Two teams with serious issues at quarterback look to end disappointing seasons on a high note when the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis meet Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Titans (3-12), have lost three games in a row and six of seven, including last week's 34-6 home loss to the Houston Texans. The Titans, who turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, were held scoreless until late in the game, while allowing Texans to score a season-high 34 points with backup Brandon Weeden at quarterback. Zach Mettenberger, playing in place of the injured Marcus Mariota, completed 27 of 51 passes for 234 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Mariota, who is dealing with a sprained right MCL, has been ruled out again for Sunday. Mettenberger will once again be under center as he looks for his first win in his 10th career start.
While the Titans will play with their backup quarterback, the Colts (7-8) likely consider Tennessee's situation enviable. Indianapolis is dealing with injuries to its top three quarterbacks in Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst. Luck has missed the last six games while the latter two were injured in last week's 18-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. Hasselbeck sprained the AC joint in his shoulder and isn't expected to play, while Whitehurst suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. With Luck ruled out once again this week, the Colts will enter Sunday's game journeyman Josh Freeman, Ryan Lindley and Stephen Morris at quarterback. Morris was signed last week, while Freeman and Lindley were added on Tuesday.
While still mathematically alive in the playoff chase, the Colts need nine different scenarios to play out in order for the team to qualify for the postseason, beginning with a win against the Titans.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Titans and the Colts.
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1. Load up to stop the run
Whoever ends up starting at quarterback for Indianapolis won't have been with the team long enough to have a solid grasp of the offense. That means the Colts will likely place a premium on running the ball. The Titans should stack the line of scrimmage to limit Gore's effectiveness and dare the Colts' to throw the ball. The unfamiliarity at quarterback will create the potential for turnovers.
2. Give Sankey more touches
Second-year running back Bishop Sankey, who hadn't been heard from in weeks, played 30 snaps in the loss to the Houston. While he ran just two times for 11 yards, he proved effective as a pass-catching option with three receptions for 43 yards. Sankey, the first running back selected in the 2014 draft, can help out Mettenberger out by catching short passes out of the backfield. The Titans should utilize him again this week.
3. Get DGB going
Dorial Green-Beckham, who entered last week having topped 100-yards receiving in two of the three previous games, was held without a catch on three targets. Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey attributed Green-Beckham's quiet day to a combination of Houston's defensive scheme and mistakes in route-running by Green-Beckham. Regardless, the Titans need to go back to the second-round pick again this week. He caught two passes for 22 yards and touchdown in Tennessee's Week 3 loss to the and possesses the size and speed to create matchup problems for the Colts' secondary.
1. More Gore
A week after Gore ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns against Miami, the Colts are going to need the 11-year veteran to come up big again. The 32-year-old carried the ball just 15 times against the Dolphins, but will likely be called on for more work as the Colts try to find ways to move the ball without an experienced quarterback under center. It's the last game of the season. There's no reason to hold back. Gore needs to carry the offense.
2. Lean on Vinatieri
Points may be hard to come by this week, but the Colts have an advantage in kicker Adam Vinatieri. The NFL's oldest player, who turned 43 on Monday, became the third kicker in history with 500 career field goals last week against the Dolphins. Sunday may well be a low-scoring affair, but the Colts can take heart knowing that if they just get themselves into field goal range, Vinatieri rarely misses. The 20-year veteran has made 22 straight kicks and is 10-of-11 this season on kicks over 40 yards. This is not a game for Chuck Pagano to be gambling on fourth down. The Colts should take the points every opportunity they get.
3. Double Delanie
Tight end Delanie Walker is closing in on a 1,000-yard season and is Tennessee's top receiving target. The Colts should double cover him frequently in an effort to keep the ball out his hands. Taking Walker out of the game plan will limit Mettenberger's ability to move the Titans' offense considerably.
