Colts at Titans
THE STORY: A pair of division rivals coming off humiliating defeats will attempt to get back on track when the Tennessee Titans host the winless Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South matchup Sunday. The Titans were among the front-runners for most embarrassing performance of Week 7 after they were demolished at home by Houston 41-7, a loss that knocked them out of first place in the division. That was before the Colts took the field Sunday night and absorbed a 62-7 beating at New Orleans in a nationally televised train wreck that showed how far Indianapolis has fallen without Peyton Manning.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Titans -9, O/U 43.5
ABOUT THE COLTS (0-7): Indianapolis looked defenseless in giving up the most points in team history, watching the Saints score on their first nine possessions in the 55-point massacre. The Colts are allowing just over 32 points per game – easily a league high – and have been outscored by a over a 2-to-1 margin (225-111). QB Kerry Collins was placed on season-ending injured reserve this week, leaving Curtis Painter and backup Dan Orlovsky to go the rest of the way. Painter threw for only 67 yards last week. Indy’s defense is ranked 30th overall and 31st in the league against the run.
ABOUT THE TITANS (3-3): Tennessee had a chance to seize control of the AFC South, but has been slaughtered in its last two games by a 79-24 margin. The Titans had allowed an average of 14 points through their first four games before getting steamrolled the past two weeks. RB Chris Johnson turned in another dreadful performance, rushing for 18 yards on 10 carries and then claimed it’s not his fault. He is averaging 2.9 yards per carry for the season. QB Matt Hasselbeck was equally inept, throwing for a season-low 104 yards and two interceptions.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Colts are seeking their sixth consecutive win against the Titans.
2. Johnson needs 134 rushing yards to reach 5,000 for his career, while Colts WR Reggie Wayne needs three receptions to pass Steve Largent (819) for 20th on the career list.
3. Indy’s streak of nine consecutive seasons of double-digit victories officially ended with last week’s drubbing.