The Indianapolis Colts are singing in cadence.
“I’m a steam roller baby.”
“And I’m rolling down the line”
“I’m a steam roller baby”
“And I’m rolling down the line”
“So you better get out of my way now”
“Before I roll all over you.”
The Colts never trailed from the opening snap and left no doubt with a dominant 41-20 road win over the Tennessee Titans in Sunday’s AFC South clash at Nissan Stadium.
Indianapolis is one of six teams that improved to 3-0 and its offense is a well-oiled machine that just steamrolled over another AFC opponent for the second time in three games this season. Indy is clicking on all three phases, nearly doubling its first three opponents in scoring, 103-56, while becoming the first team since 1967 to score at least 29 points in each of their first three games.
Cornerback Kenny Moore II sniffed out a check down on the third play from scrimmage while Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward intended to find running back Tony Pollard, but Moore jumped the route and returned it 32 yards to the house for his franchise-record (breaking and tying) pick six in the opening minute. It’s the fastest pick six for a Colts player to start a game and Moore tied the franchise record with his fourth career pick six.
Running back Jonathan Taylor powered the charge with 102 rushing yards on 17 carries and delivered a hat trick with three rushing touchdowns. Taylor capped off a 77-yard march on the second offensive drive with a one-yard plunge to give the Colts a 17-3 lead. Late in the third quarter, as soon as the Colts breached Titans territory, Taylor was fed on an iso run behind rookie Tyler Warren as his lead blocker and the sixth-year veteran raced for the longest run of the game through the heart of the Titans defense. Taylor cut right to shake Titans’ Xavier Woods, spun around to dismiss Amani Hooker, then broke free from the grasp of Kyzir White and L’Jarius Sneed for an astonishing 46-yard touchdown to seal the win.
In his last two meetings against the Titans, Taylor has collected 320 rushing yards and six TDs. Taylor joined Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDanian Tomlinson as the fourth player in the last quarter-century with 7,500 scrimmage yards and 60 touchdowns through his first 70 career games.
Quarterback Daniel Jones continues to play sharp, efficient football with the ability to spread the wealth around. Jones completed 18-of-25 passes for 228 passing yards, connecting with receiver Michael Pittman Jr. six times for 73 yards and one TD. Out of the break, Jones delivered the dagger to Pittman on a quick slant and the veteran receiver made the extra effort to reach across the goal line for a 20-yard TD to stretch the lead to 27-6.
The Colts took advantage of terrible clock management to seize possession inside Titans territory. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart blocked a 62-yard field goal attempt to set up kicker Spencer Shrader to deliver a 36-yard field goal for a 20-6 cushion at halftime.
Indy’s unstoppable force engineered 10 explosive plays of at least 15 yards, while its defense allowed just five. The Colts dominated the trenches, limiting the Titans to 86 rushing yards on 23 carries and 5-for-14 on third down. Tyquan Lewis secured two sacks, while Kwity Paye and Neville Gallimore both added another sack to take down rookie QB Cam Ward a combined four times.
The Colts continue their road trip with a Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
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