Titans Silence Vinatieri, Rally Past Colts 26-20 for First Win of Season
Special teams and defense spark second-half surge as Saleh claims franchise’s 500th victory
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Adam Vinatieri stepped to midfield at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, accepted his place in the Colts’ Ring of Honor, and offered a parting shot at the visiting Titans: “It’s a bad day to be a Titan.”
By the final whistle, the line needed rewriting. It was a bad day to be a Colt.
Tennessee erased a 13-0 halftime deficit, scored 20 unanswered points in one stretch, and held on for a 26-20 victory that delivered the Titans their first win of the season and head coach Robert Saleh his first victory with the franchise. The triumph also marked the organization’s 500th win dating to the Houston Oilers era.
Quarterback Cam Ward completed 11 of 22 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. After the game he presented Saleh with the game ball in a jubilant locker room.
“Winning in this league is relief,” Saleh said. “But it’s not about me. I’m happy for Miss Amy — I apologize to her that it took a little longer than we all wanted. The players, these kids put in so much work, and this league is hard. We’d been close on a few occasions, and to knock this one out for them, I am much more excited for them than for myself.”
The Titans managed just 64 yards and three first downs in a dismal first half. Daniel Jones threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mo Alie-Cox and Spencer Shrader added field goals of 23 and 47 yards to give Indianapolis a 13-0 lead.
Everything flipped after the break. Jeffery Simmons forced and recovered a fumble that set up Joey Slye’s 29-yard field goal. Cor’Dale Flott intercepted Jones, and Slye drilled a 56-yarder to cut the deficit to 13-6. Chimere Dike’s 58-yard punt return set up Ward’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate, tying the game at 13. Moments later Julius Chestnut and James Williams blocked a punt; Femi Oladejo returned it 14 yards for a touchdown and a 20-13 lead.
Jonathan Taylor’s 4-yard run knotted the score at 20-20, but Slye answered with a 49-yard field goal at the 2:03 mark and a 44-yarder after a game-sealing stop. Tennessee’s defense finished with three takeaways and six sacks.
“We’d been doing the right things, working hard,” defensive end Jermaine Johnson said. “For us to be rewarded after starting 0-5, it feels great.”
The Titans (1-5) return home next Sunday to face the Cleveland Browns.
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