Colts-Titans Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Johnson, White will run wild over banged-up ColtsThe roles in this interesting matchup have been totally reversed. Normally it is the high-flying Colts that come to town with a bulls-eye on their back as the prohibitive favorites, but now the Titans are in that role. They run the football with conviction, have a low-risk passing game and they play great defense. This is a portable game plan that will be effective in any environment and that makes their long-term success probable. Indy still has potential for offensive explosiveness, especially in the passing game -- but the run offense and overall defense is inconsistent. This game features finesse versus power, and it will be fun to watch the two styles clash in a very important AFC South matchup.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
IND	12-4	377	298	6-2	6-2	4-2	10-2
TEN	13-3	375	234	7-1	6-2	4-2	9-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Indianapolis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 69.8 3171 21 9 Addai 100.0 22 1 0

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Collin... 54.8 1071 5 8 Young 62.9 623 3 2

Indianapolis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Addai 145 514 3.5 7 Brown 54 236 4.4 2

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 199 1242 6.2 8 White 61 208 3.4 2

Indianapolis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Wayne 76 968 12.7 8 Clark 65 771 11.9 4

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 26 393 15.1 1 Gage 22 302 13.7 1

Full Player Stats: Indianapolis | Tennessee

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	IND	336.0
	TEN	314.0
Yards Passing	IND	255.9
	TEN	176.2
Yards Rushing	IND	79.6
	TEN	137.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	IND	310.9
	TEN	293.6
Pass Yds Allowed	IND	188.1
	TEN	199.8
Rush Yds Allowed	IND	122.9
	TEN	93.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Indianapolis leads 9-5
Dec 30, 2007	IND 10, @TEN 16
Sep 16, 2007	IND 22, TEN 20
Dec 3, 2006	IND 17, TEN 20
Oct 8, 2006	IND 14, @TEN 13
Dec 4, 2005	IND 35, @TEN 3
Oct 2, 2005	IND 31, TEN 10
Dec 5, 2004	IND 51, @TEN 24
Sep 19, 2004	IND 31, TEN 17
Dec 7, 2003	IND 29, TEN 27
Sep 14, 2003	IND 33, @TEN 7
Dec 8, 2002	IND 17, TEN 27
Nov 3, 2002	IND 15, @TEN 23

The Tennessee Titans haven't faced many daunting obstacles during the best start in franchise history, but they're well aware of the challenge they face in Week 7 versus the defending AFC South champions.

On Monday night, the Titans aim to extend their unbeaten run as they match up against the visiting Indianapolis Colts, winners of five straight division titles.

Tennessee (6-0) rolled to a 34-10 victory at Kansas City last Sunday, stretching its NFL-best winning streak to nine games dating to last season. It is the Titans' lengthiest winning streak since reeling off a franchise-record 11 straight from Oct. 17, 1993-Jan. 2, 1994, when the team was the Houston Oilers.

Though they're off to best start in the organization's 49-year existence and remain the NFL's only unbeaten team, the Titans have played a relatively soft schedule, with three of their six wins coming against opponents with losing records.

Tennessee feels that with a convincing performance against Indianapolis (3-3), which has dominated the AFC South each season since 2002, when the Titans last won the title, it will gain respect.

"A lot of people still don't respect us and feel like we haven't played top-notch talent in the league yet," safety Chris Hope said. "They're still not sure about how good we are, and what better way to show them than on Monday Night Football against Peyton Manning and the Colts, one of the premier teams in the league."

The Colts haven't been playing like one of the top clubs in the NFL lately. They're off to their worst start since opening 3-3 in 2001, when they finished 6-10 and missed the playoffs.

Indianapolis lost 34-14 at Green Bay last Sunday. Dominic Rhodes was a bright spot, rushing 20 times for 73 yards and both Colts touchdowns.

The Colts committed a season-high 12 penalties -- tied for their most since 2005 -- for 110 yards. They have been whistled for 46 infractions -- third-most in the AFC -- after being one of the least-penalized clubs during the first six years of coach Tony Dungy's tenure.

"I can't really give you one, simple answer, try to summarize what's going on," said Manning, who went 21-for-42 for 229 yards and two interceptions and finished with a 46.6 passer rating -- his lowest in more than three years.

"We just need to play better," he added. "I need to play better and find a way to get into the end zone. Our offense needs to try to get the lead to help our defense out a little bit. We didn't do our job."

Indianapolis' defense is surrendering 340.2 yards per game, and has been weakened by the absence of safety Bob Sanders, who could return to practice this week. Sanders hasn't played since suffering a high right ankle sprain in Week 2 at Minnesota.

The Colts, who are also yielding 153.5 yards per game versus the run, could struggle to contain a Titans ground game that ranks fourth in the NFL with 154.5 ypg.

Against Kansas City last weekend, Tennessee amassed 455 total yards including 332 on the ground, shattering the previous team record of 296 rushing yards on Nov. 27, 1977, also versus the Chiefs.

Chris Johnson had 18 carries for 168 yards and one touchdown, and third-year pro LenDale White rushed 17 times for 149 yards and three TDs -- both career bests.

"Your run game is a development of the way your team plays," said coach Jeff Fisher, in his 10th year at Tennessee's helm. "The backs got a lot of extra yards on their own after contact."

The Titans also continue to excel on defense, as their 66 points allowed are easily the NFL's fewest.

The Colts are 15-11 all-time against the Titans franchise. They split last season's series with the road team winning each game.

"We're going to have to play a good game to win," Dungy told the Colts' official Web site. "That's our focus right now. It's not where we are in the standings or any of that. I think we'll know to win the division or to have a chance to win the division we're going to have to win this game, but it's not really about that.

"We're at Week 7 for us and we have to play an outstanding game."

Joyner: Week 12 pickups

You never know when an injury or a slump will doom you, so you better have depth.

Titans win 4th straight when Brown's kick wide

Rob Bironas kicked a 53-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining and the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans 20-17 for their fourth straight victory after an 0-6 start.

Scouts Buzz: Stafford growing up fast

Scouts Inc. examines Matthew Stafford's development, the Vikings' dynamic offense and more.

MacGregor: It isn't about Belichick; it's about us

Was Bill Belichick right to go for it against the Colts? Do clothes make the man? What would Jean-Paul Belmondo do? And which way is the wind blowing today?

Indianapolis Colts defense won't see wholesale changes

The Indianapolis Colts brought in Larry Coyer to replace Ron Meeks as coordinator, not oversee an extensive renovation of the defense.

Brackett: I'll be ready for Colts camp

Gary Brackett anticipates being ready for the start of training camp as the Indianapolis Colts' veteran linebacker continues to recover from a broken right leg that forced him to miss the end of the 2008 season.

Manning challenges youngsters to emerge as third receiver

The Indianapolis Colts' roster lists nine receivers, so depth isn't a concern, though for the first time since 1995, the collection doesn't include Marvin Harrison. Proven depth is another matter entirely.

Colts' Jackson, Hart recovering quickly

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson and running back Mike Hart labor on different sides of the ball, but they are recovering from similar injuries and chasing identical timetables.

Brackett energized about Colts coaches

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett honored Canterbury students Thursday for raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.