Titans-Colts Week 13 Postgame Notes

Dec 03, 2023 at 06:28 PM

TEAM NOTES – OFFENSE

The Titans' 28 points matched their highest point total of the season (28 vs. Atlanta on Oct. 29).
The offense set season highs in total first downs (25), rushing first downs (12), rushing yards (177) and time of possession (38:26).
The offense's 381 total yards was the unit's second-best total of the season behind its 400 yards against Cincinnati on Oct. 1.
The offense scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game for the first time in 2023, marching 64 yards on four plays. It was the seventh total time they scored on their opening possession, with the previous six occasions ending with a field goal. The last time the Titans scored an opening-drive touchdown was Nov. 17, 2022 at Green Bay.
The Titans' first touchdown came 1 minute and 40 seconds into the game. It was the fastest the team has scored a touchdown since Oct. 10, 2021 at Jacksonville, when safety Kevin Byard recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown at the 1-minute mark.
With Derrick Henry's 102 rushing yards and Tyjae Spears' 75 rushing yards, the Titans had two players rush for 75-plus yards in the same game for the first time since Henry (219) and Dontrell Hilliard (83) accomplished the feat at Houston on Oct. 30, 2022.

TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE

The Titans defense limited the Colts offense to three conversions on 14 attempts on third down. The 21.4-percent conversion rate was the defense's second-best performance of the season behind the 14.3 percent it allowed against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 17 (two conversions on 14 attempts).
The Colts scored one touchdown on five total red-zone possessions—all five were also goal-to-go possessions. The Titans defense improved its season totals to 16 touchdowns allowed on 43 opponent red-zone drives (37.2 percent). The unit entered the week ranked fourth in the NFL in red-zone defense.
The Titans defense allowed the Colts to rush for only 55 yards on 23 attempts (2.4 yards per carry). It was the lowest rushing yardage total of the season by a Titans opponent.
The defense's seven passes defensed set a season high.
The defense totaled three sacks, giving the team eight games in 2023 with at least three sacks.
When Denico Autry forced a fumble and Elijah Molden recovered the ball for the Titans in the second quarter, the defense recorded its first red-zone takeaway since David Long Jr.'s interception at Washington on Oct. 9, 2022.

ILB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR

Finished second on the team with 12 tackles and tied for the team lead with one sack.
Increased his season total to 114 tackles to establish a new career high, eclipsing the 102 tackles he had as a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
Credited with a sack of Gardner Minshew II when he dropped the quarterback for no gain in the second quarter. He notched his second sack of the season to tie his career high and improve his career total to four sacks.

DL DENICO AUTRY

Totaled four tackles, one sack, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
Recorded his fifth career strip-sack (second of 2023) in the second quarter. With the Colts at Tennessee's five-yard line, he knocked the ball out of the hands of Gardner Minshew II, and Elijah Molden recovered for the Titans. He was credited with his seventh career forced fumble and his second forced fumble in 2023.
With his ninth sack of 2023, he tied his career high, first set in 2018 and later matched in 2021.

K NICK FOLK

Made both field goal attempts and two of his three extra point attempts.
Made a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 46-yarder in overtime.
Extended his all-time NFL-record streak t0 75 consecutive field goals made on attempts from less than 40 yards.
Punted in the fourth quarter after Ryan Stonehouse was injured, marking the first time he punted in 16 NFL seasons. He punted two times (40 and 41 yards) for a 40.5-yard gross average and a 39.0-yard net average.

CB ERIC GARROR

Returned four punts for 36 yards (9.0 avg.), including a long return of 15 yards.

LB JACK GIBBENS

Led the team with a career-high 13 tackles and added a pass defensed.

RB DERRICK HENRY

Led the team with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts (4.9 avg.). He added one reception for 18 yards to give him 120 scrimmage yards in the contest. He exited the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Recorded his 40th total 100-yard rushing game, including regular season (37) and playoffs (three). He tied Earl Campbell (40) for the most such games in franchise history. His 37th 100-yard rushing performance in the regular season surpassed Eddie George (36) for the second-most in franchise history, behind only Campbell (39).
Went over the 1,000-yard scrimmage mark for the sixth consecutive season (1,026).
Registered his sixth game of 2023 with 100 or more scrimmage yards and his 48th career game (regular season) with 100-plus scrimmage yards. In franchise history, only Eddie George (54) has more.
Scored on a 22-yard carry in the first quarter and a five-yard carry in the second quarter. It was the fifth time in his career he rushed for multiple touchdowns in the first half of a game. He increased his season total to eight rushing touchdowns.
Rushed for two touchdowns for the second consecutive week. It gave him six consecutive seasons in which he tallied back-to-back performances with multiple rushing touchdowns.
Scored his 85th and 86th career rushing touchdowns to move past Marshawn Lynch (85) and tie Priest Holmes (86) for 15th place the NFL's all-time list for career rushing touchdowns. Eric Dickerson and Curtis Martin are next above Henry on the list, tied for 13th place with 90 career rushing touchdowns.

S AMANI HOOKER

Posted three tackles, a team-high two passes defensed and added a special teams tackle.
On a two-point attempt by the Colts in the third quarter, he picked off a pass from Gardner Minshew II and ran the ball to the opposite end zone for a defensive two-point conversion. They were his first career points.

WR DeANDRE HOPKINS

Led the team with five receptions and 75 yards, including a touchdown.
In the second quarter, he gained 27 yards on his 900th career reception. The catch set up a touchdown on the ensuing play. He became the 25th player in NFL history to reach 900 career receptions.
Caught an 18-yard pass from Will Levis in the second quarter to hit the 12,000-yard career receiving mark. He became the 29th player in NFL history to reach the plateau.
Scored on a three-yard reception in the fourth quarter. It was his 76th career touchdown catch and his fifth touchdown reception of 2023.
Registered his eighth career season with at least five touchdown catches.
Became the fifth NFL player to record 900 receptions (903), 12,000 receiving yards (12,072) and 75 receiving touchdowns (76) within his first 11 seasons, joining Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice, Brandon Marshall and Larry Fitzgerald. Only 16 previous players have reached all three numbers within their entire careers, regardless of number of seasons accumulated. Hopkins became the only active player on that list.
Extended his active streak to 157 consecutive games with a reception—every game he has played since he entered the NFL. It is the longest active streak in the NFL. Hopkins' streak is the fourth-longest in NFL history to begin a career behind only Marvin Harrison (190 consecutive games), Keyshawn Johnson (167) and Marshall Faulk (158).

OLB ARDEN KEY

In the fourth quarter, he teamed with Harold Landry III for a nine-yard sack of Gardner Minshew II. The sack was on third down to force a Colts field goal.
Increased his season total to four sacks and his career total to 18 sacks.

OLB HAROLD LANDRY III

Totaled eight tackles, including a half sack.
In the fourth quarter, he teamed with Arden Key for a nine-yard sack of Gardner Minshew II. The sack was on third down to force a Colts field goal.
Increased his season total to 5.5 sacks and his career total to 36.5 sacks, which ranks 12th in franchise history.

QB WILL LEVIS

Became the fifth rookie quarterback in franchise history to start at least six games, joining Dan Pastorini (1971), Vince Young (2006), Zach Mettenberger (2014) and Marcus Mariota (2015).
Completed 16 of 33 passes for 224 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions (80.9 passer rating).
Registered his third consecutive game without throwing an interception.
Tallied his seventh touchdown pass of the season on a three-yard strike to DeAndre Hopkins in the fourth quarter.
Found Chig Okonkwo for a 39-yard completion during the first drive of the game to help set up a touchdown.
Tossed a 27-yard pass to Hopkins in the second quarter, leading to a touchdown on the next snap.
Completed a 28-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine during a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
After losing a fumble to defensive end Samson Ebukam in the first quarter, he knocked the ball loose and then recovered the ball to give the Titans possession and a first down.

CB ROGER McCREARY

Totaled five tackles and added a pass defensed.

DB ELIJAH MOLDEN

Recovered a fumble by quarterback Gardner Minshew II in the second quarter. He recorded his second career fumble recovery and his first fumble recovery in 2023.
Added a pair of tackles.

TE CHIG OKONKWO

Finished second on the team with 62 receiving yards and ranked third on the squad with three receptions. His yardage total was the second-best number of his career.
Helped set up a touchdown on the game's opening drive with a 39-yard reception. It was the fourth-longest reception of his career.

RB TYJAE SPEARS

Rushed for 75 yards on 16 attempts and added four receptions for 13 yards.
His attempts and yardage totals were the most through the first 12 games of his rookie season.
Rushed for a 19-yard gain on the first play of overtime to help set up a field goal.
Added 40 total yards on a pair of kickoff returns.

P RYAN STONEHOUSE

Punted four times for a 54.5-yard gross average and a 35.2-yard net average with one punt blocked and one punt placed inside the 20. He exited the game in the fourth quarter with a left leg injury.
Booted a 63-yard punt in the second quarter to back up the Colts on their 12-yard line. It marked his sixth consecutive game with at least one punt of 60-plus yards – the NFL's longest active streak and the team's longest such streak during its "Titans era" (1999–present).

WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE