Titans vs Colts: Keys to the Game for Tennessee

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Entering Week 14 with a 4-8 record and riding a two-game losing streak, the Tennessee Titans look to be out of the playoff race while the Indianapolis Colts seem to be in the midst of a run that will likely end in a postseason berth.

In the last meetings between these two teams, Tennessee walked away with a heart-breaking overtime loss after leading throughout most of the game and suffering through a number of questionable calls that did not go in its favor.

With little to play for outside of pride and potentially head coach Mike Munchak's job, it will be interesting to see what kind of passion the Titans bring to Indianapolis when they take the field on Sunday.

1. Run the No-Huddle Offense Sparingly Throughout the Game

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Over the last two weeks, the majority of the Titans' offensive success has come in the second half, when Jake Locker and company have been forced to speed the pace up in an attempt to score quickly and get back into the game.

Against a Colts defense that has had some struggles throughout the year, allowing Locker to spread the football around and wear out the defense while making play calls at the line of scrimmage will help the Titans put up more than the 13 points they tallied against the Colts the last time these two teams met.

Locker's big arm and mobility are built for a quick-hit and explosive offense, but it will be up to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to do everything in his power to put him in the best situation to succeed.

2. Get Chris Johnson at Least 20 Carries

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After falling behind against Houston last week, the Titans essentially had to abandon the run game late against the Texans as they attempted to put points on the board as fast as possible.

Facing a Colts team that is unlikely to blow them out, it's important to get Chris Johnson as involved in the offense as possible early on in order to keep the defense honest in the passing game and give the defense different looks as they attempt to get up field against a beaten-up offensive line.

Regardless of some of his struggles in a number of games this season, Johnson is still the Titans' best weapon and he needs to be given a chance to create plays throughout the contest.  

3. Get Rid of the Ball Quickly in the Passing Game

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After placing David Stewart and Steve Hutchinson on IR earlier this week, the Titans' offensive line will be completely reshuffled with Kevin Matthews starting at center, Fernando Velasco moving to left guard and Mike Otto taking over at right tackle.

A week after taking a number of coverage sacks and attempting to look for the big-play more often then necessary, Jake Locker will need to get the ball out of his hand as fast as possible as the new offensive line attempts to build chemistry on the fly.

Tennessee's receivers can make plays after the catch, and if they speed up the pace, short passes that give the wideouts opportunities to create plays should be effective against a questionable Colts secondary.  

4. Work Kenny Britt and Jared Cook into the Offensive Game Plan

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Two of the Titans' most talented yet inconsistent players have found themselves in-and-out of the good graces of Titans fans for much of the season.

Last week, for the first time since he requested a trade, the Titans made an obvious effort to get Cook on the field and he rewarded them with a couple big, drive-extending catches. 

While Cook was on the field for much of the game, Britt managed just two catches against the Texans, highlighted by a lengthy touchdown late in the third quarter to bring the Titans to within two scores.

Though neither Britt nor Cook have made the impact many hoped and expected coming into the year, the Titans have to see what they have in these two players before facing tough decisions about their futures in Nashville over the next two offseasons. 

5. Do Not Turn the Football over

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A week after turning the football over six times against Houston, the Titans can't afford to make those kind of mistakes against the Colts.

With a defense that appears to be improving, it's important for the Titans offense to not just put points on the board, but also to make sure that it doesn't put the defense in numerous poor situations, as was the case against Houston.

Locker, throughout his short career, has shown solid decision-making ability and has limited his turnovers, but he will need to make sure he doesn't put the ball in places where it can potentially be tipped and turned into a big play for the defense. 

6. Bring Down Andrew Luck When the Defense Gets to Him

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For much of the season, developing a consistent pass rush has been the main focus across the defensive line.

Facing a strong quarterback that is difficult to bring down, actually getting the sack when the pass rush gets to Andrew Luck will be critical to shutting down drives and preventing Luck from extending plays and turning potential losses into long gains. 

Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan have become increasingly effective throughout the season, and after putting significant pressure on Luck in the first meeting, they need to actually finish the deal when they reach him this go-round. 

7. Fill Running and Passing Lanes Up the Middle

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While the Titans' edge rushers have become more effective as the year has progressed, Tennessee's interior linemen have failed to get up field with any level of consistency when they have been asked to pin their ears back and rush the passer.

With a mobile quarterback like Andrew Luck, it's crucial for the defensive tackles to collapse the pocket and prevent Luck from stepping up to avoid the defensive ends coming around the corner.

Though the Colts' run game has certainly not been a strength, the Titans tackles need to plug up the middle and force runs to the outside, where their young linebackers have the speed and ability to make plays on the edge. 

8. Get off the Field on Third Down

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After struggling on third downs for much of the year, in the last five weeks the Titans have managed to hold opponents to a 29.5 percent conversion rate on third downs.

Facing a quarterback that likes to get out of the pocket and make plays, it will be critical for Tennessee's linebackers to stop any potential scrambles or check downs short of the chains and get off the field.

With an offense that has struggled to put points on the board, every opportunity to build or maintain a lead needs to be provided by a defense that has gotten progressively better over the past month.