?f=videos&vertical=news&q=hilton&src=typd
The Colts punched it in on the next play, with Frank Gore banging home the Colts’ first touchdown in the first half this season.
After trading punts again, Mariota and the Titans attempted to put a drive together before the end of the first quarter. On a 3rd and 3, Mariota’s pass was to Walker was popped up in the air off a deflection, and pounced upon by the Colts Dwight Lowry who took it 69 yards to the house.
TOUCHDOWN COLTS! Dwight Lowery picks off a deflected Marcus Mariota pass and takes it all the way back for the score!
Preview: New-Look Titans Want to Set New Tone
Marcus Mariota will have his first NFL home opener on Sunday (Getty).
They’re dancing to a new beat in the Music City.
The Titans may have lost last week, but they already like a completely different team under Marcus Mariota. Now they face their first real test in the Colts, a team they’ve fallen to seven times since 2011. If the first step to rebuilding the Titans was drafting Mariota, the second step is undoubtedly beating the Colts at home.
The Colts may be 0-2, but they aren’t ready to roll over just yet. In fact, after two tough losses, the Colts season officially starts Sunday. The team will play their entire division over the next three weeks, establishing important positioning in the standings.
That’s good news for Andrew Luck, who has never lost to an AFC South opponent in his NFL career.
Luck hasn’t been perfect in his team’s losses, but the onus doesn’t fall on just him. Frank Gore dropped a fumble at the goal line last week, and the offensive line has committed seven holding penalties through two games.