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Colts second-half surge rescues win vs.Titans

bucky dent, the sports xchange

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener was asked what turned things around in the second half of Thursday night's key AFC South matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

"There was no magic speech," he said. "Just a matter of better execution."

Indeed, the Indianapolis offense dominated the second half in leading a rally from a 17-6 deficit that produced a 30-27 win at sold-out LP Field and a three-game division advantage with six games remaining.

Scoring on four of their six possessions -- one was a punt, the other was three kneel-downs to end the game -- the Colts (7-3) owned the ball for 19:27 after intermission.

"A phenomenal job in the second half," Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano said. "It speaks to the character and mindset of the guys. They were bound and determined to find a way. It was a great team win."

The Colts simply pounded away at Tennessee (4-6), rushing 24 times for 99 yards in the second half and mixing in timely throws from quarterback Andrew Luck, who was 11-of-15 after halftime for 124 yards.

Running back Donald Brown capped a drive of 6:27 with a 7-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter, cutting the Titan lead to 17-13. On the ensuing kickoff, Devon Wylie, playing his first game for Tennessee, fumbled the ball after running into his own blocker and Indianapolis running back Daniel Herron recovered at the Titans' 20-yard line.

Two plays later, Luck pass-faked and rumbled 11 yards for a touchdown and a 20-17 Colts lead with 7:36 left in the quarter. It finished a stretch where they ran 25 straight plays, dating back to their last drive of the first half.

"Another seven-point play, really," Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said of Wylie's fumble and Luck's score. "When you're playing three-point games, two-point games, you can't give away points."

After Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri and Titans kicker Rob Bironas traded field goals, the Colts gained possession after an exchange of punts at their 26-yard line with 7:41 remaining in the game.

Mixing in power runs with Luck's 14-yard completion to Fleener, who finished with eight receptions for 107 yards, Indianapolis chewed up 4:40 on an 11-play drive. Brown, who bagged 80 yards on 14 carries, burst the last 11 yards for the clinching score at the 3:01 mark.

"They did exactly what they wanted to do," Munchak said. "We didn't stop them."

Tennessee quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick hit tight end Delanie Walker with a 19-yard scoring strike with 1:54 left, drawing the team within three points. But Colts linebacker Pat Angerer recovered the onside kick to end any comeback hopes.

Fitzpatrick played well in his first start since replacing Jake Locker, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Sunday's 29-27 upset loss to Jacksonville. Fitzpatrick completed 22 of 28 passes for 222 yards, hooking up with Walker 10 times for 91 yards.

The Titans came out of the gate flying, hitting Indianapolis with 80- and 68-yard touchdown drives on their first two possessions. Running back Chris Johnson finished both marches with scoring runs of 30 and 7 yards, respectively, and it was 14-0 with 4:06 left in the first quarter.

After Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal with 11:26 left in the first half got the Colts on the board, Tennessee had a chance to go up 21-3 late in the half when it reached the 13-yard line after three straight personal fouls by Indianapolis.

But the drive stalled at the 7 and the Titans settled for Bironas' 25-yard field goal at the 2:32 mark. The Colts responded with Vinatieri's 30-yard field goal as time expired, setting the stage for their second half surge.

"Heck of a game," Pagano said. "It was huge to come down here and get this win. Credit the guys for finding a way. We made just enough plays on defense."

NOTES: Tennessee MLB Moise Fokou missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury that he suffered Oct. 13 in Seattle. Fokou could return for the Titans' game at Oakland on Nov. 24. ... Indianapolis LCB Greg Toler (groin) was inactive for the third straight game after going down in an Oct. 14 loss at San Diego. He was replaced by Cassius Vaughn. ... The Colts were outscored 66-9 over the past three first halves.