Game recap: Zack Moss powers Colts over Titans after Anthony Richardson leaves with injury
The Indianapolis Colts go for at least a share of the AFC South lead when they host the Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 5 action. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday morning to move to 3-2. Everyone else is 2-2.
The Colts are 0-2 at home but have running back Jonathan Taylor making his season debut, meaning they have the Anthony Richardson-Taylor combo they've desired.
The Titans are coming off a blowout win over Cincinnati that was preceded by a blowout loss to Cleveland. Ryan Tannehill has excelled in their wins and struggled in their losses. Derrick Henry remains the punishing running back.
For the first time this season, the Lucas Oil Stadium roof will be open.
Joel A. Erickson, Nate Atkins and Gregg Doyel are your best Colts follows all season.
Meet the writers: IndyStar's Colts Insiders will discuss the team on Wednesday, and you can be there
Welcome back: Taylor blows kisses to Colts fans as he returns to field
Another grand entrance: Richardson wears 'Ant Man' necklace to game
Final: Colts 23, Titans 16
The Colts snap a 5-game losing streak to the Titans and beat them for the first time in 5 years at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis (3-2) remains tied at the top of the AFC South.
Zack Moss rushes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns, and has 30 receiving yards. Jonathan Taylor chips in with 18 rushing yards and 16 receiving.
Gardner Minshew (11-of-14 passing, 155 yards) and Richardson (9-of-12, 98) combine for 20-of-26 for 236 yards.
Josh Downs has 6 catches for 97 yards, and Michael Pittman Jr. 5 for 52.
Anthony Richardson leaves the game with an injury, and it didn't look good as he left the field.
Ryan Tannehill goes 23-of-34 for 264 yards. His favorite target is DeAndre Hopkins (8 catches, 140 yards). Derrick Henry rushes for 43 yards and has 19 receiving.
Tennessee drives into Colts territory consistently but can only manage 1 TD, 3 field goals and 1 failure on downs. Julian Blackmon's interception in the closing seconds decides the game.
Insider: 3 reasons the Colts beat the Titans despite injury to Richardson
More: 10 Colts thoughts on Richardson's injury, Taylor's return and a win
.@Colts defense seals the game with an INT! #TENvsIND pic.twitter.com/lRdbrOkCJP
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
1:00 left 4Q: Matt Gay adds a field goal
The Colts chew up more than 7 minutes to set up Matt Gay from 28 yards, his third field goal of the day. They drive 14 plays and 84 yards. Colts 23, Titans 16
Zack Moss won't quit. Closing in on 200 all purpose yards on the day. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Titans#TENvsIND pic.twitter.com/RMfab6i7Ea
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 8, 2023
8:03 left 4Q: Colts hold Titans on downs
Tennessee drives inside the Colts 10, but Zaire Franklin stops Derrick Henry on 4th down.
Who else?@ZiggySmalls_ shuts the door.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/7LFzxbvS8E— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023
Zaire Franklin is at 68 tackles right now, with 8:03 left in this one.
He could legitimately have 100 tackles by Halloween.— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) October 8, 2023
13:22 left 4Q: Matt Gay has 2 field goals
Matt Gay connects from 35 yards. Colts 20, Titans 16
Few things better than JT running downhill. 🚂
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/KBMHRLYCLS— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023
2:02 left 3Q: Colts keep Titans out of end zone
Nick Folks hits from 34 yards. Ryan Tannehill is 17-of-24 passing for 206 yards. DeAndre Hopkins has 7 catches for 115 yards. Colts 17, Titans 16
Brents is kicking himself right now#Colts#ForTheShoe#Titans#TENvsIND pic.twitter.com/z8yiCYYqEg
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 8, 2023
8:00 left 3Q: Zack Moss has 2 touchdowns
Zack Moss is in again, from 3 yards, and has 13 carries for 116 yards in the game. The drive takes 9 plays and 75 yards. Colts 17, Titans 13
Colts TE Mo Alie-Cox leaves the game with concussion symptoms.
Make way for Zack Moss.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/2q1VlbI4ts— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023
The Colts offensive line is doing some work today, even without Bernhard Raimann. That interior is looking fine.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) October 8, 2023
12:48 left 3Q: Titans take the lead
Tyjae Spears runs 19 yards for a touchdown on a fast, effective Titans drive of 4 plays and 75 yards. Titans 13, Colts 10
Also, Anthony Richardson is out for the rest of the game.
Anthony Richardson is out for the rest of the game with a shoulder injury, per press box announcement.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) October 8, 2023
.@DeAndreHopkins gets the @Titans into the redzone!
📺: #TENvsIND on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxi72 pic.twitter.com/CT7tEwhQK9— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Halftime: Colts 10, Titans 6
After taking over for Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew leads the Colts inside Tennessee's 5-yard line, but his 4th-down pass to Kylen Granson falls incomplete.
Richardson suffers a shoulder injury on a 2nd-quarter running play after going 9-of-12 passing for 98 yards. He also had a 17-yard loss on a throwaway lateral to avoid a sack.
Zack Moss has the big play with a 56-yard touchdown run, and has 84 rushing yards. Jonathan Taylor carries 4 times for 13 yards. Josh Downs has 4 catches for 82 yards.
Nick Folk has 2 field goals. Ryan Tannehill is 9-of-15 for 91 yards; Derrick Henry has 23 rushing yards, 17 receiving.
That's a good play call, and a bad throw by Gardner Minshew on 4th down. Should have been a walk-in TD.
Halftime: Colts 10, Titans 6.
It's time for #askjoel. What do you have?— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) October 8, 2023
4:29 left 2Q: Anthony Richardson is injured
He runs to the right on a 1st-down play and appears to hurt his right shoulder after a tackle by Harold Landry. Gardner Minshew is in.
Richardson holds his right arm still while walking to the locker room.
The play Anthony Richardson may have sustained a potential right shoulder or collarbone injury on this play. pic.twitter.com/ykg3KiMBWf
— Yaakov Gewirtz (@YaakovGewirtz) October 8, 2023
Anthony Richardson is up and headed off the field. Started walking to the tent, then went down again to one knee on the sideline for a while before getting up and walking again.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) October 8, 2023
4:39 left 2Q: Titans add a field goal
Nick Folk hits from 53 yards, his 20th straight make overall. Ryan Tannehill escapes a 3rd-down sack attempt by DeForest Buckner for a completion that extends the drive. Colts 10, Titans 6
HOUDINI ✨@ryantannehill1 escapes and hits @tyjae22 for a big first down!
📺: Watch #TENvsIND on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/IZmIyQ01fV— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 8, 2023
9:30 left 2Q: Colts extend lead with a field goal
The Colts drive into the red zone, highlighted by an Anthony Richardson-to-Josh Downs 39-yard connection. A 17-yard loss on a fumble to avoid a sack forces Matt Gay's 43-yard field goal. Colts 10, Titans 3
Rookie to rookie magic. ✨@GVOaant ➡️ @JoshDowns
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/bJXVAFveBg— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023
Matt Gay's 43-yard field goal puts the Colts up 10-3 on the Titans with 9:32 to halftime.
An Anthony Richardson fumble ends a promising drive, but they got the passing game going for the first time today. Nice to see it develop with guys other than Michael Pittman Jr.— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) October 8, 2023
:41 left 1Q: Colts run for a long touchdown
Zack Moss shows the breakaway ability, going 56 yards right up the middle. Colts 7, Titans 3
ZACK MOSS HOUSE CALL 🏠
📺: #CARvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxi72 pic.twitter.com/XVMepoclQD— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
That is the longest run of Zack Moss's career by 13 yards.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) October 8, 2023
3:13 left 1Q: Titans score on their opening drive
Nick Folk connects on a 28-yard field goal. Ryan Tannehill is 6-of-8 for 58 yards. The Titans convert 3 3rd-down plays with short passes in the middle. Titans 3, Colts 0
Anybody else seeing a little of Uncle Phil in Titans QB Ryan Tannehill? Not just the number, but it helps. The motion form up here in the press box ... same flapping chicken wing.#TENvsIND
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) October 8, 2023
11:44 left 1Q: Anthony Richardson is 3-of-5 early
Richardson connects twice with Josh Downs, and once with Kylen Granson. However, the drive stalls and the Colts punt.
Seventh-round rookie Jaylon Jones gets the start at outside cornerback opposite JuJu Brents.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) October 8, 2023
Colts inactives
LB Shaquille Leonard, DE Kwity Paye, T Bernhard Raimann, QB Sam Ehlinger, TE Will Mallory
Titans inactives
WR Treylon Burks, LB Luke Gifford, DE Teair Tart, OL Jaelyn Duncan, LB Caleb Murphy, QB Will Levis
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor arrives
28, checking in. pic.twitter.com/hsC6BhSt8B
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 8, 2023
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Titans score update, video highlights in NFL Week 5